Culture, Identity and the Beauty of Diversity

Have you ever walked into a place that felt strange at first, but within a short time, started to feel like home simply because of the way the people lived? That’s exactly how I felt the first time I found myself in the midst of the Igbo people. I’m a proud Yoruba by birth, and my roots run deep in the traditions of my tribe. But something about the Igbo culture pulled me in, their bold display of culture, the music, the food, their deep respect for tradition, and how they celebrate one another like family. That moment opened my eyes to something greater; culture isn’t just about where you’re from; it’s also about what speaks to your soul.

To me, culture is beyond just the way we greet, the food we eat, or the festivals we celebrate. Culture is identity. It’s a silent language that tells people who we are without needing to say a word. It shows in how we dress, how we respect elders, how we marry, how we mourn, and even how we show love. Culture is the fingerprint of a people.

As a Yoruba, I’ve been raised to greet elders by kneeling or prostrating, to enjoy meals like amala and ewedu, and to dance to bata drums during festivals. I’ve been part of traditional ceremonies where oral stories and proverbs are used to pass down wisdom. These things have shaped me. But when I lived among the Igbos for a while, I experienced a new kind of beauty. The respect they give to tradition is admirable. I watched them celebrate the New Yam Festival with pride, share meals like ofe nsala and abacha, and wear their isiagu with so much confidence. Their marriage rites, the joy in their dances, even their local greetings, it all fascinated me.

If I ever had the chance, I’d love to experience more of the Igbo culture, not just as a visitor, but by fully immersing myself. Maybe one day, wear the traditional George wrapper, join in the traditional dance, or sit with the elders as they share ancient tales over kola nut.

Now switching gears a bit, when people ask me what I think “waste of time” means, I smile. To me, wasting time is living without learning. It’s doing things repeatedly that add no value to your growth. It’s spending hours trying to be who you’re not, or ignoring the beauty of life around you because you’re chasing shadows. Wasting time is not just about idleness, it’s also about investing in things that don’t feed your purpose or enrich your soul.

Culture, to me, is never a waste of time. Exploring cultures both yours and others is a way of expanding your mind and learning how beautiful and diverse humans are. We may come from different tribes and countries, but when we respect and appreciate each other’s way of life, we make the world feel a lot more like home.

Images are Ai generated

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