Kemi Badenoch, the British Conservative party leader, has shared insights into her background and identity.
Badenoch was born in London but grew up in Nigeria and the US.
She returned to the UK at 16 due to the worsening political and economic situation in Nigeria.
Badenoch automatically received British citizenship in 1980 due to her birth in the UK.
She noted that finding out she had British citizenship was a surprise to many of her peers.
Badenoch describes herself as Nigerian through ancestry but not by identity.
She feels her home is where her family is, including her children, husband, and extended family, which includes the Conservative party.
Recall that Badenoch has spoken about corruption in Nigeria and growing up with a sense of fear and insecurity.
She has also clashed with the Nigerian government, including Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who suggested she remove “Kemi” from her name if she’s not proud of her Nigerian heritage.
Badenoch claims she hasn’t experienced meaningful racial prejudice in the UK. She defends the UK against accusations of racism, citing her positive experiences.