“The World Is Like a Mask Dancing”

In Arrow of God , Chinua Achebe employs the metaphor of the “Mask dancing” ( Achebe, 1989 , p. 46) to emphasize the need for shifting perspectives to perceive the world fully. This study adopts Achebe’s metaphor as a framework to explore my cross-cultural journey from Nigeria to Canada and later to the American South, focusing on how these transitions shaped the teaching of African literature in predominantly white institutions. Employing both experiential and qualitative research methods, the paper situates personal experiences alongside classroom interactions and scholarly discourse. Findings reveal that cultural negotiation in education is often fraught with tension but also presents opportunities for deeper understanding. The metaphor of “not standing in one place” emerges as both a survival strategy and a pedagogical tool that promotes resilience, empathy, and adaptability. The study concludes that embracing cultural differences enriches both teaching and learning in international education contexts.