Angelo Fanutti
Angelo Fanutti is an Italian lecturer at the University of Abuja and he also works as a cultural officer for the Embassy of Italy. One of his favourite pastimes is hanging out in local pubs. He speaks with Damilola Oyedele on his experiences in Nigeria since arriving in 2008
What part of Italy did you grow up in?
I was born in a small village; Friuli, close to the border of Bosnia and Slovenia, it is a rural area. My parents were factory workers and farmers. I still live in the same village. I went to grammar school and later went to study languages at the University of Udine, and then I went to London several times to improve my English.
I was born in a small village; Friuli, close to the border of Bosnia and Slovenia, it is a rural area. My parents were factory workers and farmers. I still live in the same village. I went to grammar school and later went to study languages at the University of Udine, and then I went to London several times to improve my English.
How much did you know about Nigeria before coming?
I knew very little about Nigeria, although I have met a few Nigerians in Italy. I was lucky to know a Nigerian couple, who are Italian citizens and they told me what to expect. But, interestingly, I still thought the capital was Lagos and coming here was my first experience out of Europe. I had worked in Finland and England as a teacher. I did not choose to come here. As with my colleagues, the idea of being sent to Nigeria was like a punishment. We thought it was a dangerous place. But now after staying here for five years, I hope I do not have to leave because I am having a very good time.
I knew very little about Nigeria, although I have met a few Nigerians in Italy. I was lucky to know a Nigerian couple, who are Italian citizens and they told me what to expect. But, interestingly, I still thought the capital was Lagos and coming here was my first experience out of Europe. I had worked in Finland and England as a teacher. I did not choose to come here. As with my colleagues, the idea of being sent to Nigeria was like a punishment. We thought it was a dangerous place. But now after staying here for five years, I hope I do not have to leave because I am having a very good time.
What organisation do you work for?
I work at the university here. I am paid by the Italian foreign ministry, but I am actually a staff of the Italian ministry of education. There is an agreement between Italy and Nigeria about having an Italian lecturer in Nigeria who would be paid by the Italian government.
I work at the university here. I am paid by the Italian foreign ministry, but I am actually a staff of the Italian ministry of education. There is an agreement between Italy and Nigeria about having an Italian lecturer in Nigeria who would be paid by the Italian government.
How many students do you have at the moment?
When I first arrived, I had about 40 students. Now I have more than 160, all first, second and third year students of the department of English.
When I first arrived, I had about 40 students. Now I have more than 160, all first, second and third year students of the department of English.
Do some of them get to speak Italian or pick an interest in studying it properly?
The problem is that we have few classes per semester, but I have some very bright and promising students who despite the little amount of time dedicated to teaching, already have the ability to hold short conversations in Italian. The main problem is that we do not have a language lab and they do not have access to computers or internet connections at the university where they can get software to help them practise by themselves. However the new site of the University is still under construction which means a lot of facilities are still being built.
The problem is that we have few classes per semester, but I have some very bright and promising students who despite the little amount of time dedicated to teaching, already have the ability to hold short conversations in Italian. The main problem is that we do not have a language lab and they do not have access to computers or internet connections at the university where they can get software to help them practise by themselves. However the new site of the University is still under construction which means a lot of facilities are still being built.
How many languages do you speak?
I speak friulino, a local language in the Northern part of Italy where I come from. It is completely different from Italian and until I was five years old and started school, I did not speak any other language apart from that. Of course, I speak Italian, Spanish and English.
I speak friulino, a local language in the Northern part of Italy where I come from. It is completely different from Italian and until I was five years old and started school, I did not speak any other language apart from that. Of course, I speak Italian, Spanish and English.
How easy was it for you to adapt to life in Nigeria?
When you lecture in Italy, you are sure about the academic calendar and you can plan ahead of time. Here, I have realised that even though the academic calendar is on paper, there is always something that disrupts this calendar; strikes, student protests, staff protests and riots. So in that area, it has not been so smooth. Working at the Embassy has also acquainted me with the diplomatic community but I do not live in a diplomatic compound. I live in a flat in a compound of Nigerians and after five years, I have gotten to know my neighbours. I also started doing some voluntary work. A few months after I came, I met a Nigerian doctor, Dr. Abengowe, who has been running a small group of volunteers who go to a clinic in a village outside Abuja to treat children from the ages of zero to five. I am not a doctor or into the medical line, but I help to keep the files of the mothers and children and take their vitals. These villagers, even though they are not rich, they live what looks like a happy life and they are very generous, offering food and care for their neighbours’ children for free. They have a life that we in Europe and the West have forgotten; we do not care about each other anymore, everybody lives their own lives in their own flats watching TV or surfing the net, but in reality all isolated. Here, life is lived together, as part of a community.
When you lecture in Italy, you are sure about the academic calendar and you can plan ahead of time. Here, I have realised that even though the academic calendar is on paper, there is always something that disrupts this calendar; strikes, student protests, staff protests and riots. So in that area, it has not been so smooth. Working at the Embassy has also acquainted me with the diplomatic community but I do not live in a diplomatic compound. I live in a flat in a compound of Nigerians and after five years, I have gotten to know my neighbours. I also started doing some voluntary work. A few months after I came, I met a Nigerian doctor, Dr. Abengowe, who has been running a small group of volunteers who go to a clinic in a village outside Abuja to treat children from the ages of zero to five. I am not a doctor or into the medical line, but I help to keep the files of the mothers and children and take their vitals. These villagers, even though they are not rich, they live what looks like a happy life and they are very generous, offering food and care for their neighbours’ children for free. They have a life that we in Europe and the West have forgotten; we do not care about each other anymore, everybody lives their own lives in their own flats watching TV or surfing the net, but in reality all isolated. Here, life is lived together, as part of a community.
