Understanding Culture and Our Progress

Culture is a wonderful thing. Almost everyone understands it in some way. We can share examples of it when we see it. But many people find it hard to define. This is not surprising. Beyond its fancy parts like paintings, music, dance, and poetry, culture describes everything we do. It gets more interesting. Different people have unique ways of doing similar things. Is this because of nature or nurture? Who knows? One thing is clear. These differences lead to some people trying to show their culture is better than others.

This broad topic about culture is complicated because culture also has a deeper meaning. In this sense, it can be split into two parts: beautiful and useful. Neither part needs the other to exist. During our history, cultures have learned to agree on their useful parts. Strong nations do not attack weaker ones just because they can. Victors are not allowed to harm their defeated foes or enslave their families. The trend has been to focus on the artistic sides of different cultures.

Western classical music versus Fuji music? I hear both in different ways. Woodwind instruments versus drums? I feel them differently too. The Venetian waltz versus Bàtá dance? These are two different ways to express the same idea. Importantly, neither the idea nor the way it is expressed came from a place of rivalry. This should be the case. Whether high-class or simple, taste is taste. Everyone should enjoy their own cultural values, as long as it does not harm anyone else. This idea is central to many discussions about culture's role in society, especially in the liberal West. Given how complex this conversation is, there are disagreements about what culture should be.

In countries like Russia and China, people do not hold back from harming others for the sake of culture. Here, causing harm is accepted, even encouraged, if it serves the interests of the nation as decided by the leader. This is not just true for Russia and China. Many authoritarian societies see culture in this way. Interestingly, much of what is called culture in Nigeria today fits this mold. Here, individual rights often take a back seat to the wishes of elders, leaders, and their associates. It does not matter whether these powerful figures lead religious groups, political parties, or traditional institutions.

When we focus on the beautiful aspects of our culture, it reveals our weaknesses. "Nigerians are some of the most respectful people on earth." This is our main cultural strength. The physical gestures that younger people and those lower in rank display in front of their elders serve as proof of this claim. Yet, many Nigerians are skilled at speaking ill of others behind their backs. This shows our lack of collective maturity and explains why our public spaces can be toxic. It suggests that what we do is often not based on strong beliefs or conscience. The respect we show in our culture is often just for show, and the rewards we get encourage us to follow the crowd.

We usually think about economic growth when we talk about the country’s future. But there is another important question: "How do we create a society where each member is strong and morally independent?" I don’t have the answers. But I believe that culture is more than just Bàtá, Mkpokiti, Igbabonelimhin, Asharuwa, or the ways we show respect to our elders. It also includes how we treat property, especially when it is obtained illegally.