'The importance of culture in National Development' Education

The importance of culture in National Development

Mambambo John (196.4.80.174) -

It has become more of a norm and very

prestigious and sadly seemingly educated when

one is heard criticising and downgrading the

whole notion or concept of "Culture" and all of its related facets. In Africa, the measurement of success and productivity, both financially and academically is based on "How far one moves away from being him/herself". In essence, success (kubudirira) is entirely structured upon the distancing of one's self from the mere African or specifically from the "African way of life" what generally is alluded to by the novice and layman as 'Culture'.

This is all the result of lack of understanding of what "Culture is" and what it constitutes. It connotes or implies that those who think they can distance themselves from their own culture by becoming Westernised only lack an understanding that one can not deny his own facial appearance and worse still his own culture. There seems to be a lot of confusion regarding what culture is and therefore i feel obliged to ellucidate on the concept of culture for the benefit of all within and outside the continent of africa. Within academic circles, it has been admitted or acknowledged that defining the term culture is somewhat akin to seeking a needle in a hay-stalk.Thus Bourdillon (1993) says, "The term culture has acquired a certain aura of ill-repute in socio-anthropological circles due to the multiplicit of its reference and the studied vagueness with which it has all too often been invoked". Each and every scholar who tried to define culture confined it to his specific understanding and considering the diversity and flexibility of human mind, we have resultandly found ourselves surrounded by divergent definitions of one concept and this has brought much difficulty in modifying or conditioning unanimously what culture is.

About the term culture Goodenough(1957) in Hudson (1980)says it is what"...one has to learn or believe inorder to operate in a manner acceptible to its members". He goes on to say that ..."culture being what people have learn, as distinct from their biological heritage must consist of an end-product of learning; knowledge, in a most general sense of the term." This means that, the knowledge which one acquired at birth can never be done away with, whether one becomes educated or not, the culture remains part of you as long as you have some knowledge within your schemata.

I will pursue this analysis, looking at the characteristicsc of culture in their diversity , the crucial aspects like cultural relativism versus ethnocentrism, and will look at the significance of culture in Nation building and development in general. This means that the moment one mentions culture, he/she can not manage to leave the issue dealt with in detail without alluding to the notion of "Language"

Mambambo John (Midlands State University-Zimbabwe)

Reply #1 DAVIID OWUSU-AMOAH (41.210.23.13) -

cultural Renaissance is likened to a mythical sankofa bird which looks forward with its head turned backward it portrays the wisdom that the only retrogression is positive retrogression and that is critical cultural renaissance

Reply #2 luvhengonw (196.13.185.1) -

what is the importance of culture in education?

Reply #3 BOSCO ENZAMA (196.0.25.38) -

please im bosco enzama from kampala uganda IM A STUDENT

Reply #4 BOSCO ENZAMA (196.0.25.38) -

please im bosco enzama from kampala uganda IM A STUDENT at a university studing social work and social adminstration please may you scan for for me a notice on this topic in capital leeters THE IMPORTANCES OF CULTURE IN ANY GIVEN SOCIETY please assist me and give me also the name of that society you have chosen thanks see your replysoon

Reply #5 mbangu samuel (41.222.16.202) -

actually this web is good

Reply #6 Xolisa Booi (196.21.143.253) -

Culture should be transfered to the young generation by doing so culture will live long. To our generation culture should be taught so that they can not be a lost generation. This is a new era thefore the youth deserve better knowledge.

For the continent to lift its country culture is critical and vital. The only way to bring about true futures of tomorrow is about giving culture to the youth so that we no longer having "young criminals" but to have "young stars"

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