A Narrative of Nigeria’s Cultural Flourish in the Tech Age

By Mercy Tartsea Anshase and Osamuyime Igbinadolor

In the delicate choreography of Nigeria’s diverse cultural ballet, technology emerges as an unexpected but graceful partner, twirling tradition into the digital spotlight.

Imagine our rich tapestry of stories meeting the algorithms of social media, creating a unique narrative that resonates across borders – a narrative that compels us all to sway to the rhythms of our collective heritage.

In this age of Instagram and WhatsApp, our cultural exchanges unfold like a vibrant marketplace of ideas, humor, and anecdotes. It is a spectacle where the old and new intermingle, and where the ancestral wisdom takes center stage in the virtual agora. Our jokes become memes, our proverbs echo in the tweets, and the essence of our collective humor reverberates through the corridors of the internet.

The technology-mediated communal gathering has become a digital town square where traditions, like seasoned performers, put on a show that transcends time and space. This convergence of the traditional and the modern invites us to a carnival where the diversity of our identities is celebrated through the lens of a smartphone camera and shared with a global audience.

YouTube and podcasts have become the modern griots, weaving tales of our local languages and histories into a digital epic. Our folklore is no longer confined to the flickering flames of village storytelling but flickers on screens around the world, breathing new life into ancient narratives.

Yet, in this digital celebration, a bittersweet note plays – the symphony of the digital divide. As some dance to the rhythm of tech-savvy beats, others are left swaying to the more traditional melodies of basic phones. It is a reminder that our collective dance should be inclusive, ensuring that no one is left behind in this contemporary narrative of progress.

Even as we revel in this digital ballad, it is paramount to hold onto the intimacy of face-to-face connections. In the midst of Zoom meetings and virtual gatherings, the warmth of a shared meal and the resonance of voices in a physical space remain irreplaceable. For all the wonders technology unfolds, it should bow to the enduring beauty of human connection.

So, as Nigeria pirouettes between tradition and innovation, let us acknowledge the tech waltz that propels our cultural narrative forward. In the spirit of progress, let us embrace this dance that safeguards our heritage, letting the symphony of our collective stories continue, unabated, into the digital dawn. After all, the dance of tradition is a celebration that knows no bounds – an ageless rhythm that echoes through the heart of our evolving identity.

Mercy Tartsea Anshase and Osamuyime Igbinadolor Wrote from Bingham University Karu