Celebrity Gossip
Serena And Venus Williams: We’re Not Nigerians
Nov 1st, 2012 – Serena And Venus Williams: We’re Not Nigerians
Serena and Venus Williams who arrived Nigeria few days ago are still struggling to clear a conflict of origin issue in relation to Nigeria. naijagists.com
In an interview on Wednesday Oct 31st, the American tennis superstar stated categorically that they’re not Nigerians though they love Nigeria and her citizens.
Popularly called Williams sisters, they declared they’re purely Americans with no Nigerian root as widely believed in some African countries today.
Serena Williams, who joined her elder sister, Venus Williams to train some selected kids the rudiments of tennis at the Ikoyi Club in Lagos Wednesday evening, said their parents may be black with slight traces from Africa, but she insisted that they are from the United States of America, USA.
“We have heard from many people asking whether we hail from the Badagry area of Lagos in Nigeria. But we are using this opportunity to clear the air once and for all. We are proud Americans, we are not from Nigeria but we love the people of this country no doubt,” Serena said.
Noel Enomhonse
November 1, 2012 at 4:55 AM
Of course who would want to claim the Nigerian state that is sweltering with the head of injustices and prejudices of various degrees, sweltering with the heat of tribal sentiments, nepotism and ethnic chauvinism, sweltering with the heat of insecurity, corruption and bad governance? Abeg, make una free those sisters jare. Even if they are Nigerians, U̶̲̥̅̊ don't expect them to mortgage civility Fø̲̣̣я̅ primitivism.
Jude Mbah
November 1, 2012 at 5:43 AM
1 more thing is Sweltering of BIG BIG GRAMMER…. lol
Jude Mbah
November 1, 2012 at 6:04 AM
I think what they were insinuating is that; They are not Nigerians by birth,Citizen and etc.. Like you guys are trying to change their Nationality by putting the questions straight. The same Williams sisters, stated in Complete sports(Sports Newspaper/Magazine) according to Nigerian Sports magazine in 1998. That their Grand father Originated from a town in Nigeria called BADAGGRI… I think that should be in Lagos… That is why they have the love for the country. As it is always said; ''BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER''
Olasunkanmi
November 1, 2012 at 6:08 AM
spare us ds grammar jare…u condemn a whole country cos some pple re not gettiing it right..4getting u re 1 of d major problem.
Sheila Coker
November 1, 2012 at 5:52 AM
Mmmmmm I don't blame them self
Olasunkanmi
November 1, 2012 at 6:06 AM
No matter what might be happening in ds country, its not enuf 4 dem 2 deny d fact,dey re not Nigerians. They cant deny dey re blacks either. (sure Africans). No country is perfect, its sad dat bad news generate faster, this country is not dat bad.
Let dem be if dey claim not 2 be..
Noel Enomhonse
November 1, 2012 at 6:20 AM
Jude onye mgbu… Luahpp
Jude Mbah
November 1, 2012 at 8:31 AM
ANtym… Oloye… Busu..!.!.!
mulikatcardoso
November 1, 2012 at 8:01 AM
Forget that all Black America,from USA or caribeings comes from Agrica and majority of them is Nigeria.but i know their half sister,who die last time she is yoruba mother,she is call yetunde,so they cant hide that,all america are immigrate,even the white,all from europe,they all have origin,go and have DNA test,u will know exactly which part of Africa u come from.
Jude Amara mack
November 1, 2012 at 10:08 AM
I don’t blame them @ol coz even if they do they gona vehemently deny it. who will lyk 2b a citizen 2 one of the world most corrupted nation.
Db
November 1, 2012 at 12:10 PM
The williams sisters are ungrateful to Nigerians
BarakatUSA
November 1, 2012 at 10:29 PM
They are just making it clear, its not a matter of being ungrateful to Nigerians, am sure they are greatful of been in Nigeria, and love the idea of helping the kids, they are America, just wants to put it out there for people that are confused about their nationality.
anjeh
January 19, 2014 at 6:06 PM
hahahaha. who would and why should someone be grateful to a nation which had their ancestors sold out into slavery. come off it and stop talking about grateful and ungratefulness. and come to think of it, where does Nigeria stand comparing it to the USA. hahahaha. snap off your dream and talk of being ungrateful
JUSTICE FORALL
November 1, 2012 at 2:42 PM
Nigeria is a country of over 170,000000 people, so just two people (Serena and Venus ) rejecting claims to that country really makes no difference; Nigerians are checking out of that country each day rejecting their nationalities and clinching to others Europe, America nationalities etc; so the William sisters refusing to accept any claims to Nigeria identity is no news; but again, it is share ignorance and also lacking a true indept of Africa, America and world history visavis the slave trade on the part of the William sisters to say that ”their parente may be black with SLIGHT traces from africa is to say the least not only an insult to Africa & nigerians but to use this medium to tell the William sisters to go back & re-read the history of America, its foundation etc ”The slave trade and its abolition.
Olaimatu Joaque
November 1, 2012 at 4:08 PM
let us be proud of be African what they are teaching us.
