Chico Muya: Happiness in Finland depends on your integration
As a video editor, content creator, and writer, Chico has found a unique blend of his South African roots and Finnish influences in his life and work.
Originally from Cape Town, Chico Muya’s, 32, move to Finland was driven by a personal relationship. Despite the end of that relationship, he chose to stay in Finland, continuing his professional journey with the same company.
I met Chico in downtown Helsinki on a sunny afternoon for an interview.
His role encompasses video editing, content creation, and writing, both for his company and his personal channels.
- "My home country has influenced me in many ways. But I would say that the biggest is how open and outgoing I am. Finnish culture has influenced me in many ways too. But the most visible aspect is the fact that although I'm still outgoing, that has been tempered a bit. I enjoy silence and my own company a lot more nowadays.", Chico says.
One of the most striking differences Chico has observed between South Africa and Finland is the level of societal trust. In Finland, the prevalence of self-service machines and the ease of purchasing public transport tickets via mobile apps exemplify a high-trust society.
- "Finnish society seems to trust its people a lot. Self-serving machines are all over the place. You can buy public transport tickets on your phone and jump on a metro where there’s a chance that no one will check to see that you actually have the ticket.", Chico explains.
In stark contrast, South Africa’s lower trust levels necessitate constant vigilance against potential theft.
- "In South Africa, there is very low trust. You walk around expecting someone to steal (or attempt to steal) from you. I didn't know how on guard I was mentally until I arrived here," he reflects.
This shift from a high-alert mindset to one of relative security was a revelation for Chico, highlighting the deep-seated differences in societal structures and trust.
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Integration and Assimilation
- "I love Finnish culture. It has created a high trust, well-oiled machine of a society. People can live well here. I want it to remain that way. So I'm a big believer that anyone who comes here needs to work hard to integrate and assimilate within reason," he asserts.
His perspective is rooted in a deep admiration for the Finnish way of life, which he feels is often misunderstood or unfairly criticized by outsiders.
- "I do get a little annoyed when foreigners complain about the culture here. It clearly works well. So let's not try and fix something that's not broken," he adds.
Despite initial expectations of encountering racial prejudice in a predominantly white country, Chico’s experience in Finland has been overwhelmingly positive. He has found Finnish people to be more concerned with preserving their culture than harboring racial biases.
- "I have not experienced any prejudice here in Finland. This was perhaps the most shocking thing for me. This is, in fact, a majority white country. One who is very racially aware might expect that to mean that I (a black person) would experience unending waves of discrimination. Apparently not. Exactly the opposite, in fact," Chico shares.
This unexpected acceptance has challenged his preconceived notions about racism and has led him to question broader narratives about racial issues in Western societies.
- "Seeing how non-racially driven Finnish people were - blew me away. They were mostly concerned about their culture being negatively affected. This I thought was a reasonable concern," he notes.
Chico holds a nuanced view on religion in Finland. While he respects the freedom to practice any religion, he is wary of cultural shifts that could arise from certain religious practices. He acknowledges that Finland’s secular, Christian-rooted culture differs significantly from the diverse and often deeply religious society of South Africa.
- "I believe that people should practice whatever religion they wish - as long as it's not harming people, or negatively impacting the culture," he states.
However, he expresses concerns about Islam’s cultural and political aspects.
- "Islam is tricky. Though most people believe in freedom to practice whatever religion, the issue with Islam is that it affects culture and it's inherently political. As I said: to Finnish people, everything is fine until it begins to negatively affect their culture," Chico elaborates.
His concerns stem from a desire to maintain the Finnish way of life that he has come to appreciate.
- "I'm not suggesting that Islam be banned. But let's just say that I would be completely against something like sharia law being implemented in any shape or form. I would not want a hint or even a whiff of it. None," he asserts.
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A Message to Finland
Looking ahead, Chico sees both challenges and opportunities for Finland. He is concerned about the potential for self-criticism to lead to cultural dilution and hopes to contribute positively through his work.
- "Finland has done an incredible job of taking care of its people. Folk have a good standard of life in comparison to most places on the planet. Its biggest challenge will be how it goes about trying to integrate people. In a lot of Western countries, there is tons of self-hate. It's no different here. I hope that self-hate does not cause Finland to make silly decisions against its culture," he explains.
By creating content that challenges and inspires, he aims to remind Finns of the strengths of their culture and encourage a balanced view of self-improvement and cultural preservation.
- "My hope is to be a force for good. I want to keep writing and making videos that challenge and inspire," Chico says.
Chico’s message to Finland is clear: embrace your cultural heritage without succumbing to undue guilt or self-criticism. While acknowledging areas for improvement is important, it is equally vital to celebrate and preserve the aspects of Finnish culture that contribute to its high quality of life.
- "Finland. You need to stop self-hating. You have a lot to be proud of. Sure, there are areas you can improve in. There is nothing wrong with complaining about things that need to get better. But don't lose sight of the good. Don't be guilt-tripped into letting go of your culture," he advises.
Chico Muya’s story is one of adaptation, appreciation, and advocacy. His journey from South Africa to Finland is a testament to the transformative power of cultural exchange and the importance of maintaining the values that define a society.
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