When I hear the word “culture,” I see more than food, greetings, or festivals.
As for me,I see culture as something very invincible yet it ties communities together.
It is the unspoken code that tells people who we are, how we behave, and what we value most. Culture is not just the things we do, it is the beliefs we carry, the habits we inherit, and the stories we share.
I am a Nigerian, and I proudly identify as Igbo.
The richness of our culture is very obvious, and of the strongest pillars if I am to say is respect for elders.
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Saying “Good morning.” A young person often bends slightly or kneels a little when greeting an elder.
With that gesture you show , “I acknowledge your wisdom and position in this community.”
I grew up with this , and I believe it teaches humility and order.
Food is another part of culture that always brings people together. In Igbo land, yam is considered the king of crops. During our New Yam Festival, families come together to thank God for a successful harvest. There is dancing, singing, and the display of masquerades. Roasted yam with palm oil and pepper sauce is served, and laughter fills the air. That moment of unity and joy is culture in action.
But culture, to me, is also about storytelling and traditions. I remember sitting with my grandmother under the moonlight as she told us folktales about tortoise and his endless tricks.
To me , hearing those stories is more than entertainment to me, I learnt valuable lessons about honesty, dangers of greed ,and hardwork.
I realize now that this oral tradition is part of our culture, a way of passing wisdom from one generation to the next.
If I could practice another culture outside mine, it would be the Japanese Tea Ceremony. I have watched videos of it and admired how peaceful, respectful, and meaningful each movement is. It is not just drinking tea, it is an art of mindfulness and connection, something I would love to experience.
In the end, culture is the heartbeat of a people. It is found in the little daily habits and in the grand celebrations.
With culture,we develop strong bonds with where we come from ,have morals and guides on how to live,then passing the same values to the future generations.
Although it may appear different,the same goal is common among all cultures, which is to give people a sense of identity, belonging, and home.
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