The Nature of Cultural Identity 

I was born in Cameroon. It is a country rich of it great cultural diversity. In the Yesum Culture, which is one the 253 ethnisis in Cameroon, the grand-parents have a major role in the structure of the each family. It is the grand father for example who gives the blessing for the marriage of his grand-children. My mom was the favorite of my grand-father who passed away in 2014. He wanted my mom to focuse only in her studies and not worry about getting marriage at the age where most of women of our trib usually get married. In the Yezum culture, young women go in marriage at 21. But my mom was very intelligent and my grand-father wanted her to go very far in her education till the point if possible she could get her doctorat and be an exemple for other women in the trib.

 

 Unfortunately things didn’t happened the way my Grandfather, Lujema wanted. In the summer 1987, my mom went to spend few months in the city with her aunts. When she came back, it was with a painful heart that my grand-father realized that her favorite grand-daughter was pregnant. That’s how I came to this world. After I was born, the sadness of my grand father turn into joy. It loved me so much till the day he passed away on his bed at the hospital. He was the one who taught me about Christ and the Adventist message. I was always by my grandfather. When my cousins will be gathered at the courtyard to play soccer, I will rather go seat next to my grandfather who will count me amazing stories of the bible. He used to call me his Joseph.  It is in fact the one I always consider to be my father. I was in absolute admiration of his faith and wisdom.   Even while writing this paragraph, I have tears in my eyes. I miss him immensely and it is for him I want to get a PhD, what he dreamed his daughter my mom, will bring into the family. 

 

I haven’t travelled a lot so far. I lived in Cameroon most of my life. Life in my country is considerably different to life in the US. But in each place, I have experienced a lot realities that has shaped my vision of the world. In Cameroon, I have learned that the family is the supreme good. Every choice that I make will impact it positively of negatively. The honor of the parents is greater than anything else, that’s why in our culture, even being already married and adult, the parents still make some of the most important decision in your household. In US, things are quite different. I learned to live without having my parents telling what to do. I discovered that the focus our efforts in life should be to make ourself happy. 

 

According to Wikipedia.com, Cultural identity is the identity or feeling of belonging to a group. It is part of a person's self-conception and self-perception. It is formed through nationality, ethnicity, religion, social class, generation, locality or any kind of social group that has its own distinct culture.

 

In the Yesum culture, the adherence is feasible. The cultural identity is more nostalgic notion than reality. How can I explain my identity to someone? I will say I’m the product of the combination of the yezum culture and the Christian message of salvation. 

Recent demographic researches have shown the non-white Caucasian ethnics group is now in minority in the US. I think that reality will reshape the dominant value in this country. More and more non- Caucasian value will be predominant. For exemple the national holidays are going to include the cultural celebrations of those who yesterday were the minority. 

 

The first show I watched, after coming to the US, is the Cosby show. Watching that made me think that in America, every single child in the US have the same right as the parent. He is the one who, decide what he or she want to do for his or her life. The wife is the ruler of the household. And the dog is more important than the neighbor.  

 

I think that I have learned to clearly see the good and the bad in my culture. I have been privilege to benefit from it value as the respect of the elderly people, the notion of perseverance in any ambition engaged and the solidarity towards any member of the family. But it is with a great sense of humility I can also be partaker in the improvement of some aspect of the Yezum culture. That’s why I think I’m in the cultural identity achievement stage based on Lustig & Koester’s table 1. 

           References: Wikipedia.com  ; Youtube.com