I rode in a friend's car. Since our destination was far away, I found a radio station playing @KennyEdmonds and settled in to listen. 
After a while, I noticed he seemed uncomfortable and asked why. He mentioned the music was getting to him and then made a lame joke about how RnB was more suited to the bedroom than his car.
Then it hit me - the guy I was with wasn't into secular music. I would later learn through conversation, that he only listened to Gospel music and considered Babyface offensive.
At the time, the gentleman was pursuing a relationship with me, but in that moment, I knew nothing could happen between us. It wasn't about music; it was a clash of tastes, worldview and values.
Seemingly little things reveal a person's ideology and culture. Pay attention. Their actions will align with what they believe.
I know someone, very "Nigerian". He used to go on and on about what he wanted in a woman; mostly domestic in nature. He eventually married a foreigner - Caucasian to be precise. He didn't do it for papers, as he was a dual citizen.
Anyway, I remember visiting the couple at home and couldn't for the life of me understand why he never demanded from his wife, the same things he readily asked from Nigerian girlfriends. I was so confused until it hit me.
In his mind map, Nigerian women were to be controlled. Foreign women were to be accessorised and shown off. His programming was so deep, he didn't see the apparent contradiction.
Culture and tradition are deep. They will affect relationships, work, friendship, business...everything. As a man thinks, so is he.
They are so entrenched that there's a story in the Bible about Peter and customs. Even after spending time imbibing Jesus' philosophies, Peter still had to be convinced to not call unclean, that which God had made clean (Acts 10:15).
Eventually, God raised Paul who had a broader worldview and could be a natural champion for the Gentiles.
In life, you must pay attention to mindsets. Negotiate everything. But never negotiate values.