LASHO
November 1, 2012 at 5:42 PM
No one will want to claim a coountry that there is no stability in everyfacet of life, even some nigerians are nationalizing to other countries like Ghana and other Eouropean countries.But because the country is faced with so many problems is not enough to deny your homeland, GOD given ancestral land.You can have dual citizenship but not to deny where GOD planted your feet.Its a course on anyone that deny his/her country of origin.We all knows that all blacks originated from Africa’s black nations,If the williams have deny their homeland which i heard they made a statement before now in 1998 that they originated from Badagry area in Lagos state, there should be know issue on it,they have freedom of choice.Let our leaders put our country together in unity and stop deceiving us about un fulfilled promises of electrity,unfulfilled promise of eradicating corruption, when they theirselves are the corruption,Satan can’t bind satan if it happens,thats means his existance is under treat.Happy new months the good citizens of this great country Nigeria.I am very proud to be A Nigerian.GOD BLESS NIGERIANS.
Jay Handsome
November 1, 2012 at 9:14 PM
Serenna and Venus, am a proud Nigerian o so no long thing. Buh 4 lovin 9ja and her citizens. I luv both of u. U can folo twiter tru dz link……@jaimz08 or jaimz08 @2go interactive. Cheers
Nasiru A Ahmad
November 2, 2012 at 8:34 AM
U people will stop fooling urself about their issue, but tell them that NAIJA is their FatherLand and right they claim AMERICA because they forget where they are Before I blame the for the foolinshness.
Ronke'
November 2, 2012 at 8:35 AM
I was born and reared in the northeastern Caribbean. As anyone can determine my name is from the Yoruba clan. I am aware of my Nigerian roots, spent time at the University of Lagos as an exchange student; yet when I was in Nigeria most people treated me like I was a white woman. Many were surprised that I preferred ground provisions and Nigerian food; as opposed to European food. Also, what I realized was that at that time most Nigerians that I met; knew very little or nothing about the Trans Atlantic Enslavement Trade. Now,let me ask the golden question, am I Nigerian? I will answer it this way, I am proud to be of Nigerian descent, but my frame of reference and my cultural background has given me the right to proudly claim that I am Caribbean.
oneil josh
July 16, 2015 at 1:44 PM
Am happy coming across this discussion. I lived in California for twenty three years of my life, I can tell you that seren and ven are from Nigeria because I meet with ven when I was twelve and I can remember she telling me about yetunde who happens to be a step sis. And also that we all heir from Nigeria and we all where happy and also promise coming home soon and I told ven that I will be hosting them anytime they get to Nigeria. And when they came to Nigeria I was not in town I had gone back to the state and I felt bad about it.. . I wish I still have ven’s contact I would have asked her why they acted that way
ekky
November 2, 2012 at 8:15 PM
na wa o. If dis ladies have claimed that they aint Nigerians, wats d big deal huh? They are goin abt dia normal business, making cool bucks and we are here dragging ova where They Come from the matter has bin finally put to rest o
abayo
November 2, 2012 at 9:05 PM
oprah winfrey also denied her origin
Belinda Njoloza
November 9, 2012 at 3:58 PM
you chose who you want to be…so they have a choice to chose as well.
Lucy Ayelegun
November 14, 2012 at 6:57 AM
well that's their opinion anybody can claim wherever he or she like's to be.
dokun gbadebo
November 22, 2012 at 6:07 PM
How come u both look nigerian? Well for your info your been rooted to nigeria does not deprive you of getting what you want in life so far you are determined to achieve great success you will! Example is Us president whose african descent is Kenya does not stop him from ruling because american pple saw his determination,intellect and readiness, they even voted for him on 2nd term.. Advice for you to search your roots and let us know you more..
Dokun Gbadebo
November 22, 2012 at 6:11 PM
How come u both look nigerian? Well for your info your been rooted to nigeria does not deprive you of getting what you want in life so far you are determined to achieve great success you will! Example is Us president whose african descent is Kenya does not stop him from ruling because american pple saw his determination, intellect and readiness, they even voted for him on 2nd term.. Advice for you to search your roots and let us know you more.
jane okoye
November 19, 2013 at 6:48 AM
well well well well, NIGERIANS AV MORE THAN ENOUGH AMBASSADORS TO BE PROUD OF, SO IF THE WILLIAMS SISTERS SHULD DENY BEING NIGERIANS JUST AS OPRAH DID, ITS COOL. WE STILL SURVIVE AFTER ALL THEY WERE MADE IN USA.AS FOR ME I WILL NEVA DENY MY COUNTRY.
Micheal .N. Micheal
June 6, 2015 at 6:05 PM
Mikey, my point is this nobody have tell someone where he/she hail from. They know better than u nd I where they hail from. Guys let them be. Bless you all bd our dear Nigerialand.
omowunmi
April 8, 2016 at 3:48 PM
No matter how pure or soufaness we’going true in nigeria i will never denied my home town am proud to be nigeria pls pray for my home tuwn god bls nigeria.
Ray
May 2, 2017 at 7:12 AM
According to the Reggea Legend Mr. Culture.. He sang that anywhere you are in this world as long as you are black man, you are an African.
If these twins sisters claimed not to be a Nigeria, they maybe right but they should take a bold step to know the part of Africa their forefathers originated from, before they where forcefully taking to America as slaves.
Blacks are not American by origin, Africa is our continent and it will remain so, nobody can change it.. even civilization as they call it can’t change it.
obama ubange
July 2, 2017 at 7:35 PM
oh YES YOU ARE! Home again at last. Now STAY THERE!