Parallels Between Nigerian and Peruvian Culture

On the surface, Nigeria and Peru seem like countries that are worlds apart, but I have noticed some parallels between the two that have made me feel more comfortable in a country that is completely unknown to me and outside of my comfort zone.

Early on in the Maymester, we discussed that mothers sometimes keep their babies on their back by wrapping them in cloth so that they are able to go about their day while keeping their child in close proximity. I found it fascinating to be able to make a connection between the culture here and what makes up a part of my own cultural identity. Although I don’t think that my mom ever did this with me and my brothers, I’ve seen it as a common occurrence among my aunts to the point where I have associated this behavior with Nigerians.

Something interesting that particularly stood out to me in Cuzco was how often I have seen a type of bag that is consistently found in Nigerian households. “Ghana Must Go” bags, as Africans like to call them, aren’t used to carry anything that has any particular cultural significance, but I have never seen anyone else but Africans owning one of these. I first noticed it while at Hotel Archangel, and after that I noticed other people carrying them around when out and about. It is likely that this type of bag is produced worldwide, but I have apparently not seen enough of the world to know about its prevalence outside of my own culture.

The flexibility of time here versus in America is a cultural aspect that I have had to deal with ever since I was little. A prime example of this growing up was the set-up of parties that were thrown by my relatives. Even if the flyer said to promptly be there by 7:00 PM, there is a very strong guarantee that most attendees will not show up until 9:00 PM or 10:00 PM, only for the party to last until 3:00 in the morning at the earliest. Because there is that expectation already set in place that time is seen as more of a suggestion, that attitude leaks into other aspects of life, much like what I’ve seen in Cuzco so far. Every restaurant that we have visited does not pressure you to finish your food and leave and encourages you to enjoy the company of those you’re eating with instead.

I did not realize that drawing connections between cultures was going to be as easy as it has been since arriving in Cuzco. Initially, I assumed that I was going to get a strong sense of culture shock when in reality, I felt more at ease here than I feel like I would have had I not made the effort to learn more about the nuances of Peruvian culture.