Category: Cultural Adaptation

A few years ago, I had a conversation with a young bachelor who told me he was focusing on becoming financially stable before thinking seriously about marriage. He believed that once he had enough money, finding a wife would be easy. 

To date, I still find it fascinating that many of our societies readily embraced Western wedding ceremonies, yet never felt the same urgency to adopt Western funeral traditions.  We borrowed the white gown, the bridesmaids, the exchange of rings, the reception format, and many of the accompanying customs. Yet when it comes to how we…

For the few times I’ve sat in family gatherings, I’ve heard my elders speak in proverbs and wise sayings. I’ve watched them settle disagreements with stories, teach lessons without sounding preachy, and carry themselves with confidence rooted in identity and experience. 

Recently, Sophia Alikija shared an AI-generated image of herself as a dark-skinned woman. She did this after some social media users suggested that much of her beauty came from her lighter complexion and that she would not have been considered as attractive had she been darker.

Like several other people, Amos struggled in a long season of unemployment and financial struggle, until he finally secured a job. The salary was modest, but it was enough to begin rebuilding his life.

In 1957, when Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from colonial rule, there was an overwhelming sense of hope. Political freedom had finally arrived. 

I remember growing up watching many of our mothers and grandmothers prepare for church on Sunday mornings. There was a certain reverence in the way they dressed. Kaba and slit were common not because they were fashionable, but because they reflected what many considered modest, respectful, and appropriate for worship. 

A friend told me about two different weddings he attended. They were both held outdoors with a tinge of garden experience. The décor was elegant, the atmosphere felt straight out of a movie, and the vows were written by the couples themselves.

Recently, I was in a gathering with a group of young people discussing relationships, success, and life goals. The conversation was lively and full of strong opinions.