Culture and Creativity in Post- Colonial Africa: Whither the State (Published)
This paper relates the state to culture and creativity. And that is precisely because the three are interrelated. The paper argues that, culture, being an embodiment of the arts, modes of life, value systems, traditions and belief systems of the people, determines the nature of people’s creativity in society. Again, the paper further argues that, the dominant values in society at any historical epoch are the values of the dominant class, which explains why cultural values are the reflections of those of the dominant class. And that is because the dominant class dominates society at all the levels of thoughts. Furthermore, the paper argues that the nature and character of the dominant class determine those of the state because the state is a representative of the dominant class. Thus, if the state is an institution that represents the values of the dominant class it therefore means that the prevailing values and ideas in any society, which are those of the dominant class, are strongly influenced by the activities and character of the state. Finally, it is important, as argued in this paper, that we understand the nature and character of the dominant class in Africa and by extension, the African state, to enable us understand the dominant post-colonial culture in Africa and by implication the nature of creativity on the continent. That is the explanation that has been made here.
Keywords: African State, Creativity, Culture, Post-Colonial Africa
Appraising Constitutionalism and Traditional African Governance (Published)
The work focuses on the traditional African governance; it specifically examines those traditional forms of governance that made the society to stand firmly before the advent of Europeans. Many of these traditions were not written down, there were no constitutions; it was just a commitment to make the society move. If constitutionalism is defined as a commitment to limitations on political powers, then it is possible to have such a commitment without a single documentary constitution most especially when commitment is in the blood and culture of the people and at the same time, those people have a keen sense of their own identity.In this work, we will interrogate traditional culture of governance in some communities in Africa. We will examine how effective that governance was and then see the level of commitment to limitation on political power (constitutionalism) and whether some of the relics of governance are still preserved till today. This paper therefore, will employ the conceptual, analytical and reconstructive research methods. While the conceptual method will focus on clarifying key concepts such as constitutionalism, commitment, governance, tradition and culture; the analytical method will examine the period of governance before the advent of Europeans. The reconstructive method will establish the need for this commitment in today Africa.
Keywords: Commitment, Constitutionalism, Culture, Governance, Tradition
African Linguo-Cultural Aesthetics in Barclays Ayakoroma’s A Matter of Honour (Published)
Language and culture are not only inherently intertwined, but are also veritable elements for literary imagination and production which constructs and documents distinctive patterns of human existence. Hence modern African literature is essentially characterized by aspects of the African existential reality, as subtly or overtly encapsulated in the fabrics of oral tradition. With insights provided by the socio-semiotic theory espoused by Ferdinand De Saussure (1986) and expanded by Hodge and Kress (1988), Thibault (1991) and Kress and Van Leeuwen (2001), as the analytical template, this study, therefore , examines the deployment and appropriation of indigenous devices, such as native rhetorical patterns, proverbs, native similes, traditional belief system and transliteration, for the expression of cultural meaning in Barclays Ayakoroma’s A Matter of Honour, as an exemplification of how African authors deploy African linguo-cultural elements and aesthetics to capture the African existential reality, sensibility and essence in their works written in an imperial language. The study not only adumbrates the interface between language, culture and literature and the concept of literature as an evocation or microcosm of society, but also further enhances and enriches extant knowledge and perspectives on the African world-view, mores and values.
Keywords: African literature, Barclays Ayakoroma, Culture, Language, socio-semiotic
Traditional Values versus Modernity: Towards A Resolution of the Dilemma of Culture Conflict in African Society (Published)
This paper looks at the trend of alien behaviours and attitudes, which have been consciously and unconsciously imbibed by Africans in general and Nigerian youths in particular, and how these have negatively impacted on the various aspects of our life-family, education, economy, among others. Using a hypothetical approach as well as direct observation, the paper attempts a chronicle of these foreign cultural traits which presently threaten our individuality, our family system, our society and the very constituents of our humanity as members of a well ordered society. It looks at the role the movies can play by providing corrective measures, documenting the proper and acceptable values as well as preserving them for the future. It proffers suggestions for the way forward and makes recommendations which, if adopted, could help redirect our culture and refocus our society for a richer, more beneficial and more meaningful existence.
Keywords: Civilization, Culture, Culture-shock, Film/Movie, Tradition
Globalization and Nollywood: Carving a Niche on the Global Plane (Published)
Globalization has become an irrestible phenomenon. Virtually all aspects of human life, however remote are now affected by globalization. The Nigerian film industry has equally been affected. The effect of globalization on Nollywood can be noticed in various ways. One of these is the attempt by the industry to take its place on the global plane. The concern, however, is the kind of image Nollywood is attempting to create for Nigeria. This paper finds that, so far, Nollywood has not been able to establish the kind of identity by which the ordinary Nigerian can be identified. The paper therefore suggests some values, attitudes and cultural practices that Nollywood can emphasize as a means of establishing an identity for Nigeria as a nation, in the quest of carving a niche for itself on the global plane.
