A Nigerian in China

Watch Video

Play Video

If you're looking for something really African in Beijing, Aifei Cloth Store on Beijing's Ping'an Street is a must. The shop belongs to a Nigerian man who moved to Beijing four years ago, and opened a small shop with his Chinese friends.

In 2005, a Nigerian named Obinna Uluocha came to Beijing and opened this small shop selling African-style clothes. At first, customers seemed to be more interested in the boss than the clothes.

Handmade floral cotton-padded jackets, big twine bags, wooden necklaces, African batik clothes and baggy African trousers crowd the four walls of the 10-square-meter store. The most striking items are the coats decorated with brightly colored strips.

These are the works of Obinna Uluocha, who now runs the only shop in Beijing selling African style clothes.

Many of the clothes and bags are marked with the Chinese character Wangzi, meaning 'prince' in English. That's because Uluocha is from a high-class family in Nigeria, and he is often called Prince according to the local custom in his hometown.

He leads a leisurely life and spends most of his time in the tiny shop sewing and chatting with his customers in broken Chinese.

With material imported from Africa, Uluocha also provides custom tailoring services. He designs clothes according to the customers' career, age, and figure.

Considering Uluocha's familiarity with local geography and his friendly character, he has recently been assigned as a security volunteer by the local neighborhood committee. Uluocha feels that he is more and more mingled into the local life and plans to continue his happy life in China.