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Racism debate after Russian and Nigerian gas companies combine to form 'Nigaz'
By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 1:19 AM on 2nd July 2009

When a $2.5billion international venture is being planned you might expect there to be hours of debate over what to call it.

Yet branding is not the forte of some companies, it seems.

Russian Energy giant Gazprom has inadvertently walked into a racism row with the announcement of its joint venture in Nigeria - Nigaz.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Nigerian counterpart Umaru Yar'Adua last week agreed the deal to build refineries, pipelines and gas power stations in Africa's most populous nation.

The name is meant to be an amalgamation of 'Nigeria' and 'Gazprom', pronounced 'nye-gaz', but it can be read phonetically as an offensive term for those of black African origin.
'How more derogatory can it be. Let's join forces in making our government rename this,' said the creator of 'Nigerians No Nigaz', a group on Facebook.

Many comments on the blunder were from white bloggers.

But others mocked the mistake - one African-American suggested a playlist of songs from U.S. hip-hop artists for the Nigaz launch party.

One Nigerian in Lagos said: 'White people are making too much of this.
'As long as the Russians pay us, they can call it what they like.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldne ... z0lQHmntGF

Author:	darksiege [ Sat Apr 17, 2010 11:34 pm ]
Post subject:	you just cannot make this up...
Dailymail.co.uk For the link impaired... article wrote: Racism debate after Russian and Nigerian gas companies combine to form 'Nigaz' By Mail Foreign Service Last updated at 1:19 AM on 2nd July 2009 When a $2.5billion international venture is being planned you might expect there to be hours of debate over what to call it. Yet branding is not the forte of some companies, it seems. Russian Energy giant Gazprom has inadvertently walked into a racism row with the announcement of its joint venture in Nigeria - Nigaz. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Nigerian counterpart Umaru Yar'Adua last week agreed the deal to build refineries, pipelines and gas power stations in Africa's most populous nation. The name is meant to be an amalgamation of 'Nigeria' and 'Gazprom', pronounced 'nye-gaz', but it can be read phonetically as an offensive term for those of black African origin. 'How more derogatory can it be. Let's join forces in making our government rename this,' said the creator of 'Nigerians No Nigaz', a group on Facebook. Many comments on the blunder were from white bloggers. But others mocked the mistake - one African-American suggested a playlist of songs from U.S. hip-hop artists for the Nigaz launch party. One Nigerian in Lagos said: 'White people are making too much of this. 'As long as the Russians pay us, they can call it what they like.' Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldne ... z0lQHmntGF

Author:	Sam [ Sun Apr 18, 2010 12:20 am ]
Post subject:	Re: you just cannot make this up...
But, but......it's got the combination of N, I, and G in it!!!1! It MUST be a racial slur! People are stupid ****...

Author:	darksiege [ Sun Apr 18, 2010 12:22 am ]
Post subject:
I find it funny that no one even though naming it that could cause issues somehow. That would be like an Irish person making a restaurant that only sold Irish cuisines; but deep fried all of them all called it "The Greasy Mick". I am so going to see if a friend of mine and I can run with that idea....

Author:	Diamondeye [ Sun Apr 18, 2010 7:01 am ]
Post subject:
In other words, people from the U.K. and U.S. are concerned about inadvertant racial slurs between 2 other countries, one of which doesn't even speak English.

Author:	darksiege [ Sun Apr 18, 2010 9:40 am ]
Post subject:
Pretty much.

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Author:	Ladas [ Sun Apr 18, 2010 9:46 am ]
Post subject:
At least they didn't call for freshly ground black people

Author:	Stathol [ Sun Apr 18, 2010 10:39 am ]
Post subject:
Nigaz please.

Author:	NephyrS [ Sun Apr 18, 2010 12:50 pm ]
Post subject:
And one of which is made of..... the ethnicity that we worry will be offended!

Author:	LadyKate [ Wed Apr 21, 2010 2:52 pm ]
Post subject:	Re:
Ladas wrote: At least they didn't call for freshly ground black people Oh my goodness that was so out of left field I totally lol'ed!!!

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