Media personality Do2dtun has spoken on Nigeria’s cultural landscape and the country’s ability to adopt and adapt various cultures.
However, he notes that Nigerians often fail to preserve and appreciate their own cultural creations, instead viewing them as ordinary.
Do2dtun, in an interview on the Culture League podcast, hosted by Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface, cites Afrobeat as an example, pointing out that while it originated in Nigeria, its global popularity and value are often better recognised by outsiders.
He mentions how international artists like Drake and Chris Brown have incorporated Afrobeat into their work, earning recognition and accolades.
The media personality emphasises the importance of self-appreciation and preservation of Nigerian culture, stating that the country’s people often underestimate the value of their own creations.
He added that Nigerians need to recognise and preserve their cultural heritage, rather than taking it for granted.
He said: “So, I think the truth is, Nigeria, the world we have, we don’t really do well is preserving. We have it, we create it, and we dump it. We’re very good at picking other people’s culture and just making it our own. For example, Amapiano. That’s why I say it’s an advantage. We can turn anything around. We just need for us to be able to preserve these things. Because, for example, look at Afrobeat, for example. Afrobeat is the window to many things that happen lately. Music, even acting, to anything in the world.
“Even as it came into Nigeria, Afrobeat opened a lot of doors. But you know then, conversations started to happen. I’m not an Afrobeat artist. I’m not this, I’m not that. You can never really hear a regular star say, I’m not a regular artist. But I also understand at the end of the day, that was something we owned. We have it, we owned it. But we see the way the people who are not Nigerian see these things. It’s bigger than what you think it is.
“Drake wanted to make an Afrobeat song. Chris Brown did so many Afrobeat songs, that even got him a Grammy nomination, and things like that. So the truth is, when it comes to culture, it’s nicer when you go out and you see how people really are. But because we don’t know, the problem with Nigeria is, as much as you would think we’re big on these things, we don’t know how this is gold to us. But people, they see it, other people see it as gold. We play with it and we don’t really care. But I feel like the ovation is louder. For example, look at what’s happening with you guys as footballers. I mean, I’m sure you go to places and be thinking, so Nigerian people like me.
“And my own people, they would have yabbed me. I think we just need to preserve more. I think that’s the thing in Nigeria. If we create many things, beautiful things, we just don’t know how to preserve it. So people who see it out there, they see it as gold. From our fashion, to even our way of life. Some people don’t really want to be you. Some people will hate on you, because they like what they see, but they just want to be, but they just don’t know how. And that’s how we are. We’re premium people. We just need to be able to understand that. I think outside, they really see it as gold, and they accept it very easily”.
