Hey guys! Welcome back to the blog! I hope last week was good to you and that this week will be even better!
If you don’t already know, I’m new to Ghana (hence the name ‘A Stranger In Accra’). I solely chose to put Accra in the name because it’s where I reside. I can only speak of my experiences in Accra.
I moved to Ghana 3 years ago, and the 30th of this month will mark my 3 year anniversary. Time really does fly. It seems like it was only yesterday when I was told my family and I would be moving here.
Before moving, I never really questioned my identity. I always identified as a Ghanaian who was raised outside of Ghana. Everyone knew and no one questioned it.
When I moved here, things changed, and I questioned who I was. I not only sounded different, but I looked and ate differently. People would mock my accent, the way I dressed and how I looked among many others.
It was like I wasn’t Ghanaian enough, and stood out like a sore thumb. Standing out didn’t affect me, as making friends was much easier, but being mocked was something I couldn’t take.
I felt like I identified more with the country I grew up in, as I had adopted their culture and way of life. There was no need to adapt to it, as it was what I was born into. Because of this, I decided to identify with the country I was born in. If someone asked where I was from, I’d mention the country I was born in.
This worked for a while, until my friends started feeling some type of way about it. They said, “no, no! You’re Ghanaian!” I felt so confused, because they were the same people who laughed at my differences, and failed to empathise with my struggles
If I couldn’t be Ghanaian or from the country I grew up in, then what was I?
For three years, I’ve battled with this question, as I honestly and truly don’t know what I am. My passport says I’m Ghanaian. My family is Ghanaian. My heart is in the country I grew up and resided in for over 15 years. The food I eat is from that country. My style is inspired by that country and heck, I speak like I’m from that country!
It’s a whole hullabaloo, but it is what it is…
I’m yet to figure out what to identify myself as, but for now I say that I’m half of each. When someone asks where I’m from, I say “I’m half Ghanaian and …” It’s easier for me that way.
With all this being said, I’ve learnt one integral lesson: No one can tell you who you are. You decide for yourself and keep it pushing,
It took me a while to stop letting other people’s opinions on what I am affect me. I used to follow the crowd and just say what they wanted me to say, even when I didn’t believe it myself.
Getting to this place wasn’t easy, but I’m happy that I’ve made it.
In the future, I would like to acquire a passport from the country I grew up in, because it would make me feel more connected. Technically, I’m a citizen by naturalisation and birth, but I want to solidify it. Plus having dual citizenship is quite cool, so I wouldn’t mind that.
Not knowing who you are or what to identify as can be daunting, but it’s the journey to finding out that is the most rewarding.
As days go by, I hope to gain a clear understanding of who and what I am, but for now, I’m enjoying life as an inbetweener. But hey, maybe that’s what I am: an inbetweener!
We’ve come to the end of this blog post, and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing! Let me know what you think in the comments down below, and until next week, see ya later, alligator!
Thanks for reading!
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A STRANGER IN ACCRA 
6 replies on ““Who am I?” Facing an Identity Crisis”
This is great! I can relate a bit to the comments made by friends and people when i moved back home after about 6 years in Kenya because of how i spoke. It was frustrating telling them that in most cases of people getting exposure, there’s change, especially at a foundational age and this entire stigma within some African countries needs to be stopped. The mocking and slight ignorance towards people that are different is very damaging,so congratulations on listening to yourself,which quite frankly is the only voice you need to hear!
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Sorry you had to go through that💛💛 The ignorance is so real, but we shall overcome it!! Thank you😁 I hope that you also listen to yourself and stop listening to the naysayers out there. Trust me, they’re not worth your time or thinking space…✨✨✨
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Thank you for sharing! Identity crises about where you’re from are hard. I’m a third culture kid, and it’s a lifetime of people not understanding you, so you have to create your own reality. Hang in there! ❤
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Yeah, that’s very true. You do have to create your own reality, and sometimes end up living in your own head… It’s sad that people don’t appreciate the diversity of this world, but it is what it is… Thank you and hang in there too! Don’t let the naysayers get to you💛 Be yourself and keep it pushing🙌🏾🙌🏾
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Thank you! Same to you! 😊💜
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💛💛💛
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