False
1983;
Score | 46
Felix Grace Student, Artist and Writer @ Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Abuja, Nigeria
1768
802
98
77
Attended | Ahmadu Bello University(BS),
In Africa • 2 min read • Jun 05, 2025 10:21a.m.
How Western Culture Has Shaped the Way I Think—and Why I’m Choosing to Be More Authentic
<p><br/></p><p>Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how deeply Western culture has affected the way I see myself, my people, and the world around me. I didn’t even notice it at first. It was subtle—through the movies I watched, the influencers I followed, the standards of beauty I saw online, the way success is defined everywhere.</p><p><br/></p><p>Somewhere along the way, I started measuring myself by values and expectations that weren’t even mine. I began to see my African identity as something I needed to "edit" to be accepted. My natural hair didn’t feel beautiful enough. My accent felt like something I had to hide. Our traditions felt “old-fashioned,” even though they’re full of wisdom and depth.</p><p><br/></p><p>It’s like I was slowly being pulled away from myself—and I didn’t even realize it.</p><p><br/></p><p>But now, I’m waking up.</p><p><br/></p><p>I’m realizing that Western culture, while influential, doesn’t have to replace who I am. I don’t need to sound, look, or act a certain way to be seen as valuable. I don’t need to dim my roots to shine. There’s so much beauty in being African—in our languages, our creativity, our spirit, our history, our strength.</p><p>So I’m choosing to be more authentic.</p><p>I’m learning to love the parts of myself that I was once taught to hide. I’m embracing my voice, my culture, my truth. I want to grow, yes—but not by becoming someone else. I want to evolve as myself.</p><p><br/></p><p>Because being African isn’t something I need to escape—it’s something I’m learning to honor.</p><p><br/></p>
insight image
How Western Culture Has Shaped the Way I Think—...
By Felix Grace • 3 plays
0:00 / 0:00
|
Embrace the heritage.please engage in this thank you.
Send tip
3
views 34
1 share
Felix has 3 badges
badge
badge
badge
Learn more about badges

Other insights from Felix Grace

Felix Grace
Felix Grace
city icon on TwoCents Abuja, Nigeria
🌍 "World Powers and the Rest of Us: A Nigerian ... The Economy Let’s be honest — whenever I hear the term "world powers"...
Felix Grace
Felix Grace
city icon on TwoCents Abuja, Nigeria
The Hidden Wonders of Egypt: More Than Just Pyr... Travel and Tourism I used to think Egypt was just pyramids, camels, and endl...
Felix Grace
Felix Grace
city icon on TwoCents Abuja, Nigeria
ADHD: My Chaotic Superpower (No Cape Required) Mental Health So here's the thing—ADHD gets a really weird rep. People ...
Felix Grace
Felix Grace
city icon on TwoCents Abuja, Nigeria
You don’t need more time. You need fewer distra... The Economy You Don’t Need More Time. You Need Fewer Distractions.We ...
Felix Grace
Felix Grace
city icon on TwoCents Abuja, Nigeria
Why African Parents Need to Stop Comparing Thei... Africa In many African households, the phrase “Look at so-and-so...
Felix Grace
Felix Grace
city icon on TwoCents Abuja, Nigeria
Why Are We So Obsessed With Aesthetics But Forg... People and Society You ever meet someone whose Instagram is giving heaven bu...
Felix Grace
Felix Grace
city icon on TwoCents Abuja, Nigeria
“Do Coincidences Really Exist?” Philosophy They say everything happens for a reason — but what if th...
Felix Grace
Felix Grace
city icon on TwoCents Abuja, Nigeria
“Gen Z Is the Funniest, Most Unserious, Yet Ter... People and Society Sometimes I sit back, scroll through my phone, and just w...
Felix Grace
Felix Grace
city icon on TwoCents Abuja, Nigeria
Life in Nigeria: A Rollercoaster with No Seatbelt Africa Living in Nigeria is like trying to juggle fire while rid...