Keywords: Culture, Film, Globalization, Nollywood
African Linguo-Cultural Aesthetics in Barclays Ayakoroma’s A Matter of Honour (Published)
Language and culture are not only inherently intertwined, but are also veritable elements for literary imagination and production which constructs and documents distinctive patterns of human existence. Hence modern African literature is essentially characterized by aspects of the African existential reality, as subtly or overtly encapsulated in the fabrics of oral tradition. With insights provided by the socio-semiotic theory espoused by Ferdinand De Saussure (1986) and expanded by Hodge and Kress (1988), Thibault (1991) and Kress and Van Leeuwen (2001), as the analytical template, this study, therefore , examines the deployment and appropriation of indigenous devices, such as native rhetorical patterns, proverbs, native similes, traditional belief system and transliteration, for the expression of cultural meaning in Barclays Ayakoroma’s A Matter of Honour, as an exemplification of how African authors deploy African linguo-cultural elements and aesthetics to capture the African existential reality, sensibility and essence in their works written in an imperial language. The study not only adumbrates the interface between language, culture and literature and the concept of literature as an evocation or microcosm of society, but also further enhances and enriches extant knowledge and perspectives on the African world-view, mores and values.
Keywords: African literature, Barclays Ayakoroma, Culture, Language, socio-semiotic
GENDER PROFILING IN NIGERIA: THE CASE OF THE IGBOs OF SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA (Published)
Over and over again, the gender issue has remained topical among researchers and policy makers alike. In Nigeria, the clamour for more equitable distributions of positions to favour the women folk, has led to the thirty five percent affirmative programme which seeks to allot thirty five percent of elective positions for women in the National Assembly. The logic had been that women are by nature the weaker sex and therefore need special privileges. Further, it is argued that it is indeed a man’s world and that is why women cannot find a survival space. While these logics may have their merits, the theses of this paper is that the problems go beyond these presentations. In particular for Nigeria and for the Igbos of South Eastern Nigeria, the source of the problem is to be located in the culture, folklore and language of the Igbos which from cradle has rendered the woman subservient to the man. Therefore, any changes that may take place must start with dismantling these basic stereotypes such that relative space can be created for the triumph of the woman in modern Nigeria.
Keywords: Culture, Gender, Profiling
“DEVELOPMENT OF TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE IN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF HAUSA HOUSE FORM” (Published)
Traditional buildings across Nigeria’s geographical zones are known to have demonstrated a thorough response to the climate, local technology and socio-economic milieu in which they evolved. The origin of these different traditional building body associates with the natural materials availability to the local builders as well as religious belief, cultural and taboos. The advent of colonialism in Nigeria changed the traditional life and culture of Nigerian which creates a weak connection between traditional architecture and contemporary architecture in Nigeria. Most recent buildings designs across Hausa regions in Nigeria have been built with imported materials and the construction techniques tailored to satisfy the modernity self-ego and aspirations. Thus, traditional architecture ought not to be abandoned and forgotten, hence; experts’ awareness should be tailored to the understanding of its original essence. This paper through intensive literature review of documents, journals, books, periodical, seminar papers amongst others critically explore the key importance relating to the development of Hausa traditional architecture. In addition, paper identifies the “determinant” and “moderating” factors as main issues that contributed to the development of Hausa traditional architecture, in cognizance of local materials, method of construction, methods lay-out, social, cultural factors, and environmental factors amongst others. The enumerated factors dominate the colonial periods and the subsequent traditional forms development. Thus, the paper concludes that despite the impact of modernization in terms of styles, materials, and method of construction in recent times, the professionals, designers and the researchers should be cognizance of the social- cultural and religious beliefs of clients/users. It is recommended that, for functional architectural forms, efforts should be geared towards harmonizing the traditional and modern contemporary designs concepts
Keywords: Culture, Hausa, Traditional Architecture, determinant factors, moderating factors
PHILOSOPHY AS A TOOL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICAN CULTURE (Published)
As human beings, the first social group by which we are identified is culture. Being a way of life that brings out the uniqueness in a people, it is meant to be progressive. Philosophy is a tool that is necessarily needed to fine-tune culture in order to raise it to certain level of objectivity. Notwithstanding the influence of western civilization on Africa, critically analyzing certain concepts, we aver that the preservation of culture is hinged on progressive intellectual discourse, lest our cultures face threat of extinction and remains a dormant tradition.
Keywords: Culture, Dialectic, Philosophy, Reflective, Tradition