CASE FOR CULTURE
CASE V 68: THE
CULTURE
It is no surprise; that being in an environment far from
home gives you exposure. Often it is unclear what that exposure entails. That
is until you live the experience! On the other hand, the recurrent message
seems to be that the exposure in foreign environments is good for us and helps
us on our path to success. What I am certain of is it allows you to open up to introspection.
‘The culture of a people is their identity as it affords
them due recognition. It is their underlying distinguishing factor from other
peoples and cultures. In fact, all societies across the globe have various and
divergent cultures which they cherish and practice. Nevertheless, no
two cultures, even when juxtaposed are absolutely identical
as attested to by ethnographers. In order for a society to operate functionally
and effectively, they must ensure and maintain strict and constant adherence to
the various components of their culture.’
Culture is such a difficult word to quantify when it becomes
directly linked to your origin. Globalisation is doing a great job of both
mystifying and demystifying this subject matter. Future and history have
portrayed, on many occasions, the desire for one culture to erase another. Or
rather the culture of one culture was to dominate and erase all other cultures,
in a contestation of ideas and philosophy.
What do history and culture have to say about us? What does
it mean of my generation? Since I was born in 1998, I am too close to deny that
my generation is predominantly made up of incommodious millennials though
technically I am still a nineties kid forever. We (90s kids) grew up in the
environment that is median. Between the values and practises of contrasting
generations. We had both PlayStation 1, WWE, Nickelodeon and nhodo, pada and
bhora rechikweshe. The world today is steeped in human crises and chaos. We are
all trying to figure out what is next for ourselves and our loved ones. Young
adults trying to find our place as individuals.
We don’t know what being African is anymore, let alone what
it means to be Zimbabwean. How can we? We speak English just as well if not better
than the British! While excellence in anything by a diligent work and practice
is highly valued; at what cost is this expertise being garnered in the youth. I
mention time and time again that the lack of representation of local history in
the private school system of Zimbabwe is both unfortunate and, I’m afraid to
say, most certainly not accidental. Students who are getting the best chance at
life in the finest institutions of our country are taught early to under value
the truth of who we are so that at our fullest potential as adults we happen to
omit these fundamentals in raising up the next generation. This crime of
omission must be addressed.
Colonisation, that dreaded topic! The slavery and oppression
of the Africans. Yes, I went there. Why is there no unbiased conversation and
education regarding this matter? When it plays such a big role in the cultural
identities of the independent nations that followed. There was no Zimbabwe or
Zambia before there was Rhodesia but what was there before Rhodesia?
What I’ve come to realise that the major aspect of history
we have worked to reconcile is only a fraction of what the focus needs to be.
So! Land. We got that out of the way quickly. The principle is morally
justified the method and outcome remain questionable. We have worked to address
the aspects of colonisation that were physically evident. An example of this
was changing names of monuments, roads and land redistribution.
What happened to the culture of legacy, the importance of
lineage and the place of our ancestors? I study in Italy. The Italians have
pride in who they are. Italians speak their language and believe it is the
best. They eat their food and believe it is the best. If you live here up to 12
months you realise you had better chances when you adapted and learnt their
culture and language than if you resisted or countered it. This is how they
have conserved their culture and made it universally recognisable. Why are we
more compromising? Is our culture less valuable? Is our language less
beautiful? Is our food less delicious? The issue is not that our culture is of
no value because people all over the world come to our continent because they
are taken with it. The issue is we live and operate our lives; viewing the
world through the lenses of mental conditioning that has blinded us to this
value.
The world is intrigued by Africa, quite riddled with amusement and
curiosity. Even though much of humanity is steeped in ignorance or fed
by the media propaganda version of truth… the people of the world want to know
and see what we have to offer. Our narrative as the youth by personal testimony
as the ambassadors in diaspora is the primary and most effective way to counter
ignorance.
The final question remains? Who is going to present the case
of Zimbabwean pride to my little sister who is in the fourth grade? As it
stands, she will be next in line to share Africa’s narrative to the world. Who
will advocate for Our culture to my eleven-year-old brother?
Is this a priority
for anyone? Teachers, Parents, Government and Ministry this is of utmost
importance. I have been fortunate enough to be surrounded by an environment
that stimulates me to ask these questions, family and friends that support my
desire to discover and truly understand who I am. Recognising this as a
personal priority that ought to be sought out and encouraged is necessary but
what makes it culture is how it is a form of inheritance. Heritage. Value passed
from one generation to another.
‘Culture is essential to our humanness. Culture gives us a tremendous
vantage over all other organism. It is our social legacy.’
PHOTOS BY Elena Camazzola
QUOTES FROM:
Journal of Anthropology
Volume 2012, Article ID 327061
Academic Editor: Kaushik Bose
https://www.hindawi.com/journals
Department of Sociology, Lagos State University, PMB 1087,
Lagos State, Nigeria
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