Welcome to the Nigerian home, where every item has a story and a smile. It's like a museum of memories, each one with a tale that could make you laugh till your belly hurts. Let's dive into the magical world of the everyday items in our Nigerian homes while we were growing up or even till now. Let’s get lost in the world of nostalgia! 
1. The Ever-green Ice-Cream Bowls
Who needs Tupperware when you have ice-cream bowls that refuse to leave the family? These vessels first cradled scoops of vanilla and sprinkles. Then, they became the official holders of leftover stew. And now? Drumroll, please... they do the most prestigious job of all – the bathroom bowl (Lol)
2. Calendars: The Art Galleries of the Living Room
In a Nigerian home, calendars are not mere date trackers; they’re a statement of art. From religious calendars, to political figures, they adorn our walls with the same pride as a Van Gogh in the Louvre. Bonus points if you still have one from 1999 hanging up – oh what vintage!
3. Bottle Openers: The Party Favors That Keep on Giving
Thanks to the endless owambes, we’ve all amassed a collection of bottle openers that double as key holders. They’re like medals of honor from the social battlefield. Each one has a backstory: "This one's from Cousin Bola's wedding," or "Remember that epic New Year's Eve party?" They're like little time capsules, preserving memories one twist at a time.
4. The Rope: The Multipurpose Lifeline
This humble rope has seen it all. It's held up wet clothes during harmattan winds, rains, and even that one time Uncle Tunde tried to hang his oversized agbada on it. But it never complains. It just keeps doing its job, silently uniting socks and shirts, like a matchmaker for laundry. It’s the unsung hero of the compound, doubling as a makeshift goalpost for those intense football matches.
5. The Serving Scoop (Igbako) – Handle or No Handle
The igbako is the crown jewel of the Nigerian kitchen. Whether it’s scooping jollof rice or serving up some pounded yam, it’s the silent witness to the fact that, yes, we do eat with our eyes first.
6. The African Sponge: Exfoliation Level – Warrior
Forget those soft, squishy sponges. The African sponge is the equivalent of sandpaper and love – it’s how we learned resilience. If you can survive a scrubbing with this, you can conquer the world.
7. The Omorogun: The Spatula of Endurance
This isn’t just a spatula; it’s a wand of ower and courage. It’s dived into the hottest Amala and stirred more hot porridge and soups than Campbell’s. It’s the silent helper of the chef, the wonderful producer of the best meals.
8. The Mashing Broom (Ijabe): The Kitchen Wand
Who needs a food processor when you have the ijabe? It’s the percussion instrument of the kitchen, turning jute leaves into a pot of smooth, delicious ewedu soup.
9. The Plastic Tray: The Mat of Hospitality
In a Nigerian home, the plastic tray is the mat upon which all offerings of hospitality rest. From kola nuts to Fanta to stainless plates of food, it’s carried more goodwill than Santa’s sleigh. 
10. The Vaseline Blue Seal: The Secret Shine of Youthfulness
This isn’t just petroleum jelly; it’s a secret formula trapped in a container. It’s seen us through harmattan and healed more cracked heels than a podiatrist. 
11. Bamboo Toothpicks
These little wooden warriors have saved more smiles from ugwu-between the teeth disgrace than we can count. Plus, they're the go-to tool for picking the perfect piece of suya.
12. Plastic Containers: The Versatile Vessels
These plastic containers are like the Swiss Army knives of the kitchen. They've held everything from garri to elubo to rice and beans. And when they're not busy with food duties, they are busy holding fermenting corns for making our weekend ogi.
13. Polythene Bags: The Unsung Heroes of Preservation
Polythene bags – the unsung heroes of storage. Hanging down the handle of our store’s door or a nail in the kitchen, these bags have helped us in our errands. They've wrapped up bottles of drinks from Mama Ngozi’s kiosk for our unexpected guests, helped house the refuse that are to be dumped in the dungeon and kept our veggies fresher than a morning dew. And let's not forget their role in the epic "party jollof rice battle" – they’re the best accessories we loved our mothers dumping in their bags as they are headed for any owambe (IYKYK, hahaha). 
14. Broom: The Dancing Cleaner
The broom doesn’t just sweep, it dances as it does. Every Nigerian home has witnessed the broom’s dance. When the dust settles, the broom waltzes into action. It salsas and tangos with fallen leaves. As you sweep, it whispers stories: "Remember when Auntie Nneka spilled the ogbono soup? I've got the stains to prove it." And you nod, because the broom knows all. The broom shuffles across the floor , swaying to its own rhythm. Sometimes it moonwalks into the kitchen, hoping for crumbs. Other times, it waltzes under the bed, chasing dust.
15. Rags: From Grace to Grass.
Old clothes find new purpose as rags. They've wiped up spilled palm oil, dabbed at tomato stains, and helped us lift hot ikoko-irin off the fire. Each rag has a story – they're like the family historians, silently documenting our messy adventures.
16. Footmats: The First Line of Defense
Footmats guard our homes like loyal sentinels. They've battled mud, dust, and the occasional rogue lizard. And when visitors arrive, they meet the welcome mat – literally. "Step right in," they say, "but wipe your feet first." It's a subtle reminder that even hospitality has its boundaries.
Rounding Off:
So there you have it – a glimpse into the heart of Nigerian homes. These items aren't just objects; they're threads connecting us to our roots, our laughter, and our shared memories. So next time you spot that ice-cream bowl in the paint bucket of the bathroom or reach for the bottle opener, give it a nod – it's part of the grand stitch of survival and smiles.
N.B: Do not forget that even far away from home, you can have access to some of these household items. Of course, why not? My Sasun African Store is your best bet for this. Simply log on to our website and start ordering away. Or you can walk into either of our store locations to get some of these items. See you next time!
