In many Nigerian homes, a graduate's first decent job triggers a curious phenomenon. The congratulatory messages quickly give way to a steady stream of requests: school fees, hospital bills, rent top-ups, "urgent 2k". The payslip belongs to one person; the obligations belong to a village. Across Africa, this is increasingly described as "black tax"—the informal but powerful expectation that successful Black professionals will support their extended families financially. The term has South African roots, describing money that first-generation Black professionals feel compelled to remit to relatives who lack pensions, savings or stable income. In Nigeria, the phrase may be imported, but the reality is deeply local. A 28-year-old analyst in Lagos, a nurse in Abuja, and a tech worker in London sending money to Ibadan, all know this invisible levy on progress.