Anecdotal Narratives of Foodways and Identity from Lagos to Florida

This chapter explores how food functions as both a tangible and symbolic anchor of cultural identity for Nigerian migrants in the United States, using the personal narrative of a young male student as primary qualitative data. Through an in-depth interview and thematic analyses, this chapter examines how traditional food practices are maintained, adapted, and negotiated in a new cultural context, and how these practices intersect with broader psychological processes of acculturation, identity formation, and resilience. Drawing on Berry’s acculturation model and theories of cultural identity, this chapter highlights the ways in which culinary traditions serve as a site of both continuity and change, enabling migrants to navigate the challenges of relocation while preserving a sense of belonging.