--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being from Africa is the best thing that…" description: "\"Being from Africa is the best thing that could have ever, ever happened to me. I cannot see it any other way. All of my fundamental principles that wer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/hakeem-olajuwon-19552_africa_being-from-africa-is-the-best-thing-that_1194180.png" --- # Being from Africa is the best thing that could have ever… ![“Being from Africa is the best thing that could have ever, ever happened to me. I cannot see it any other way. All of my fundamental principles that were instilled in me in my home, from my childhood, are still with me.” quote by Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/hakeem-olajuwon-19552_africa_being-from-africa-is-the-best-thing-that_1194180.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/hakeem-olajuwon-19552_africa_being-from-africa-is-the-best-thing-that_1194180.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/hakeem-olajuwon-19552_africa_being-from-africa-is-the-best-thing-that_1194180.png) > “Being from Africa is the best thing that could have ever, ever happened to me. I cannot see it any other way. All of my fundamental principles that were instilled in me in my home, from my childhood, are still with me.” [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Celebrates how African heritage shapes identity and values, grounding personal principles. **In simple terms:** African roots define my values. Key Takeaway Embrace and honor your cultural roots. Themes identity heritage values Mood proud reflective Type personal cultural When to use this quote - family gatherings - community leadership - mentoring youth - cultural festivals Key Concepts cultural identity personal development Questions to Reflect On - How does your heritage influence your daily decisions? - What aspects of your culture do you share with others? A Different Perspective May overlook other influences in a global context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) [Africa Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa-best-3223577/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Fundamental principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamental-principles/) [Fundamentals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentals/) [Happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Home Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home-childhood-479139/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Principles Instilled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles-instilled-3555080/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“Father's always saying that South Africa must be one of the best countries in the world for surviving a zombie apocalypse,' Megan says seriously.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-herne/father-s-always-saying-that-south-africa-must-be-one-of-the-best/) [Lily Herne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-herne/) > [All of us remember the home of our childhood. Interestingly, our thoughts do not dwell on whether the house was large or small, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/all-of-us-remember-the-home-of-our-childhood-interestingly-our/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [There are many women in their late teens and early twenties who have either experienced violence in a relationship or have witnessed it at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miquita-oliver/there-are-many-women-in-their-late-teens-and-early-twenties-who-have/) [Miquita Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miquita-oliver/) > [Sweden will always be my home, since my childhood there was like a fairytale, so I'll always go back to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zara-larsson/sweden-will-always-be-my-home-since-my-childhood-there-was-like-a/) [Zara Larsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zara-larsson/) > [I have long argued that, if China and the United States were interested in pursuing a strategic partnership, Africa is the best place to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-p-m-barnett/i-have-long-argued-that-if-china-and-the-united-states-were/) [Thomas P.M. Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-p-m-barnett/) > [I'm uncomfortable, frankly, with the hype about Africa. We went from one extreme... to, like, Africa now is the best thing after sliced bread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/i-m-uncomfortable-frankly-with-the-hype-about-africa-we-went-from-one/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [Every season, I want to be the best I can to be Africa's best player. I will do the best I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-moses/every-season-i-want-to-be-the-best-i-can-to-be-africa-s-best-player-i/) [Victor Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-moses/) > [Skills are expensive in Africa, best people are on American salaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-bharti-mittal/skills-are-expensive-in-africa-best-people-are-on-american-salaries/) [Sunil Bharti Mittal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-bharti-mittal/) > [The old fundamental principles must continue to apply, even in our changing society: Democracy knows neither master nor slave. Equal education opportunities for all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/the-old-fundamental-principles-must-continue-to-apply-even-in-our/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [Geometry, like arithmetic, requires for its logical development only a small number of simple, fundamental principles. These fundamental principles are called the axioms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/geometry-like-arithmetic-requires-for-its-logical-development-only-a/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/) > [There is a fundamental principle. People have the right to defend their country from foreign occupiers, and people have the right to defend their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/there-is-a-fundamental-principle-people-have-the-right-to-defend/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [In Oceania at the present day, Science, in the old sense, has almost ceased to exist. In Newspeak there is no word for 'Science.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-oceania-at-the-present-day-science-in-the-old-sense-has-almost/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Kantian ethical theory distinguishes three levels: First, that of a fundamental principle (the categorical imperative, formulated in three main ways in Kant's Groundwork); second,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/kantian-ethical-theory-distinguishes-three-levels-first-that-of-a/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [The Fundamental Principle that governs - or ought to govern -human affairs if we wish to avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, or pointless utopias, is negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-fundamental-principle-that-governs-or-ought-to-govern-human/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [ The fundamental principle \[of settlement work\] remains: that people shall take up their residence in industrial communities, giving what they may have of public… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-wald/the-fundamental-principle-of-settlement-work-remains-that-people/) [Lillian Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-wald/) ## More by Hakeem Olajuwon > [I was doing just my duty, but that was impacting a lot of people and making them proud. So, I feel so grateful to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/i-was-doing-just-my-duty-but-that-was-impacting-a-lot-of-people-and/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [I'm shy, but sometimes my voice is so clear and strong. Your tongue moves, and the Arabic language is so beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/i-m-shy-but-sometimes-my-voice-is-so-clear-and-strong-your-tongue/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [I'm the kind of person who always wants more. I was successful materially, but I know life is much more than worldly success. