THE ROLE OF CULTURE IN PROMOTING OR STIFLING DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
Dr. David J. Ndegwah[1] (email: ndegwahdavid@gmail.com
Dr. Otto J. Kroesen[2] (email: j.o.kroesen@tudelft.nl
Book: Trends, Challenges and Issues in Communication and Development in Africa.
Publishers: JKUAT Printers
Publication date: 2013
Pages: 300-313.
Abstract
Up until now the role of culture in development has either not been appreciated or it has been ignored altogether. The effects have been that fifty years down the line, many African countries are poorer than they were at independence; which begs the question on the very purpose of this momentous event. After independence, many countries, Kenya included, identified three enemies of the newly founded nation states as poverty, illiteracy and disease; and yet these are the most common enemies of the people virtually all African countries are still struggling with, in spite of economic success and political stability some of these countries have enjoyed since independence. Thus one is bound to ask, where and when did the current start beating the waves? The position of this paper is that development agents did not take cognisance of the fact that any form of development needs to be aligned with the local cultures if it is to be successful and sustainable. Culture is a powerful tool in any endeavour that directly engages the people on the grassroots, especially on development. It is the mirror through which people interpret reality, because it determines a people’s worldview, which informs the frame of reference that people use to judge other people, events and development processes. Many scholars (Moyo 2009, Nyasani 2010) have argued over the meaning of development and how to ensure that the African continent is able to stand on its feet; others (Ndegwah 2004, Trompenaars 1999) try to understand culture, its complexity and social dynamics, without a conclusive or definitive agreement. Thus this paper is divided into two parts: part one deals with the question of development and how it relates to human wellbeing. The second part looks at the meaning of culture, how it affects human thinking and response to development. Finally, the paper shows the link between culture and development and suggests how the two should be handled for effective development. In conclusion it suggests that development should reflect the culture of the people; while culture should be more receptive in accommodating development.
Key Words: 1. Culture, 2. Cultural complexity, 3. Worldview. 4. Development, 5. Technology transfer, 6. Development stimulus.
[1] Dr. David J. Ndegwah is a senior lecturer at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Bondo, Kenya.
[2] Dr. Otto J. Kroesen is an Assistant Professor of ethics and intercultural communication at the Technical University Delft, Jaffalaan 5, 2628 BX Delft, The Netherlands.