Many have misconceptions
about culture especially in relation to the African continent. To them, African
culture(s) is only about music and dance and often think that it is static and
have thought that it has been a hindrance to the continents development.
However, many scholars have come to a consensus that culture, with specific
reference to Africans go beyond just drumming and dancing. Example, The World
Conference on Cultural Policies, (MONDIACULT, 1998), believe that ‘culture is that whole complex of
distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features that
characterize a society or groups. It includes not only arts and letters but also modes of life, the fundamental
rights of human being, value systems, traditional and beliefs.’ They have
also established that culture is unique or peculiar from society to society. In my opinion, African culture(s) has been
inimical to only those who have limited themselves to see only the negative
implications of African culture(s) and not the positives.
Of course, we cannot
overlook the fact that some cultural practices, like ‘Trokosi’ among some
tribes in the Volta region of Ghana, widowhood rites especially by the Akans
and most ethnic groups in Ghana and the Female Genital Mutilation (F.G.M)
practiced up north of Ghana have been a hindrance to the development of the
country and the African continent as a whole. However, we cannot also turn a
blind eye to some of these very beliefs, practices, values and norms which have
genuinely helped the continent develop in some many ways and angles. We cannot
also pretend that we do not know that some of these very practices we describe
as harmful were meant to serve special and specific purposes which only the practitioners
understood very well.
Festivals, especially
in Ghana have been a very good medium for fostering integration and promote the
cultural values. For instance, the Awutu ‘Awubia’ festival which is celebrated
by the Awutus’ in the Central Region has a very special day set aside by the
authorities in change to settle disputes among siblings, family members and
town members. During this period, it is compulsory that they that have wronged
others ask for forgiveness and those who have been wronged forgive. This is on
Wednesday, the sixth day of celebration. This festival is not the only one that
has this activity embedded in it, many others on the country and continent do
and it goes a long way to promote national unity and integration, a necessity
to development.
For any country to
develop, there need to be checks and balances as said by many and this is
exactly what the Apo) festival of Techiman, in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana does.
During the celebration of this festival, statuses are totally or entirely
nullified and every individual be it a child or adult, male or female has the
authority to speak their mind to anybody at all, good people are commended and
urged to continue their good works and the wicked or bad persons and told all
their bad deeds and practices to their face. It is expected that they change
before the next year of celebration is due.
Tourism contributes to
national development in diverse ways. One of the very things the African
continent can boast of is the revenue derived from its rich and diverse
cultural practices such as festivals and many others. Ghana alone has over ten
ethnic groups who have different festivals and different times of celebrating
them. Other countries on the continent such as Nigeria, South Africa, Congo,
Mali and many others are not left out. The beauty and difference of most of
these festivals and practices all over the continent has attracted foreigners
all over the world onto the continent. The revenue made from these is used for
national development in the various countries and this goes a long way to
better the continent as a whole. Most of these festivals, all over the
continent are periods when indigenes clean up their various communities and
this also promotes development.
Symbols used by many Africans
in a way promote development. The Adinkra symbols of Ghana for instance are
often used in creating lovely fabrics and other artifacts. These artifacts are
displayed and sold to many people from all walks of life all over the world. The
clothes these symbols are used in when bought by the indigenes promotes the
various cultural values.
Superstitious beliefs,
which many would say has been a deterrent to the continents development, have
actually in a way, helped it to develop.
For instance, in West Africa, Ghana to be precise, farmers and fisher
folks do not go to the farm or sea because they believe that these days are
sacred and that they that flout this rule may incur the wrath the god of the
land. In other places, they are not to enter the forest on these ‘sacred’ days.
These practices are meant to make the concerned professionals rest and to have
time for themselves. During the period of rest, the fisher folks are often seen
mending their torn nets and farmers take time to sharpen their tools. One cannot expect that tired people can work
very hard and efficiently just like when they are not hence this practice. The norms
of not entering the forest on certain days are also meant to preserve the forests
which in turn promote rainfall and serves as a wind blockage.
To conclude, Africa’s
under development is mainly because of failure or inability to build on
indigenous ones and I quote, ‘The real problem of Africa comes from the
inability of those in authority to make the right choice and firm commitment to
the cultural matters because they underestimate the value of culture in
development. We need proper policies and political will from decision makers
and the other stakeholders who believe that we need to consolidate our
historical patrimony and to have access to our myths and legends…’ (Gaston
Kabore (Zanzibar 2001)