SPOTTING THE DIFFERENCE

When it comes to what words mean, despite knowing the basic meaning of that word, the word in different contexts can mean different things to different people particular those who use the word in their statements. Culture is a word that means different things depending on the context it is being used but generally we know culture to be the people’s way of life. The way people live and do things is what we see as culture. Across our globe, there are different cultures practiced by individuals, groups, communities and countries.

I’m a Nigerian and I was brought up in the Urhobo culture in Delta State. Most of the way I live my life was influenced by the culture that is practiced in this region. The Urhobo culture takes greetings, language, food, music, dressing, ceremonies and religions seriously. Growing up, it’s almost an abomination for a younger person to pass an older person and not greet whether or not they know them. That’s one way they define a responsible and respectful person and how well the home training they are receiving is.

Another way of life we don’t joke with is our dressing. Well, these days a lot of things have changed but back when I was a little child, the way you dressed is the exact way you are addressed. The Urhobo people simply judge you based on the way you are dressed and because of that it guided a lot of people to take their dressing seriously but all of that has changed now. Then, it was easy to distinguish a prostitute from a modest person but these day it’s so hard to do that.

Our music and dance is also a way of showing our culture. By our music and dance you can easily tell that this is the Urhobo culture. Like most other cultures, we have a way we dance and also like producing our music. It’s quite interesting and entertaining for those that know.

Our food is also a good marker too of our culture. The Urhobo and Isoko people are known to have almost similar cultures so we have a lot of things in common, particularly our food. We are known for our owho soup and starch or eba and also banga soup. These soups are what makes us different from a lot of cultures. Once you mention these foods we are the tribe that normally should come to mind because that is one thing that shows how we live. Some people from other tribes might find those food somehow but for those from where I’m from, they are mostly excited to eat them.

With all that said, if there is any other meaning I think culture can have it should be that culture is it means what sets apart. Culture is what makes every tribe unique and that is why there is no tribe that will tell their story that people won’t find intriguing. This is so because culture sets us apart and for that reason alone it piques the interest of those that are not living in that particular way. You will be interested in knowing why they do what they do and sometimes you even wish to be part of them. That’s it. When something is different, it makes people more interested in it and that is one other way I see culture as.

Thank you for reading through. ❤️