Have you been interacting with the locals?
I like bush bars. When I go there, somebody always comes over to my table and chats with me. By virtue of working in the cultural section of the embassy, I have also met very great Nigerians like Wole Soyinka, Chimamanda (Adichie), and many new young and promising Nigerian writers. I also met Lola Shoneyin whose book, The Secret Life of Baba Segi’s Wives, has been translated to Italian and published in Italy. I also met lots of artistes, painters, sculptors and their works are being appreciated in Europe and the states. I have also met Nigerians in every field and in all levels of the society.
I like bush bars. When I go there, somebody always comes over to my table and chats with me. By virtue of working in the cultural section of the embassy, I have also met very great Nigerians like Wole Soyinka, Chimamanda (Adichie), and many new young and promising Nigerian writers. I also met Lola Shoneyin whose book, The Secret Life of Baba Segi’s Wives, has been translated to Italian and published in Italy. I also met lots of artistes, painters, sculptors and their works are being appreciated in Europe and the states. I have also met Nigerians in every field and in all levels of the society.
How many states have you visited?
Not many actually. I was in Lagos for 10 days for work but I also had the opportunity to move around and I enjoyed it. It has a lot of contrast to Abuja, it has some negative aspects but also a lot of positive sides, there is a lot to be seen there. I have also visited Jos, which is a naturally beautiful place with the landscape and environment. I have visited Kaduna also. I went to Lokoja, to the spot where River Niger and River Benue meet just to see it.
Not many actually. I was in Lagos for 10 days for work but I also had the opportunity to move around and I enjoyed it. It has a lot of contrast to Abuja, it has some negative aspects but also a lot of positive sides, there is a lot to be seen there. I have also visited Jos, which is a naturally beautiful place with the landscape and environment. I have visited Kaduna also. I went to Lokoja, to the spot where River Niger and River Benue meet just to see it.
What similarities or differences have you noticed between Nigerians and Italians?
I live in the north of Italy, almost near the border with Bosnia. Italians from the North are very different from Italians from the south. I find a lot of similarities between Nigerians and Italians from the South. In the south of Italy, the weather is good, they are friendlier and that sense of communal living is still there. People in the North of Italy are more reserved and do not quickly talk to strangers. When I visit some places here still, people call me Oyinbo, Bature, but I do not feel offended, I take it as a way of acknowledging me or wanting to get me to start conversations. Both Nigerians and Italians are not obsessed with punctuality although Nigerians are more terrible in this regard. Being here, I have learnt to be more relaxed and not to worry too much about the future; this is a good attitude towards life.
I live in the north of Italy, almost near the border with Bosnia. Italians from the North are very different from Italians from the south. I find a lot of similarities between Nigerians and Italians from the South. In the south of Italy, the weather is good, they are friendlier and that sense of communal living is still there. People in the North of Italy are more reserved and do not quickly talk to strangers. When I visit some places here still, people call me Oyinbo, Bature, but I do not feel offended, I take it as a way of acknowledging me or wanting to get me to start conversations. Both Nigerians and Italians are not obsessed with punctuality although Nigerians are more terrible in this regard. Being here, I have learnt to be more relaxed and not to worry too much about the future; this is a good attitude towards life.
Why did you become a teacher?
I had two choices. In Italy it is after completing secondary school that you decide whether you want to go to the university and what exactly you want to study. I wanted to study medicine or languages which were the two things that interested me. I also loved to play football and I saw that medicine would take more of my time and prevent me from playing, so I decided on the languages. At the time, I was a semi-professional player and was earning some money enough to pay my way through the university. In Italy, I am a teacher of English. I applied to become a teacher abroad. I was interested in working abroad because when a person studies a language, it is useless when you do not get to use it.
I had two choices. In Italy it is after completing secondary school that you decide whether you want to go to the university and what exactly you want to study. I wanted to study medicine or languages which were the two things that interested me. I also loved to play football and I saw that medicine would take more of my time and prevent me from playing, so I decided on the languages. At the time, I was a semi-professional player and was earning some money enough to pay my way through the university. In Italy, I am a teacher of English. I applied to become a teacher abroad. I was interested in working abroad because when a person studies a language, it is useless when you do not get to use it.
Do you still play football?
Yes. Being here without my family, I have a lot of free time, so I play football, tennis and I also started taking painting and guitar lessons. I am also swapping Italian classes with a Nigerian-Egyptian woman so that I can speak some Arabic. Here in Abuja, you can do a lot. Abuja is amazing. I like photography and children are the most natural things you can take photographs of. When I go to villages, I meet small children who have never seen a white man and at first they may cry, but eventually they warm up and come closer and some even pinch me. So I eventually get to take good photos of children’s faces.
Yes. Being here without my family, I have a lot of free time, so I play football, tennis and I also started taking painting and guitar lessons. I am also swapping Italian classes with a Nigerian-Egyptian woman so that I can speak some Arabic. Here in Abuja, you can do a lot. Abuja is amazing. I like photography and children are the most natural things you can take photographs of. When I go to villages, I meet small children who have never seen a white man and at first they may cry, but eventually they warm up and come closer and some even pinch me. So I eventually get to take good photos of children’s faces.
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