Never Disperse Your Culture Because It’s Your Strength In The World
Obehi Ewanfoh
Helping entrepreneurs to own and profit from their stories through his Story to Asset Framework. | Founder of AClasses Media and WeDiasporan | Host of The Obehi Podcast | Author of The Storytelling Mastery
In a world that constantly pushes towards homogenization, the preservation and celebration of cultural heritage stand as acts of resilience and empowerment. This sentiment was at the heart of a recent LinkedIn audio live event in our series of diaspora storytelling, “Harnessing the Power of African Diaspora Heritage for Positive Change.” The key message that emerged from this discussion was that: as Africans and members of the African diaspora, we should never disperse our culture, for it is our strength in the world.
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Gloria Tinu Ogunbadejo’s Reflections: Honoring the Past
Gloria Tinu Ogunbadejo, a Certified Ancestral Healing Practitioner and NLP Coach brought a profound perspective to the discussion. As an ordained minister and advisor at Diabetes UK, Ogunbadejo’s work is rooted in restoring balance and harmony through the acknowledgment of one’s roots.
“Acknowledging and honoring our ancestors and those who have been here before us is essential and cannot be stressed enough,” she said during the event. This acknowledgment is not just a formality but a crucial part of identity and resilience.
Ogunbadejo emphasized the power of storytelling in preserving cultural heritage. “We need to keep telling our stories and let them become a way of life,” she noted.
Storytelling serves as a bridge between generations, ensuring that the values, struggles, and triumphs of the past are not forgotten. This practice is vital for maintaining a strong cultural identity amidst the pressures to assimilate into dominant cultures.
The importance of community and collaboration was another key theme in Ogunbadejo’s reflections. “We can harness the power of African diaspora heritage for positive change by working collaboratively among people of African descent,” she asserted.
This collaboration involves creating spaces for dialogue, learning, and shared experiences, which can foster a sense of unity and purpose.
Ogunbadejo also highlighted the need for self-reflection in preserving cultural heritage. “Are you honoring your ancestors in your actions?” she asked.
This question prompts individuals to consider whether their daily choices and behaviors align with the values and traditions passed down through generations. By doing so, they can avoid inadvertently undermining their heritage.
Dr. Marcia Thomas’s Insights: Embracing African Identity
Dr. Marcia Thomas, an expert in helping faith-based introverted women leaders recover from life trauma, brought another layer of insight to the conversation. She emphasized the importance of understanding one’s African identity, irrespective of where one resides in the world.
“Our ancestors left key messages in the universe whether good or bad when they were going through situations,” Dr. Marcia explained. These ancestral messages continue to influence the lives of their descendants, shaping their experiences and perspectives.
You might also like The Transformative Power of Ancestral Lineage Healing: A Conversation with Gloria Tinu Ogunbadejo.
She noted that to fit into mainstream narratives, individuals often question their identity. “Sometimes, we need to accommodate other people, but we must harness our heritage,” she said.
This balancing act requires individuals to respect and integrate into the societies they live in while also retaining and celebrating their unique cultural backgrounds.
The richness of African heritage, according to Dr. Marcia, is unparalleled. “The African heritage is one of the richest if not the richest in the world,” she stated. This richness stems from a diverse history of languages, traditions, art forms, and philosophies.
However, to fully appreciate and harness this heritage, it is crucial to understand its historical context, including the exploitation and abuse that have shaped it over the centuries.
Dr. Marcia called for active engagement in cultural appropriation, not in the negative sense often associated with the term, but as a means of reclaiming and celebrating one’s heritage.
“We need to be the ones to do the work to reclaim our heritage,” she urged. This involves a conscious effort to learn, teach, and embody the traditions and values that define African cultures. Read more at https://aclasses.org/never-disperse-your-culture/
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8 个月The lost of a culture is a lost for all humanity.?
Helping entrepreneurs to own and profit from their stories through his Story to Asset Framework. | Founder of AClasses Media and WeDiasporan | Host of The Obehi Podcast | Author of The Storytelling Mastery
8 个月Read more at https://aclasses.org/never-disperse-your-culture/
Helping entrepreneurs to own and profit from their stories through his Story to Asset Framework. | Founder of AClasses Media and WeDiasporan | Host of The Obehi Podcast | Author of The Storytelling Mastery
8 个月Josiah U., founder of Solution Security Architect in Columbia, South Carolina, provided a pragmatic view on the economic and intellectual aspects of cultural preservation.
Helping entrepreneurs to own and profit from their stories through his Story to Asset Framework. | Founder of AClasses Media and WeDiasporan | Host of The Obehi Podcast | Author of The Storytelling Mastery
8 个月“Acknowledging and honoring our ancestors and those who have been here before us is essential and cannot be stressed enough,” she said during the event. This acknowledgment is not just a formality but a crucial part of identity and resilience. Gloria Tinu Ogunbadejo’s Reflections on Honoring the Past
Helping entrepreneurs to own and profit from their stories through his Story to Asset Framework. | Founder of AClasses Media and WeDiasporan | Host of The Obehi Podcast | Author of The Storytelling Mastery
8 个月Dr. Marcia Thomas called for active engagement in cultural appropriation, not in the negative sense often associated with the term, but as a means of reclaiming and celebrating one’s heritage. “We need to be the ones to do the work to reclaim our heritage,” she urged. This involves a conscious effort to learn, teach, and embody the traditions and values that define African cultures.