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/i-m-the-kind-of-person-who-always-wants-more-i-was-successful/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [I'm the kind of person who always wants more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/i-m-the-kind-of-person-who-always-wants-more/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [My life is very simple. I like simplicity and for my time to be my own, so that I have the freedom to devote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/my-life-is-very-simple-i-like-simplicity-and-for-my-time-to-be-my-own/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [All these boundaries - Africa, Asia, Malaysia, America - are set by men. But you don't have to look at boundaries when you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/all-these-boundaries-africa-asia-malaysia-america-are-set-by-men-but/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [I love fashion as much as I love basketball! It is a great joy for me to express myself through designing my own collection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/i-love-fashion-as-much-as-i-love-basketball-it-is-a-great-joy-for-me/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [Sports is good for health and for children, it gives them manhood, courage, teaches them team work and coordination. Sports is something that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/sports-is-good-for-health-and-for-children-it-gives-them-manhood/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [Allah says in the Qur'an not to despise one another. So the criterion in Islam is not color or social status. It's who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/allah-says-in-the-qur-an-not-to-despise-one-another-so-the-criterion/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [My type of basketball is about how to create space, how to maneuver, how to get your shot off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/my-type-of-basketball-is-about-how-to-create-space-how-to-maneuver/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [The key to fashion is, you don't want to look like you're trying. You've gotta be natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/the-key-to-fashion-is-you-don-t-want-to-look-like-you-re-trying-you/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [I remember at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Shaq always wanted me to show him steps over and over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/i-remember-at-the-1996-olympics-in-atlanta-shaq-always-wanted-me-to/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) > [When people start comparing him with (Michael) Jordan then that's not a fair comparison. 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Paradise is not cheap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakeem-olajuwon/god-comes-first-paradise-is-not-cheap/) [Hakeem Olajuwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) [Explore all 32 Hakeem Olajuwon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hakeem-olajuwon/) ## More Africa quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/) [Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/) > [I'm in 'Madagascar 2.' I'm Testy the Lion. The franchise moves to Africa, and Bernie Mac is also in the film. I loved working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lister-jr/i-m-in-madagascar-2-i-m-testy-the-lion-the-franchise-moves-to-africa/) [Tom Lister, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lister-jr/) > [South Africa needs a second liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/south-africa-needs-a-second-liberation/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/) [Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/) > [If you followed the media you'd think that everybody in Africa was starving to death, and that's not the case; so it's important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/if-you-followed-the-media-you-d-think-that-everybody-in-africa-was/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [Africa for the Africans... at home and abroad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/africa-for-the-africans-at-home-and-abroad/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [In Africa, animals and the natural landscape allow local communities to support themselves, as there is a constant source of money from tourism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/in-africa-animals-and-the-natural-landscape-allow-local-communities/) [David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/) > [My mom is from Ghana, and my dad is from Detroit, so I would go back and forth to Africa a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-richardson/my-mom-is-from-ghana-and-my-dad-is-from-detroit-so-i-would-go-back/) [Sam Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-richardson/) > [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. I've given talks all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wildsmith/i-ve-never-been-invited-to-do-an-exhibition-or-do-a-talk-in-england/) [Brian Wildsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wildsmith/) > [I represent my country, but I also represent the continent of Africa when I play in Europe. That's why it's important to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaya-toure/i-represent-my-country-but-i-also-represent-the-continent-of-africa/) [Yaya Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaya-toure/) > [What we need in South Africa is for egos to be suppressed in favour of peace. We need to create a new breed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hani/what-we-need-in-south-africa-is-for-egos-to-be-suppressed-in-favour/) [Chris Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hani/) > [I was learning to track rhinoceroses in Africa and tracked right up on an animal that really I thought was going to kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/i-was-learning-to-track-rhinoceroses-in-africa-and-tracked-right-up/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [I am interested in bringing Africa to the foot of the Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/i-am-interested-in-bringing-africa-to-the-foot-of-the-cross/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [My mother is a huge fan of my work. I told her about 'Coraline' long before the film was made, and she got the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-selick/my-mother-is-a-huge-fan-of-my-work-i-told-her-about-coraline-long/) [Henry Selick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-selick/) [Browse all 1,665 Africa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Being from Africa is the best thing that could have ever, ever happened to me. I cannot see it any other way. 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