When Cultures Collide on a 30-Second Reel

The Sound That Travels Faster Than You Think

One day it’s a trending Bollywood hook, the next day it’s a flamenco beat, and the day after that, it’s a folk chant from halfway across the world. TikTok and Instagram have this strange way of turning local sounds into global phenomena overnight.

And suddenly, someone in New York is twirling to a Punjabi beat, someone in Tokyo is lip-syncing to Afrobeat lyrics, and someone in Bangalore is choreographing a contemporary routine to a Korean indie track.

Appropriation or Amalgamation?

The internet loves a debate. “This is cultural appropriation,” some argue. “You don’t know the meaning of that song.” “You’re using our art as a trend.”

I understand the concern. Culture isn’t just content — it’s identity, history, belonging. But I also see something else happening here: a kind of cultural handshake. A way for people, who may never meet, to borrow joy from each other’s worlds.

The Shared Language of Play

When I see someone dancing to a Bollywood hook without knowing Hindi, I don’t see disrespect. I see connection. A willingness to step outside their comfort zone and say, “Your rhythm moved me, even if I don’t fully understand it.”

Isn’t that what art is meant to do? Travel, transform, and touch people across borders? I think of it as cultural amalgamation — a remix of identities, not a theft. A way for us to learn curiosity, humility, and even a little silliness.

The Unexpected Gift

Here’s the best part: sometimes people do circle back. They look up the meaning of the lyrics, discover the tradition behind a sound, and even follow creators from that culture. A reel might not teach the full history, but it sparks the first step of discovery.

And maybe that’s enough — because every trend, every sound, every shared laugh in the comments makes the world feel just a little smaller, a little kinder, and a lot more connected.