Cultural identity is a feeling of belonging to a group, it’s a part of a person’s self-conception, perception, religion, social class, generation, locality, ethnicity or any kind of social group that has its own distinct attributes. In this way, cultural identity is both characteristic of the individual and also that of group.
Certain individuals who perceives their identities to transcent others identities and that others should not exist because they’re ‘perceived’ to be subservient from their own identities. Hausa ethnic group doesn’t have to be viewed with regard to whether it’s better than Yoruba ethnic group. Ngas culture is great but it doesn’t have to be viewed as better than Mwaghavul culture. Tarok doesn’t have to be viewed as better than Berom, neither should Christianity be viewed in regard to being better than Islam. It weakends our resolves for justice and equality when we fight against a dominant ethnic group or religion at the national level yet we dominate those who are lesser than us at our localities. The multiplicity of our cultural identities is what makes us exceptional as a nation; embracing such variance lies the strength we need for collective National progress.
It’s okay to love and embrace our respective cultures and religion, but thinking that one should dominate others is not only barbaric but also fall short of anything decent. Extreme annexation of cultural identities is the re-enforcement for the national chaotic experience of unfortunate division and spining unrest which has bedeviled us for so long.
We have the obligation to re-write this historic conception not only with pen but also with actions. We must clinch unto the identity flexibility that allows us to see ourselves in other people’s identities; flexibilities that pushes us to empathy where we see ourselves in the stories and struggles of others. Our pursues and the quest of others doesn’t have to be a ‘zero-sum-game, where one must prevail at the expense of another. We must rise with great actions that should pierce through this faulty believe system in order to recreate this nation into an ordered and peaceful Nigeria.

Yakubu Nengak Yohney

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REVISITING OUR CULTURAL IDENTITIES: A CATALYST FOR AN ORDERED AND PEACEFUL NIGERIA