“Westernization is part of our story now.” That line hits differently for me because I see the people around me trying to hold on to culture but what they’re clinging to no longer truly exists. What remains is a Westernized version of it, shaped by years of outside influence. Yet we still call it tradition.
Our colours doesn’t change our uniqueness, art is art with or without prefixes or suffixes. Art is also like pain, it’s what the one who experiences it feels.
Congratulations on your upcoming film premiere, you have always loved the Arts.
For the longest time, I struggled with the feeling that my writing wasn’t “African” or “Nigerian” enough. I grew up immersed in Western media—Disney, Wattpad—and naturally, my early creations reflected those influences. When I later developed a taste for African media, I found myself battling a particular kind of imposter syndrome. My work never seemed to measure up to the deeply traditional portrayals that dominated the landscape.
But recently, I’ve started to move past that. I’ve begun to embrace the contemporary world I was born into, the one I actually know. I’ve had to ask myself what I’m truly trying to express, and commit to filling that with all that makes me me—rather than feeling like something’s missing just because it doesn’t carry the palm trees, masquerades, or symbolic elements often equated with Africanness.
Thanks for sharing really. Best believe I’ll be coming back to this piece, I have a story that would benefit from being set in this headspace.
After many years of indoctrination into belief systems & ideologies birthed by the west and institutionalised using those meant to lead us, many Africans now can't see how their culture has evolved into something that once wouldn't stand in their communities. They are so far-gone and there's no telling then that what they see, think or believe to be "culture" really isn't what they think it is. Your article here leads many to do what scares them the most which is— To "think". But as many as will read this and see reason to accept themselves first as human, those would be the ones who really understand the true meaning of being Afrikan. Very interesting perspective Kuffy 🥂✨ p.s. "If it scares me, I'm posting it" I believe I needed to see that ❤️
I love detailed and thoughtful contributions like this. Thank you so much for taking out the time in your day to write this and I appreciate the kind words ❤️
Stunning article! Thank you for sharing @kuffyeyo. There are so many threads to follow in this article and I will be thinking about it for a while.
Your point on legibility is so trenchant. A lot of the Afro- business is cynically navigating whiteness and capitalism, minstrelsy but intellectualized. There's also the problem of limited imagination with the surface level attempts at decolonization. Not to mention the problem of flattening and marginalizing minority African cultures because only motifs from large ethnic groups are represented in basically all of the Afro- things.
African intellectuals and creatives still have a LONG way to go.
“Westernization is part of our story now.” That line hits differently for me because I see the people around me trying to hold on to culture but what they’re clinging to no longer truly exists. What remains is a Westernized version of it, shaped by years of outside influence. Yet we still call it tradition.
📌
Our colours doesn’t change our uniqueness, art is art with or without prefixes or suffixes. Art is also like pain, it’s what the one who experiences it feels.
Congratulations on your upcoming film premiere, you have always loved the Arts.
Exactly!!! Love the support ❤️
For the longest time, I struggled with the feeling that my writing wasn’t “African” or “Nigerian” enough. I grew up immersed in Western media—Disney, Wattpad—and naturally, my early creations reflected those influences. When I later developed a taste for African media, I found myself battling a particular kind of imposter syndrome. My work never seemed to measure up to the deeply traditional portrayals that dominated the landscape.
But recently, I’ve started to move past that. I’ve begun to embrace the contemporary world I was born into, the one I actually know. I’ve had to ask myself what I’m truly trying to express, and commit to filling that with all that makes me me—rather than feeling like something’s missing just because it doesn’t carry the palm trees, masquerades, or symbolic elements often equated with Africanness.
Thanks for sharing really. Best believe I’ll be coming back to this piece, I have a story that would benefit from being set in this headspace.
This is precisely how I feel too. Thank you for wording it out in this way and I’m glad you resonated with and found value in it ❤️❤️❤️
After many years of indoctrination into belief systems & ideologies birthed by the west and institutionalised using those meant to lead us, many Africans now can't see how their culture has evolved into something that once wouldn't stand in their communities. They are so far-gone and there's no telling then that what they see, think or believe to be "culture" really isn't what they think it is. Your article here leads many to do what scares them the most which is— To "think". But as many as will read this and see reason to accept themselves first as human, those would be the ones who really understand the true meaning of being Afrikan. Very interesting perspective Kuffy 🥂✨ p.s. "If it scares me, I'm posting it" I believe I needed to see that ❤️
I love detailed and thoughtful contributions like this. Thank you so much for taking out the time in your day to write this and I appreciate the kind words ❤️
Stunning article! Thank you for sharing @kuffyeyo. There are so many threads to follow in this article and I will be thinking about it for a while.
Your point on legibility is so trenchant. A lot of the Afro- business is cynically navigating whiteness and capitalism, minstrelsy but intellectualized. There's also the problem of limited imagination with the surface level attempts at decolonization. Not to mention the problem of flattening and marginalizing minority African cultures because only motifs from large ethnic groups are represented in basically all of the Afro- things.
African intellectuals and creatives still have a LONG way to go.
Again, brilliant article!
This kind of nuanced, thoughtful and effortful feedback is what I live for. Thank you so much for reading and contributing. Glad you enjoyed it ❤️