Being from Nigeria, I come from a culture where meat is a staple; beef, goat, chicken and fish. I ate it all and loved it…or so I thought. When I was 16, one of my best friends in high school was vegan, and I was always curious as to why she never ate any meat. She informed me that we don’t need meat to survive, and I should give it a go, as I would feel so much healthier. After some encouragement, I decided to try it. Gradually I eliminated meat from my meals, and within a short period of time, I no longer craved it. I stopped eating red meat, followed by chicken, and then turkey and fish. I felt amazing.
However, what sealed the deal for me was – and I will never forget this – a rock concert I went to, featuring one of my favourite bands, Emery. When the concert finished, people were surrounding the merchandise stand covering their eyes and gasping. Curious, I moved closer. There was animal cruelty footage from factory farms being played, highlighting the torture animals face daily to satisfy human consumption. I was mortified. Now, I love horror, but this was not that kind. There was no enjoyment in what my eyes were witnessing. Animals have souls and lives, and deserve to live just as I do, as we do. I later discovered that Emery is an animal rights band and is also vegan. It was then that I became vegan not only for my health, but for ethical reasons, including my love for the earth. I have been vegan for over 16 years, and raw vegan for almost six years now, and I will never look back.