Felix Grace
Felix Grace
city icon on TwoCents Abuja, Nigeria
Marriage before sex: things teens and young adu... Relationships Why I’m Choosing Marriage Before SexIn today’s world, wai...
Insights for you.
The Resource Curse
Samuel Ibok
Samuel Ibok
city icon on TwoCents Lagos, Nigeria
Africa
The Resource Curse
 Whenever I think of the plight in Africa, a certain song from my childhood days comes to mind.&nbsp;Some have food but cannot eat; some can eat but...
1417 views
7 upvotes
2 comments
BREAST IRONING
Mwambo Kate
Mwambo Kate COO @ Enchird Technolog...
city icon on TwoCents Yaoundé, Cameroon
Africa
BREAST IRONING
 Ever heard of the breast ironing practice? well, I am from Cameroon and we have strong ties to it. Africans may brag about having the most beautifu...
1244 views
7 upvotes
7 comments
Africa is rich or poor ?!
Dr Mo Ameer
Dr Mo Ameer Intern doctor at MUH (M... @ Mansoura University
city icon on TwoCents Al Manşūrah, Egypt
Africa
Africa is rich or poor ?!
 To address the issue of poverty and underdevelopment in Africa, it is important to consider the root causes and take a holistic approach that takes...
915 views
5 upvotes
5 comments
CONCEDING SUPREMACY - THE OWN GOAL PHENOMENON
Jefferson Nnadiekwe
Jefferson Nnadiekwe Freelance scriptwriter and creat...
city icon on TwoCents Lagos, Nigeria
Africa
CONCEDING SUPREMACY - THE OWN GOAL PHENOMENON
 An African man would never agree to the notion that the whites are superior to us. The strange thing however, is that their actions suggest otherwi...
816 views
2 upvotes
0 comments
FOR MY WOKE BROTHERS
Jefferson Nnadiekwe
Jefferson Nnadiekwe Freelance scriptwriter and creat...
city icon on TwoCents Lagos, Nigeria
Africa
FOR MY WOKE BROTHERS
 The death of the Queen of England, is no more breaking news. It's been a week since the news of her demise seized the attention of the entire world...
785 views
2 upvotes
0 comments
THE REAL WAKANDA IS THE DEMOCRACTIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO .
Mwambo Kate
Mwambo Kate COO @ Enchird Technolog...
city icon on TwoCents Yaoundé, Cameroon
Africa
THE REAL WAKANDA IS THE DEMOCRACTIC REPUBL...
 Sometimes life imitates art, other times art imitates life The first time I watched Wakanda Forever , I remember thinking how magnificent it w...
710 views
6 upvotes
4 comments
Why have African societies failed?
Tomi Walker
Tomi Walker Director @ Sage Institute
city icon on TwoCents Lagos, Nigeria
Africa
Why have African societies failed?
 Where 2 or 3 Africans are gathered, conversations about our countries are sure follow. And the conversations haven’t changed much for decades. We’l...
682 views
3 upvotes
3 comments
premium insight THE END OF COLONIALISM: AN UNPOPULAR OPINION PART 2
Oluseyi Vandy
Oluseyi Vandy Freelance writer, audio producer...
city icon on TwoCents Lagos, Nigeria
Africa
THE END OF COLONIALISM: AN UNPOPULAR OPINI...
 The colonialists were never going to let all that access to free resources go, we still hear of what the French did to countries like Niger from th...
396 views
3 upvotes
1 comment
THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS
Oluseyi Vandy
Oluseyi Vandy Freelance writer, audio producer...
city icon on TwoCents Lagos, Nigeria
Africa
THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS
 How do you get someone reliant on you? To get them to follow your every instruction? The answer is to give them what they can't get anywhere else, ...
375 views
2 upvotes
1 comment
Divide The National Moi Moi
Samuel Ibok
Samuel Ibok
city icon on TwoCents Lagos, Nigeria
Africa
Divide The National Moi Moi
 While embarking on my beauty stroll this evening, I pondered what I would write about. For some reason, I couldn't choose out of the multiple ideas...
337 views
4 upvotes
2 comments
What is TwoCents? ×
+