Impact of global interdependence on our culture and way-out By Tijani Oluwaseun
As we progress through centuries, we alter our steps, way of life, and reflection; all these changes are bound to occur because in all aspects of life, there is a need for evolution but that does not mean we should thrash or leave behind all of our unique traditional traits and lifestyle. Should we?
Since the development cum advancement of transportation and communication technology which paved way for interaction between different parties (Government, people, companies, etc.); it has been easier for people to involve in transnational activities, which with no doubt introduces people to different populations with different cultures, beliefs, and ideologies, thus creating avenue for international trades, economic and cultural development.
It’s no gainsaying that we had to follow the then new trend/globalisation requirements such as adopting prominent language in other to flow and not to be left out, and I won’t want to flee from the fact that cultural domination dated back to the era of colonialism where our culture was made inferior to that of our colonial masters.
Not to dive much into that, we are now civilized, and independent. So, what now? Can’t we just switch? My instinct sent forth.
African unrivalled cultural grandeur is prominent enough to avoid being adulterated and disrupted by exogenous culture (outside culture) and ideologies in today’s autonomous world. And since we’ve passed through the phase of colonialism, we can now choose to place our culture as our priority, yes, it will be lovely but it won’t be easy to erase all of the digested cultures, because the presence of globalisation will not make that a very successful mission—due to international media content we are exposed to on a daily basis which gives rise to the indoctrination of developed nation’s dream, culture and lifestyle into our lives.
Our lackadaisical attitude towards our traditional values as a result of the race of pressure from the western ideologies is heartbreaking, media threatens to dominate and this does not augur well for our social existence as Africans.
In today’s world, in terms of fashion, does anyone wear our traditional attire on weekdays like Mondays and Tuesdays?
I can’t argue, in almost every institution nowadays, especially in the southwestern part of Nigeria, there are certainly specific dress codes for weekdays which turn out to be corporate wears—maybe a shirt with a tie coupled with a matching trouser, a skirt hosts a blouse, not without matching footwear worn on prominent weekdays except Fridays.
This indoctrinated culture had been bothering me for a while but I was looking for the gut to divulge it without giving a heck about whose ox is gored. And I found the gut. Who on earth instigated that it’s wrong to put on native on prominent weekdays? More reasons I love northerners, they are culture sustainers!
I don’t want to go against the new trend or taunt the route of conventionalism outlined by western/imported culture is what our people keep thinking highly off, forgetting how our cultural background should be prioritized. All these are a result of successful transnational communication. Northerners serve as one tribe which deserves so many accolades for cultural preservation, it’s not illiteracy, it’s simply a display of love for one’s culture.
Even on Mondays, they dress gorgeously in their ‘Babanriga’ coupled with a fitting cap (native attire) to work, school, religious centres, restaurants etc. with chivalry.
The society we live in now disassociates itself from whatever isn’t “trending or civilized enough”. Some even term their culture as old/archaic and all these are more reasons why there are misplaced priorities, unethical behaviour, and anomalies in the society creating room for more menace. Good Parental upbringing, respect/virtue, etc. have taken the backstage.
I am insinuating that it isn’t so necessary to discourage those that have not been swayed by other’s lifestyles, those who keep it real and cultured. Why would you look down on someone just because he/she values his/her culture? We are civilised for a reason, we don’t necessarily have to follow or act like a horse or mule whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle.
Similarly, why do we have to sway our unique language into an enclosed cave and decide to throw it in a river, why? All of the imperialism tactics should by now dawn on our faces. The gradual extinction of our indigenous language is not an idea we should welcome.
Justifications beyond doubt I can prove, we thrived to this stage, not as a result of we neglecting our indigenous culture/language for the exogenous to dominate but because we embraced it. Agreed, we already adopted “English” as our lingua franca, to reach each other despite our disparities, all fine. We don’t have to neglect ours too!
With apologies to south-westerners, well, I am one, we’ve adopted the English language as all we have, at home, schools, everywhere they remember not to speak their language. Not totally against it cause I am a victim, but emphasising the need to enlighten these upcoming generations of the already existing cultural values to avoid being later referred to as ‘once existed culture’.
Some tribe such as Yoruba (cause I know them well) and other tribes in the South can’t speak their language for just ten minutes, they will have to code-switch. Enforcing on them the need to know about both languages is necessary and this is where the demerit of globalisation comes in.
The media serves as a Trojan horse, chipping different norms and other’s cultural values into people’s life, regulating media in a way that might reduce its influence. Also, the indigenous media programme has to revisit the sponsorship /improvement niche.
Our parents also need to educate their children properly, “lots of unsaid matters” they need to converse.
We need a well-established communication system that will take into consideration the traditional, social, and cultural dynamics of the society. Enough of exogenous/western play in our traditional life.
Most importantly, I won’t like us to forget the main reason for proper re-adoption of our cultural values, it preaches respect instead of “Hey Yo!” you’ve “Ekaro ma/sir” in Yoruba; “Ina Kwana Mama/Baba” in Hausa; “Otutu Oma papa/mama” in Igbo etc. its preach love, encourage hard work as we have a different adage, proverbs, which always brace us, as well as our eulogy which can make ten(10) barriers solved in ten (10)seconds. Our culture matters!
Tijani Oluwaseun, sent in this piece.
