Culture – Preservation Versus Evolution

Due to the sensitive topic, I have never spoken out on matters pertaining to culture.

Firstly I would like to draw a not-so-obvious distinction between culture and tradition. Culture refers to the ideas, customs and social behaviour of a particular social group whereas tradition is the transmission of customs and beliefs from one generation to another.

From these definitions, it should be clear that traditions are also a part of one’s culture. It is no secret; our cultural values are growing faint. If our founding ancestors were to come back for inspection, they would not be able to discern what some of our tribes are.

We cannot properly speak our native languages; some of us are ‘allergic’ to our traditional food; we have disregarded our traditional clothing; and, we do not know most of our traditional and sacred practices.

This is most probably because of the Western influence that came as a result of our ancestral chiefs selling off our land to Europeans in exchange for Western foods, perfumes, clothes, and so forth. From facet analysis, this looks like a terrible happening. But is it really?

For example, let us look at our most traditional clothing: Revealing. Most of us fight for the restoration of our cultural values, and are crying out because our cultures are losing their essence, but would any of us be comfortable walking around amongst a bunch of naked people?

Or should I talk about Olufuko? Many women advocate for cultural awareness and heritage restoration, but how many would be comfortable to go through the controversial “womanhood preparation practice”? How many speaking out have actually gone through Olufuko?

Or maybe you would like to hear about patriarchy? What society would we be living in if our cultures remained stagnant, and women were treated as mere cooks, child-bearers and instruments of sexual satisfaction? What society would it be, where women are denied the chance to lead?

The point is, we need to allow evolution to take place. We need to allow it to take its course. We need to accept that change is normal. ?In addition to that; it is very important to note that the fading of cultural values is not unique to black people. It is a common problem.

In a simple example, Afrikaner women used to wear special cultural dresses. Now, even if you go to Orania in the Northern Cape (South Africa), there is a greater chance of you seeing a kangaroo in the Namib Desert than there is of you seeing a woman wearing an Afrikaner dress.

It is therefore important to note that change in the values that constitute our cultures – for as long as we draw the line between such change and cultural preservation – is not so much a bad thing as we make it out to be. Yes, we need to preserve our cultures, but, we also need to allow evolution to take its course.

Lebbeus Hashikutuva is a matriculant from Etosha Secondary School.

Follow him on Twitter and Instagram as

@eenhanas_finest.

Firstly I would like to draw a not-so-obvious distinction between culture and tradition. Culture refers to the ideas, customs and social behaviour of a particular social group whereas tradition is the transmission of customs and beliefs from one generation to another.

From these definitions, it should be clear that traditions are also a part of one’s culture. It is no secret; our cultural values are growing faint. If our founding ancestors were to come back for inspection, they would not be able to discern what some of our tribes are.

We cannot properly speak our native languages; some of us are ‘allergic’ to our traditional food; we have disregarded our traditional clothing; and, we do not know most of our traditional and sacred practices.

This is most probably because of the Western influence that came as a result of our ancestral chiefs selling off our land to Europeans in exchange for Western foods, perfumes, clothes, and so forth. From facet analysis, this looks like a terrible happening. But is it really?

For example, let us look at our most traditional clothing: Revealing. Most of us fight for the restoration of our cultural values, and are crying out because our cultures are losing their essence, but would any of us be comfortable walking around amongst a bunch of naked people?

Or should I talk about Olufuko? Many women advocate for cultural awareness and heritage restoration, but how many would be comfortable to go through the controversial “womanhood preparation practice”? How many speaking out have actually gone through Olufuko?

Or maybe you would like to hear about patriarchy? What society would we be living in if our cultures remained stagnant, and women were treated as mere cooks, child-bearers and instruments of sexual satisfaction? What society would it be, where women are denied the chance to lead?

The point is, we need to allow evolution to take place. We need to allow it to take its course. We need to accept that change is normal. ?In addition to that; it is very important to note that the fading of cultural values is not unique to black people. It is a common problem.

In a simple example, Afrikaner women used to wear special cultural dresses. Now, even if you go to Orania in the Northern Cape (South Africa), there is a greater chance of you seeing a kangaroo in the Namib Desert than there is of you seeing a woman wearing an Afrikaner dress.

It is therefore important to note that change in the values that constitute our cultures – for as long as we draw the line between such change and cultural preservation – is not so much a bad thing as we make it out to be. Yes, we need to preserve our cultures, but, we also need to allow evolution to take its course.