My Culture, My Heritage

There is an adage in Yoruba that says; Mi o ni fi owo osi juwe ile baba mi. This means I won't use my left hand to describe my father's house

So, let me define culture since culture is the topic. Culture can be defined as a way of life. In Nigeria, we have different cultures, different languages and traditions.

It is so disheartening to see that many children today know so little about their heritage. Some have never even been to their ancestral home, leaving them disconnected from their roots. If this trend continues, we risk losing our cultural identity altogether, leading to significant consequences for future generations. We must imbibe our culture and pass it down to our generations; this way, we can stay connected to our heritage.

As a Yoruba woman from the southwestern part of Nigeria, I hold my culture dear to my heart. We have so many things we do as a culture and traditions. Unfortunately, many of our rich traditions and customs are fading away as we increasingly adopt the cultures of others while neglecting our own. We have a way we dress in Aso-oke or Aso ofi, Iro and Buba, Dansiki with beads and cowries but nowadays we have imitiated the white culture by wearing trousers and suits. We are no longer comfortable in our original attire🤔

My children on our cultural attire

What about our language? The majority of the Yoruba breed has lost it in this aspect; a Yoruba child who cannot speak the dialect fluently has lost, and the culture has faded away. Most of our elementary schools don't offer Yoruba as a subject in a Yoruba land, and to even make it worse, the Yoruba language is optional in a Yoruba land while the English language is compulsory. I am not different in this angle because I struggled at times.

There was one particular day when we decided to quiz our children in our dialect. I felt a deep sense of embarrassment when my eldest, who is ten years old, struggled to answer the questions correctly. Kinni oruko e? (what is your name?) She couldn't answer this simple question 🤔It was a wake-up call for us. From that point on, we prioritized speaking Yoruba in our home. It was a necessary change; after all, it is our responsibility to ensure our children learn and embrace their own language.

In Yoruba culture, respect is paramount. We teach our children to show respect through their greetings; girls kneel, while boys prostrate. This cultural practice extends beyond family members to others; it is a must to show respect to everyone! Traditional dances, music, ceremonies, and delicious meals are integral aspects of Yoruba heritage. We cherish these practices as they foster a strong sense of identity and belonging.

I am committed to passing my culture on to my children. I intend to share our values, language, traditions, cuisine, and ways of life with them. This will help them understand their roots and instill in them a sense of belonging. Learning about our culture, what to do, and what to avoid will help them appreciate its significance.

I will tell them stories about our heroes and heroines, the legends of Yoruba land, and the historical events that shaped our people, including the tale of Oduduwa, the legendary founder of our land, and his offspring. While some of this history is depicted in Yoruba movies, which are enjoyable to watch, I will strive to ensure they gain a deeper understanding of our heritage.

By instilling these lessons, I hope to equip my children with the knowledge and appreciation of their culture, ensuring it thrives for generations to come.

This is my response to the #hivenaija weekly edition 95.

   The images are mine.