A Nigerian Woman Who Left SA to Nigeria After Spending 15 Years Shared Her Experience in the Country

A Nigerian woman who returned to Nigeria after spending nearly 15 years in South Africa has shared her experiences of settling back home, describing an unexpected culture shock that arose during an ordinary food purchase.

The woman, identified on TikTok as @adebankevic, had lived in South Africa while pursuing her education. After relocating to Nigeria, she began noticing small differences between the routines she had become accustomed to abroad and those she encountered in her home country.

In a video posted on October 10, 2026, she spoke about one particular experience that caught her by surprise: how takeaway meals are packaged and sold.

According to her, customers buying prepared food in South Africa generally receive their meals in disposable containers provided by the seller. Having spent so many years there, she had come to regard that arrangement as normal and expected a similar experience when purchasing food in Nigeria.

However, she discovered that some food sellers in Nigeria operate differently. Customers may be expected to bring their own containers, while those who do not have one may need to pay an additional amount for packaging.

Although the difference might appear minor, it reminded her that moving between countries can require adjustments to even the simplest everyday habits. Returning to a familiar homeland after a long absence does not necessarily mean that everything will feel familiar immediately.

Her video attracted attention on social media, especially among South African viewers. Interestingly, many commenters seemed more fascinated by the way she spoke than by her observation about food packaging.

Several viewers remarked that her accent had changed after so many years in South Africa. Others joked that she had likely picked up popular South African expressions and incorporated them into her daily conversations.

One commenter suggested that she probably uses the exclamation “haibo” frequently, while another applauded her for adopting a recognisably South African way of speaking.

The woman also responded to a viewer using “Ngiyabonga,” a Zulu expression meaning “thank you,” further delighting people who recognised the linguistic influence of her years abroad.

Not everyone focused on her accent. One viewer wondered what course she had studied during her lengthy stay in South Africa.

The discussion highlighted how living in another country can shape a person’s speech, expectations and habits. For the returning Nigerian, an everyday meal purchase became an unexpected reminder of how much her years abroad had influenced her perspective.

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