Cultural Amnesia, Not Imperialism

Cultural imperialism? I'd say "cultural amnesia". Check the budget allocation for "culture" in the governing systems of Sub-Saharan African states…

Maybe (just maybe) there is a lack of vision of what to really do "culturally"… or, even worse, a complete misunderstanding of what "culture" in the Sub-Saharan context should really be. The lack of a defined cultural path for our various communities leaves a cultural space that gets devoured by a prowling, high-octane culture. Guess which one.

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Replying to a researcher, Awoh Emmanuel:

Excellent idea! If you ask me, the gaping canyon in the health and quality of education of the masses in our region (considering our tribal heritages) is the disconnect between our precious oral traditions and the watered-down "Western-style" education currently in use (Anglophone or Francophone). That is just my opinion. And for the following simple reason: common sense is not common.

Consider this: if you or your brother or sister are very fluent in Ngemba (you speak it and understand it very well), and someone offers you an algebra class in Ngemba while another person offers you the same class in French or English, which will you take first? Remember that you are fluent in Ngemba, and tell me.

"Education" of the masses (if properly defined and contextualized) should, and must, consider the existing skill set of the target audience. Ignoring that is tantamount to throwing the baby out with the bath water. Refilling the bath with water does not bring back the baby that is already rolling in the potopoto.

My point is to stress the importance of what you are setting out to do: recording information about ourselves, our own people, our own ideas, thoughts, aspirations, philosophies and worldviews. You are helping to record our traditions and cultures, which so far have only been spoken. The transition from oral history to recorded history (still ongoing) is a difficult, painful one for most of our region.

It seems the ability to read and write is still considered an "elite" profession. Why? After more than half a century of post-colonial, try-it-yourself rule? Did we set the bar too high? As in: to educate the masses, ALL citizens have to learn to read, write and speak French, English or some other foreign language in order to be "educated"?

Then there is the question of what an "educated" citizen really is. If you ask me, an educated citizen can be the Baba or Nini who can calculate the square root of 16 in itaŋiKom without the help of a translator, or the stonemason in Kumbo who uses calculus principles learned in Lamso to work out the shape of the stone dome s/he is building to store grain after a bumper harvest.

Excuse my ramble, but our people are precious the way they are. It is just a question of having a clearly articulated vision of how to move from point A (where we are, who we are, what skills we have) to point B (where we all want, and are supposed, to be).

Your research is on point.

Wakikɨki

— Wanaku Verdzekov