According to Charles A. Ellwood, culture is a combined name for all behavioral designs in given societies. It is usually developed and socially transmitted via means of symbol, language, morals, religion, etc. Culture sums up into myriads of traditions as well as customs.
African Culture is dwindling in thin air, more so with the advent of technology. Reason being outside influences has partially made Africa unaware of their own culture and most Africans see it as backdated. It has made collective human activities of Africans today, principles, as well as traditions passed on to the next generation’s western in nature.
Most African countries no longer communicate using their local dialects. Most schools in Africa do not teach using these, languages as well. They do so in English, French, Portuguese, with little countries in the Swahili language. This makes it difficult for the millennial to understand the African Culture: food, languages, clothing, religion, clans etc. Few Africans have a proper understanding of the struggle of their ancestors, the antiquated way of life, education, etc. All they understand and care to preserve is the foreign adopted culture first, and little about their own latter.
For example, many millennial understand Africa during the colonial period. However, there is much about Africa during the pre-colonial period. Many do not know that Africa had over 10,000 different states, political systems, groupings, African were hunters and gatherers, blacksmith, traders, etc.
However, it is undisputed fact that outside values, more so from the west reflect to how rigid most of these western countries are. When it comes to political leadership, creativity, as well as having strong democratic institutions, copying their culture could pose significant to Africa . Their values could be of great help in fighting corruptions and spearheading economic development as well as growth. Thus, most African countries have triggered their culture to follow in the suite of western countries politically, economically, and socially. This has led to a great surge in African culture. Social media has become a thing for many businesses in Africa, and it is a means to pass information, make money online, and network with friends, family, loved ones, and other global businesses. Likewise, the western culture brought printing press, and many books about Africa got published in diverse African dialects and foreign languages(including the Bible) .The latter promoted an understanding of some facets of the African culture as well.
By Samson Ogaye
Africa Global News Publication
