Chidi takes the cake

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And so to something I've been meaning to post. The title for this one was going to be: "Eat Me". But I thought that might be too much dirty talk for our otherwise sober blog (all puns related to 'eat me' would have been intended, of course).

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But let's get to it. Perhaps because this wasn't about anything 'negative' in the average Nigerian sense, there was no mention of Nigeria as such when this (tempting for the press at least) photostory was splashed in several UK newspapers mid-January(see image from the Metro of January 11). In fact this thing about a bride who had a cake made in her own image made most of the British press think of American 'supersize me' excess. And the bride does live in Dallas, Texas. But wait. Who was it that asked: what's in a name? A bride by the name of Chidi Ogbuta can only be of Nigerian extraction. Reading on, you realise she wasn't even a brand new blushing bride. No. Chidi and husband Innocent laid this on to mark their 10th wedding anniversary, after 4 kids. 200 eggs went into the 180kg creation. Vanity, or plain 'Nigerian' extravagance?

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"Growing up I have always wanted a doll made in my likeness," the bride told the press. "So, when we started planning for our church wedding I told my husband that I wanted a unique, personalised wedding - a wedding where my dream will come true... He gave his consent without reservations." Oh, that's all right then.

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Poor Innocent. In at least one web photo, he looked more enraptured of the cake than the real thing. It has been suggested that Mrs Ogbuta wanted the cake because when she was young she always wanted a doll that looked like her; something she must know will resonate with a lot of black girls. But we didn't all go and get life-size, look-alike cakes. Besides, a cake is not a doll. Others (who clearly have never been to Nigeria) have stretched to read some cultural significance, suggesting Chidi must have witnessed something similar growing up in Nigeria. As if we didn't all grow up in this same Nigeria.

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So while Nigerians may be slightly befuddled by the 'come-and-see-me' aspect of it all, the British are content to see it as a symptom of Americanness. So what of the Americans? Google 'Chidi Ogbuta' and read the discussion boards for the range of opinions.

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I'm just here thinking: Naija for show! Methinks the cake says more about the bakers' skill than of the bride it represents. Chidi Ogbuta may be well advised not to attempt similar for her 20th wedding anniversary; they would need more eggs for a start, not to mention icing sugar...

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Whatever brought on this unrestrained act, the cake's all eaten up now - and Chidi Ogbuta's had her 15 minutes of fame. If she were a model, they'd have called it a publicity stunt.