Culture they say is a people's way of life, I was privileged to travel from my location to a different location, that was when I came to understand that culture is in diversities. The only way one can really appreciate the cultural practices of another people is by traveling to that location if not you will only remain where you are and feel that the place where you are is the best or worst kind of place to stay.
I went to Taraba State, Nigeria which is known as Nature's gift to the Nation, below is a little story about the state;
Taraba is a state in North Eastern Nigeria, named after the Taraba River which traverses the southern part of the state. Taraba's capital is Jalingo. The inhabitants are mainly the Fulani, Jukun, Chamba,Kuteb and the Ichen who are found predominantly in the southern part of the state while Wurkum, Mumuye, and Kona tribes are predominantly located in the northern part of the state. The central region is mainly occupied by the Mambila people, Chamba,Fulani and Jibawa. There are over 40 different tribes and their languages in Taraba State.
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The part of Taraba State I went to is called Sardauna local government popularly known as Gembu. The people that dwell there are Mambila people, Kaka people and Fulani people, their language of communication is Fufude. I went to a small village called Mayo sumsum. The inhabitants of the land are mostly farmers.
Traveling to that place made it look like I traveled outside my Nation because all my life growing up I never believed that such kind of places still exists. Most of the things I watched in movies and television started making sense to me, seeing people live in houses built with clay became real to me.
I equally observed that the people's way of doing things were completely different, the kind of food they eat, they way they dress were totally different from what I used to know. The one that surprised me the most was their attitude towards ceremonies, sometimes their event last for 2 to three days with eating, drinking and dancing.
I witnessed one of their funeral celebration, it was totally different from the way we do it in my own place. In this ceremony, they will all form a round circle and be dancing round while a big bowl of palm wine and the person sharing it would be in the center of the dance arena. While they are busy dancing round men would be coming into the center of the stage to collect palm wine.
The experience was really nice, at a point in the dance I had to join the procession, because the people enjoys seeing strangers participate in their activities.
It is really nice to travel around and have a touch of people's way of doing things that is different from what you used to know. Learning doesn't just end in the four walls of a building, traveling is part of learning. Therefore, my advice to everyone of us that don't fancy traveling is to give it a try and enjoy the profit of it.