African Culture

I read a very interesting article by Dr. Karega-Munene. It was titled, "Aspects of Sharing amongst Africans." In it, he discusses changes that have taken place, particularly in Kenya, regarding how Africans view and value the community. This article was originally published by Wajibu, a journal published in Nairobi. Wajibu's theme is: A Journal of Social and Religious Concern. I have also been able to locate the article on Wajibu's website so I encourage you to take a look: http://web.peacelink.it/wajibu/14_issue/p1.html.

I agree with everything Dr. Karega-Munene says and it's part of a bigger problem where we're loosing our culture. There's another article, "In Search of an African Identity," by Constantine M. Mwikamba. Even though the topic is complex, the article is very readable and discusses the decline of African Culture. One very important issue, tied to Dr. Karega-Munene's article, has to do with the differences between African Culture and Western Culture. Our, African, culture is one where the individual is part of a collective, part of nature, part of the community and part of the family. The distinction between "I" and "them" is very blurred and "I" does not exist without "them." Your culture is a product of the society that brings you up and the environment in which you exist. You are trained to become part of the collective and participate unselfishly with your community, respecting everyone and everything around you. In contrast, Western Culture is all about "I." The individual can separate themselves from family or community and determine how they will deal with each type of relationship separately. The individual is "free" to select when and how to interact with each group and can refuse to commune if they feel the relationship does not satisfy a particular individual need.

Dr. Karega-Munene's article is even more specific, discussing how African's perceive materialism. We used to give unselfishly. We don't any more. He gives concrete examples where he has seen this in his own experience. In fact, he goes on to give instances where this has been corrupted. Where even those with monetary ability, will actually ask friends, family and even strangers for more money, through "harambees," and hoard what they have amassed.

There's a collection of these essays in a publication by Wajibu called "Social and Religious Concerns of East Africa, ISBN: 9966-7082-0-0." A very good read for all but for Africans in particular.