THE REAWAKENING NEED FOR AFRICAN CULTURAL RENAISSANCE

Abstract

There is need for a speedy revival of our cultural values and basic institutions. This point requires no argument. However, it is an objective which can only be turned into a practical and palpable reality. There is an urgent need to revive and revitalize the drooping spirit and basic institutions of our culture. We must avoid the incidence of selling our souls to foreign cultures and of turning our people into the cultural clown of other nations and into citizens no longer at home but ill-at-ease in their native land and culture. The revival of our cultural heritage and its honest and authentic, true and functional spirit and institutions is the only answer and salutary alternative to the imminent cultural bastardization of our people. The spirit and fundamental institutions of a culture are immutable, a social heritage, integrating and coherent in character. It is comprehensive in the scope of its sway over its members and essentially focused on values, vision and interpretation of life, ideas and aspirations. The existence of cultural awareness and appreciation is a prerequisite for the re-emergence of the authentic and honest values cherished by our forefathers. However, our cultural awakening and consciousness must clearly and vigilantly rise above such riotousness and frenzy. Also, it has to rise over contradictions and berserk exaggerations which some nations imposed upon themselves in the name of cultural authenticity. Our zeal to revive our cultural inheritance must eschew the subtle danger of cultural sectarianism and ethno-centricism - a danger which easily plunges one into inordinate exaggeration of and attachment to one's culture.