Love in Cultural Diversity

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Does this popular trend of incorporating attire and accessories from other tribes during weddings promote cultural appreciation and shared expression? If yes, give reasons for your answer. If no, do you think it erases the original identity, meaning, and ownership of such cultural elements?

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Just maybe since I wasn't born and raised in my state of origin and also because both my parents were not really big about their culture, it was not embedded in me. I am an Akwa Ibom lady but was born and brought up in the streets of Lagos, and just maybe if I were still there till now, there would have been a high possibility if me marrying a Yoruba man.

That is one tribe I love everything about them, and was open about marrying a Yoruba man (Christian) though. From their names, to their ceremonial event, attire, and food. When I started thinking about marriage which was like a year ago, I told myself that I was going to be wearing one of their attire (asooke) for my occasion and I meant it because of my love for their culture.

As much as culture should be observed, in most cases, I still feel an individual should have the right to incorporate his or her desire, love, or interest for any culture during that day as it is their special day. It doesn't have to be erased totally but incorporating a particular cultural attire in a wedding shows cultural diversity and appreciation or likeness to other cultural attires.

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For someone who loves the Yoruba attire, and how unique they look, I would love to wear them on my day, and if we all start becoming culturally strict, it would restrict me from exploring because unfortunately I am not a Yoruba lady and may not be marrying a yoruba man which would have aided me to explore their cultural attire during our big day.

Although I know that most times there is abuse of these things especially when it comes to trends, I don't think people wear or borrow other cultural attire for the trend, I believe like me, it is because of how we love them.

It is borrowed, it is incorporated, so I don't think it totally extinguishes their original identity, meaning, and ownership of such cultural elements, it is exploring one's love interest, it is being a part of other cultures, it is having fun, and I don't think it is wrong.

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If I had a liking for the Igbo cultural coral bead, I am sure I would have found a way to incorporate them on my big day, but unfortunately, I do not see their attire or accessories as a big deal, so I won't be found with such attire. So I don't think it is wrong if others do or explore other cultural attire or accessories they find interesting.

The fun fact in today's world is that many people no longer take into consideration their cultural attire or accessories, they are either buying what they can afford or what they want or love to wear on their big day.

If I am not wrong, back then, we (Akwa Ibomites) especially the the bride's and maybe the parents of the brides were always found in those gorges dresses but in our today world, the brides and their mothers use laces, and I have seen cases were brides wear the normal Ankara dress perhaps because they could not afford it or because they don't love to wear lace and since most of these cultural attire are not dresses that can be worn daily and on any occasion, they prefer to get something they can wear any time they wish to.

I think people should be allowed to wear what they can afford and what they love, they should not be constrained to just the cultural attire and accessories as the world is revolving and many things are no longer the way they used to be after all we are "One Nigeria"

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This is my response to Sam’s Hangout #104 - “CULTURE, EXPRESSION & OWNERSHIP”

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Thank you for reading my blog!!!