National Issues
Nigeria: The Identity Crisis, Overwhelmed By Western Culture -By Blessing Bassey
While it is impossible to completely avoid the influence of Western influence, finding a balance between total dependency on foreign ideas and cultural preservation is important for Nigeria. By addressing cultural and ethnic division, promoting homegrown talent, supporting locally made goods, and countering Western cultural influences, Nigeria can creep out of the shadows of Westernization and navigate towards a better future.
On April 3, 2023, the internet was flooded with the tragic news of a young Nigerian woman who died during body enhancement surgery at a clinic in Lagos. It was reported that she passed away due to undetected post-surgery bleeding, leaving her family devastated. Such incidents, along with others, have plagued Nigeria’s efforts to conform to Western beauty standards. How long will Nigeria live in the shadow of Westernization?
Nigeria is home to over 200 million people and 520 ethnic groups. Her abundant natural resources put her in the spotlight, similar to an enticing jar of sugar. And like ants drawn to sugar, Europeans flocked in great numbers to exploit her resources without her consent. They ripped off her cultural pride and soiled her bedrock of tradition. They made her children fight over breadcrumbs, with deterring questions about who was better. And when they finally left her shores, they left behind ideologies that have since undermined the cultural heritage, traditional values, and political philosophies that she has cherished. Today, Nigeria is at a crossroads, seeking to find a balance between total dependency on foreign ideas and preserving its unique cultural identity.
The influences of Westernization are evident in improved living conditions brought by schools, hospitals, and financial institutions. The budding media and technological systems have put Nigerians on par with the rest of the world, thus “closing the gap between the rich and the poor” (Develop Africa, 2016).
However, the positive effects of Western culture and its dependence have made the world regard Nigeria and other African countries as inferior. The language, food, music, political ideologies, marriage, education, and all other aspects that make up Nigerian culture have been eroded by globalization. The pressure to be seen as ‘modern and socially acceptable’ by the Western world has become popular, and it is slowly plunging Nigeria into an abyss of cultural extinction. More prevalent is the weight on African women to conform to Western beauty standards, leading to an insatiable desire to enhance their body features, regardless of the health implications. This has driven a booming beauty industry that have reportedly made over $7.87 billion in 2023 alone. Similarly, Nigerian local goods have been labelled as ‘low quality,” and “unappealing,” by Nigerians, while foreign consumer goods are favored. It is this disconnect from the unique Nigerian identity that have fuelled the fear of missing out, thus, contributing to a sense unworthiness and inadequacy.
“There is no country in the world with the diversity, confidence, talent, and black pride of Nigeria” (Binyavanga Wainana, Kenyan author). This cannot be farther from the truth. Despite these challenges, Nigeria possess a wealth of diversity, talent, and black pride that cannot be overlooked. Today, Nigerian artists have achieved international recognition, an indication that there is hope for preserving cultural heritage.
With the alarming decline of cultural preservation, a feasible route for the future would be to raise cultural awareness. The government and other related organizations can fund cultural initiatives, promote locally made goods, and support homegrown talent. Nigeria can draw inspiration from countries like China, which have resisted the influence of globalization – as evident in their approach to preserve their language. But how far can Nigeria go if it is still faced with cultural divide and segregation? For it is this cultural divide that permeates the nation’s core values and identity, creating an even wider space for Western influence to creep in.
While it is impossible to completely avoid the influence of Western influence, finding a balance between total dependency on foreign ideas and cultural preservation is important for Nigeria. By addressing cultural and ethnic division, promoting homegrown talent, supporting locally made goods, and countering Western cultural influences, Nigeria can creep out of the shadows of Westernization and navigate towards a better future.
