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I love my country especially my region st Catherine, being able to go out at eat fruits or go swimming is truly one thing I miss the most but with that I still love all the festivities that happen in celebration of our country and all the people who helped build the nation the culture days and grand market visits and labour weekend are just some of the things that we do to celebrate their hard work .
I’m Ghanaian, and my culture is a big part of who I am. Ghana is rich in tradition, pride, and creativity, from the meanings behind hairstyles to the creativity in clothing. Even though I live in the UK, I stay connected through language, music, hair, and the values I was raised with. This shoot was a chance to express my identity visually showing confidence, heritage, and the blend of cultures that shape me.
It's hard to define myself when I never thought I'd make it this far- heavy starter isn't it?
But it's true. I can label myself with so many things, I'm trans, I'm bisexual, I'm aroace, I'm Romanian, and yet none of them feel right, they feel like labels and that's all. It's even harder to say all that when I have people around me, when I'm standing here, being the one taking the photos, but that's the point of all this isn't it? To say that it doesn't matter who you were, or where you are, just who you want to be.
I'll be honest, I didn't know who I wanted to be, I still don't know, people ask me like I'm meant to know but in reality I didn't think I'd be here. I didn't think I'd be doing a photoshoot for an exhibition, I didn't think my teachers would be asking me to take photos for the school, I didn't think I'd have people around me who cared.
It feels hypocritical to say this knowing the way I think, but it does change. Life does change. You'll find friends, you'll find a community, you'll find yourself. Even through hurt and tears, through laughter's and secrets, you'll learn who it is that's inside that head. So take a breather, and focus on the now.
Here, I'll start for us. Hi, I'm Kayden, or Lucian if you want. I like every colour, I take photos because I want people to smile, I have an amazing friend half way across he world, I've hurt and I've been hurt, but I'm here.
Who are you?
Having 2 nationalities can sound so fun and intriguing.
Italian and Nigerian.
Such great countries with different cultures mixed in one person making you rich with heritage.
But it's not that easy anymore when you become too Italian to be truly considered Nigerian, but too Nigerian to be truly considered Italian.
For a long time being born and raised in Italy has been my pride, it was who I was, trying to conceal the other side of me as it was too different. You cannot expect a child to not try to blend with their surroundings doesn't matter if it starts to shape a different you that's not you.
Growing up, maturing, I started to feel both of those cultures actually converging into something concrete inside of me, it wasn't just a blurry tradition that I heard, it was a language, my language, that I can relate to; the family history, the clothes traditions, the parties...and at the same time I was living surrounded by the Italian culture of food, music, festivals, the people. And that's when, each of my nationalities became so clear with a sense of stability regarding WHO I AM.
Walking around London with my Nigerian proudly on my shoulders. Steadily showing my heritage was so empowering, I felt happy that people recognized my flag, happy and proud that people recognized ME. So, finally, I just want to say that I'm happy to display here in this exhibition my culture and I am honored to have the confidence to express myself and I will be doing this even for those who are still fighting to be themselves.
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