Tinu Ogunlade-Addams was raised by her mother’s sister in Nigeria while her parents lived in London completing their schooling. After completing medical school in Nigeria, Tinu wanted to travel as her parents had—first moving to London, where she felt homesick. After visiting her cousin in Chicago, she felt more warmth from the people there and decided to moved to the U.S. in 1990.

In Chicago, Tinu found a strong Nigerian community and met the father of her children. A job offer later brought their family to upstate NY. She saw the American Dream as owning a house with a yard, so the lower cost of living appealed to her. As friends moved away, her Nigerian community dwindled, but Tinu was busy working and raising her children, so it did not greatly impact her. She began growing closer to the parents of her daughters’ friend.

Tinu raised her children with Nigerian food as a tie to their culture and wanted to instill the Nigerian value of generosity. However, she knew there would be differences because they were American. She recalls arguing with her daughter about how much she gave to a family wedding, telling her, “it’s in my blood,” because Nigerians “just help each other.”

Tinu has never felt distant from her Nigerian identity, but does not want to return to Nigeria due to safety concerns. She moved to NYC in 2020 to help her daughter during school and stayed until 2023, enjoying the calmer pace during COVID. The Nigerian outfit she chose reflects the celebration culture she loves in Nigeria, which she had to adjust to not being as emphasized in the U.S. 

– Simone Oduola

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant