Nollywood actress Juwon Adewunmi has left fans stunned with her raw and emotional confession about relocating to the United States, admitting she would never have made the move if she had known the harsh realities ahead. In a powerful appearance on the TalkToB podcast, the star opened up about the relentless grind, mental health battles, and deep longing for the simpler life she left behind in Nigeria.
“If I’d foreseen all the problems, I wouldn’t have gone.”
She described countless tearful moments wondering if her past in Nigeria wasn’t better than her present predicament.
“There were so many times I was in tears wondering if they pursued me from Nigeria.”
The actress painted a stark picture of American hustle versus Nigerian ease.
“The United States is not a bed of roses. You’ll work tirelessly. I tell Nigerians that we don’t work as much in Nigeria. In Nigeria, a sales girl can be at one corner pressing her phone and that’s something you dare not do in America. You’ll be on your feet for 8 to 12 hours.”
Juwon admitted the move exposed her to mental health struggles she had never encountered back home.
“It was there I first heard things like depression, bipolar, and so on. In Nigeria, you can be lazy and still be able to fend for yourself. I’m not saying it’s a good thing but it’s better than the States.”
She also highlighted the isolation many immigrants face.
“If you are too regular at a person’s house, they’ll start making excuses to avoid you.”
Despite taking on unexpected jobs and pushing through, Juwon insisted she would have been far better off staying put.
“If I was in Nigeria, I’d be better set up. I had two houses before I left for the United States.”
Juwon’s story serves as a painful reminder that the American “japa” dream often comes at an emotional and physical cost far higher than many expect.