Lirette 1

Christopher Lirette

CUL 2200 – Introduction to Cultural Studies

Professor Craig Jones

2 July 2021

Assignment 7-1: Life History Interview Paper

Throughout the weeks I have been in a conversation with my friend Itz Mikson who I met

on Facebook back in October of 2020. Since then, we have spoken on occasion, mostly checking

in on one another. This assignment has given us cause to speak via Facebook Live and get to

know one another better. However, due to rolling blackouts in his hometown of Abuja, Nigeria

to conserve power and our 6-hour time difference, our conversations were mostly limited to

Facebook Messenger.

Throughout our acquaintance it has become very apparent that we are from two different

cultures. When we became Facebook friends he expressed that he would like to get to know me

better and really stressed that he wanted to be my friend. However, it became clear that we had

very different conceptions of what that looks like. He wanted to be my actual friend and not just

a Facebook acquaintance, which is what I assumed.

Within a month of being friends on Facebook he was disappointed that I wasn’t talking to

him more and at one point he even said that he was worried about me because he had not heard

from me in a while. In fact, as I write this essay, I have looked back on our correspondence and

he is regularly the one to check in and see how my wife, kids, and I are doing. Honestly if it

weren’t for his persistence, we probably would be just acquaintances, because he is always the

one who initiates conversation.

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Itz Mikson is a 28-year-old man from Nigeria who describes himself as an introvert,

loner, and popular. He enjoys cooking, swimming, reading, walking on the beach, fishing, sailing

camping, playing checkers, scrabbling (digging with the hands), and watching comedies. He

lives in a 3-story building with his family in the city of Abuja. He comes from a family of 7

siblings and is the first son, but the third born in his family. Itz describes himself as the future

leader of the family being the firstborn son.

A common theme in talking to Itz was his desire to be successful and his parents desire

for him to be successful. He shared that when he was little he “drove the tire” and rode his

bicycle and believes that was evidence that he would be successful in the future. He works at

being a footballer (soccer), a student of Electrical Engineering, and works as an electrician.

Itz is very close to his family and has tremendous loyalty to his parents. He stated that he

is only alive because of them and owes them a lot. His father plays a large role in his life for a

number of reasons. Itz works alongside his father as an electrician. Itz says that his mentor is his

dad, because he is nice, caring and understanding. His father loves and takes good care of his

family and is truthful, self-disciplined, and ready to risk everything for his family. Itz told a story

describing how his father would regularly buy him shoes and clothes growing up. He specifically

remembers a pair of shoes he received that had lights in them and how he was very fond of them

and found them to be beautiful.

As stated earlier, Itz is from Abuja, Nigeria. Abuja is the political and administrative

capital of Nigeria and, as cities go, is relatively young. In fact, it was established in the 1980’s,

specifically be the capital of Nigeria. Nearby Zuma Rock is a place that holds special

significance in Itz’s heart, holding special memories as a place he visited with his sister. Itz

speaks fondly of the people of Abuja, saying they are very kind and welcoming. Itz is still close
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with his childhood friends, and they like to spend time together watching soccer. He says that

when any of them need help, they are they for one another to help each other out.

There are a few special days that stick out to Itz. The first is the Muslim holiday of

Sallah. Sallah is the “Feast of the Sacrifice,” referring to the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice

Ishmael on Mount Moriah, according to Islamic tradition. One way they celebrate this day is

family and friends come from afar to celebrate it together. They will eat any kind of food but

especially rice. Another special day that Itz mentioned is the celebration of manhood when a boy

becomes a man. He has already had his celebration. But the rite of passage is something his

whole town celebrates. Similar to the observance of Sallah, friends and family make the event

even more special.

While Itz states that he is a Muslim and he celebrates Muslim holidays, Itz says that he is

a searcher for the truth between heaven and earth and ultimately believes that all religions are

good. He believes in a higher power and that we are not alone. Itz says God inspires him each

day with his love and mercies and that God is the reason for his existence. He believes we are

called to multiply love to our neighbors. Itz says that he is a god-fearing man and has his Muslim

faith to credit for his life, attitude, and success. The family has a doctor they take each other to if

they get sick or injured. Itz says, however, that they can’t control everything and must leave

disasters in God’s hands. Regarding Itz’s parents and their faith, he says that he believes what

they believe and serve what they serve.

Itz is a loyal friend and family member. He has a love for life, God, and family. He has a

disdain for betrayal, fakeness, lies, racism, and drama. He believes his past has made him

resilient and he does his best to stay focused on the future and not on the past. In truth, we are

more alike than I thought and I am glad I got the chance to know him better.