The Village Way: Why You Need More Than Just Money

Can you imagine a life where your worth isn’t based on your income, but on how deeply you’re connected to others?

That life exists - and in many African communities, I call it the Traditional Existence Model.

It’s a way of living where community is everything.

People help one another, protect one another, and sometimes even risk their lives for one another. It’s not about perfection - it’s about connection.

In this model, your “people” aren’t just your parents and siblings. They include your cousins, neighbors, childhood friends, your friend’s friend, and even strangers who pass through your home. Everyone matters. Everyone belongs.

But modern life flipped that script.

Today, money is king, and many believe they can live without others - as long as they can swipe a card, unlock a phone, or pay their bills.

We've become comfortable ghosting relatives, unfollowing friends, and cutting off people who aren’t “easy to deal with.”

Because the truth is… we think we don’t need them anymore.

But here’s the deeper truth: even if we can survive alone, we can’t truly thrive without community.

When we lose community, we lose part of what makes us human.

We lose the shared joy, the inherited wisdom, the collective strength.

The traditional existence model reminds us that people matter more than money, that community includes even those who aren’t perfect, and that while modern life makes isolation easier, our true healing and joy still come from reconnecting and rebuilding the human bonds we’ve lost.

Talk to someone you’ve been avoiding.

Not because they’re perfect - but because you’re ready to grow.

Send that message.

Make that call.

Rebuild that bridge.

Your joy, your peace, your purpose - might just depend on it.