"I dey manage" is the Nigerian way of saying "I am broke" without saying "I am broke." You ask someone how they are doing. "I dey manage." The phrase sounds humble. It sounds like contentment. It sounds like gratitude for small mercies. But underneath, it is a cry. I am managing because I have no choice. I am managing because the alternative is collapsing. I am managing because admitting failure is not allowed. The phrase is gendered. Men say it to protect pride. Women say it to avoid pity. Everyone says it because Nigerian culture does not reward vulnerability. "I am struggling" is not a status update. "I dey manage" is the acceptable translation. And the performance! You say "I dey manage" while wearing your best outfit. While attending the party you cannot afford. While contributing to the aso-ebi you should have declined. The manage is public; the struggle is private. But the solidarity! When someone says "I dey manage," the correct response is "We dey manage together." It acknowledges shared struggle. It creates community in poverty. It says: You are not alone. We are all managing this country together. When was the last time you said "I dey manage"? And did you mean it, or was it just the expected response?
