The beauty of culture

When viewing this picture, what are your initial reactions? We can see that there is a woman making a hot beverage, a lady getting her hair braided and children gathering around the women who are accentuated in the picture. However, is there a deeper meaning to this picture? By embarking on this brief journey in order to explore the culture that is associated with this picture, the significance of this picture will be unraveled.

Culture is a beautiful element that makes life more meaningful and enriching. It is the foundation of a person’s identity and it can influence and shape morals, values and interests. I LOVE my culture and it has played a huge factor in my life today. The complexity of my culture makes it even more beautiful and I wouldn’t change it if I had that power. I’m originally from Eritrea, which is located in East Africa. There are nine tribes in Eritrea and each tribe has it’s own subset of culture. I’m from the largest tribe: Tigrinya. The different aspects of culture such as food, language, music, dance, holidays and festivities are big components that mold the culture of Eritrea.

In the picture, the lady on the left is making a hot beverage in the eyes of an outsider. However, she is actually facilitating a coffee ceremony that's prevalent in my culture. This ritual brings family and friends together. Coffee beans are roasted, ground and brewed in one sitting. Afterwards, coffee is poured into the mini cups and it’s sipped slowly in order to savor the taste and talk with the rest of the people who apart of the coffee ceremony. Traditional bread, hambasha is also eaten during this ceremony as displayed in the picture next to the special cups and at times incents are used during coffee ceremonies. As shown in the picture, an elderly woman is braiding hair. In the past, most women use to get their hair braided in a traditional form, but in this modern day era it’s usually braided for special occasions and older women usually have their hair in braids. The children are gathered around the women who are accentuated the picture implies the unity of family, which is an important aspect in my culture.

Various components of my culture such as food, dance, family unity, has influenced me to embrace my culture. This beautiful image that depicts a coffee ceremony symbolizing family unity are important aspects of my rich culture. My culture has shaped me to become a culturally and family oriented individual. I’ve shaped my story by acquiring a taste for learning about other cultures as well as indulging in my own culture and valuing the importance of family unity.