As Africans in America, no one can tell our own stories like we live it. Other people may read about Africa, visit Africa or do business in Africa, but no one can represent us like ourselves. Although there are huge different ethnic groups, cultures and countries, Africa has unique values that have not yet been told in a balanced perspective by the Western media, thus the birth of the Yaba TV Show.

For decades, the Western media has had negative connotations about Nigeria and Africa as a whole due  mainly to corruption and mismanagement. Yaba TV Show was therefore born to enlighten the public and spark interest about the rich developing economy and culture in Nigeria and other African countries. In order to present Nigeria and Africa in the light, 80 percent of the show’s guests are Nigerians.

The Yaba TV Show concept

The Yaba TV Show is a growing frontier of African cultural diversity and education at its very best in Southern California. The programme is culturally and diversely designed to bridge the gap between cultures based on first-hand-knowledge and what the Western media had fed their audience with over the years. The Show addresses the differences and similarities between African and African American cultures.

It highlights exclusive grassroots footages of the different cultures, traditions, family values, morals, beliefs, investment opportunities, business, tourism ideas, and special events of Africa. The Show started on Christmas Day December 25, 1992. At that time it reached 300,000 homes in Southern California, and today the it is reaching 6.2 million households in Southern California at prime-time and millions more through our online media channels. The Show currently airs at 7:30 pm on Sundays on Channel 18 KSCI and 15 other local cable channels in Southern California.

Guests of the Show include many nationalities and intellects that have visited Africa, or are currently in business with Africa, or are well knowledgeable to disseminate valuable information about Africa based on their experiences and encounters with African nationals. It also educates children that are born in the United States of America by African parents who have not had an opportunity to visit, or those who have moved to the United States and are novice to the American lifestyles.  It also educates African -Americans with the core values and traditions of the African family, while providing vibrant entertainment to all viewers.

Some guests and appearances of the Show include singer, Stevie Wonder;  the late popstar, Michael Jackson; (to welcome the former President of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings at a dinner banquet  held at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel for the President in November of 1994); former President of Sierra Leone, the late Tijan Kabba; former First-Lady of Nigeria, Turai Omaru Yar’Adua at her visit to Houston Texas in 2008; current First-Lady of Sierra Leone, Sia Koroma at her visit to Los Angeles in 2009; Founder and President of Dr. Martin Luther King Parade, the late Larry E. Grant; former Los Angeles County Supervisor, Yvonne Braithwaite Burke; former Congresswoman Diane Watson; former Chief of Police Willie Williams; Councilman Bernard Parks, Dr. Mal Fobi; Dr. Lawrence Lasisi, Dr. Vicky Anakwenzi,  Dr Olukemi Wallace, Dr. Adeyinka Shoroye, Cecilia Onunkwo, Attorney at Law, business professionals; many entertainers and other influential people.

One of the most memorable shows of the Yaba TV Show was not with celebrities or influential politicians but with Nigerian children. The topic was “Nigerian Children born in America”. That show had guests of mixed feelings; some had fear of going to Nigeria for the first time, some had plans to visit with their parents, others had visited Nigeria and can’t stop talking about their experiences, whereas  others don’t want to go at all. One of the kids that had visited Nigeria called Ifeoma, demonstrated how they taught her how to sweep the floor with broom and for the first time she learned how to cook egusi soup. She proudly bragged about the things she learned and how she did not know them in America but her grandmother showed her.  She also talked about the love she experienced and how she made friends and was embraced. At the end of the show one of the children who had fear to visit Nigeria based on what she had heard and seen on the mainstream media, with on and off electricity, the heat, and security of visitors, were all wiped out and she confidently thanked the Yaba TV Show for bringing diverse panelists to the show that helped put her fear away. She added that many other Nigerian children who felt that fear were relieved after watching the show. These children are our tomorrow’s movers and shakers of the society and the proper foundation matters as to how they become contributing members of their countries.

Another memorable show titled “The Role of Grandparents in Africa” brought together African grandparents, one from Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana and an African-American grandparent. The Nigerian grandparent expressed that she gladly babysits her grandchildren without being paid. She also added that this gives her the opportunity to pass on her family value to the grandchildren and teach them her language. The African-American grandparent interjected and said: “There are other grandparents out there who have the time for their grandchildren but I don’t want to be tied down”. After that show many Nigerian elders took the time to send letters thanking the Yaba TV Show for bringing the consciousness of Africa to the comfort of their homes. Others expressed that when they are homesick, the show brings some comfort to them.

Nigeria as the most known African country in America and the world and most populated nation in Africa has exclusive cultures in many aspects including respect, costume, value of education and family values( you are bound to see more legally married Nigerian couples than any other nationals).

The Yaba TV Show has been showcasing all these positive aspects of Nigeria in California with a short-term goal of connecting with Nigeria and acquiring a television spot on one of the networks to showcase Nigerian-Americans lifestyle abroad and what Nigerians need to know about living outside Nigeria.

Elizabeth Yiaba,  Managing Director of Yaba TV Show, wrote from Abuja