The power of African cultures
It is said that in the intricate tapestry of human emotions, music weaves a spellbinding narrative that transcends the boundaries of language. It is an art form that speaks directly to the soul, resonating with the deepest recesses of our being. Fatoumata Diawara’s album Fenfo (meaning “I have something to say”) is an absolute masterpiece. Sang in Bambara, a beautiful language in Mali, the album is deeply rooted in culture and is a vibrant blend of wassoulou tradition, jazz, rock and Malian folk. The album is about humility, family, building better African societies and having pride in African cultures and traditions. This is the album that I believe changed the trajectory of my life. My whole perspective on Africa, being an African woman and African cultures completely changed. Inspired by her wisdom, courage and independence in the album, I could not help but to reflect on the power of African cultures and cultural diversity and the significant roles they have played in my life, in shaping our societies and the entire African continent. It helped me appreciate my identity and where I come from.
Culture, as it is usually understood, entails a totality of traits and characters that are peculiar to a people to the extent that it marks them out from other peoples or societies. These peculiar traits go on to include the people’s language, dressing, music, work, arts, religion, dancing and so on. It also goes on to include a people’s social norm, taboos, and values. Values being beliefs that are held about what is right and wrong and what is important in life. However, I learned that culture is also an agency of power. I say this because, for a long time, the continent of Africa has been negatively portrayed as being powerless due to inadequate infrastructure, outdated technology, and collapsed economies. However, we have witnessed the opposite in cultures where people have demonstrated the ability to be innovative, actively search out new ways to solve problems, and adjust to foreign concepts and items. In her song Kokoro (meaning “Our Heritage”), Fatoumata stresses this. She urges Africans to embrace their cultural values and traditions. How we can use our cultures and traditions as tools to empower ourselves and our communities and spark innovation.
“Why are we not proud of what we are?… Who will live the African way of life in our stead?
We have lost all our cultural references
Copying European culture instead
If we do not respect ourselves
No one else will ever respect us.”
A major experience that heavily transformed African cultures was colonialism. Europeans gave more of their culture through a variety of means, languages, and institutions. They defined their cultures and religious beliefs and practices as superior while making Africans view theirs as “primitive” and “backward”. This is what made many Africans disconnect from their cultures, becoming strangers to their own customs and civilizations while accepting and embracing many aspects of Western civilization (Falola, 2003). This is what impedes African civilizations from progressing; embracing and upholding several western societal beliefs and elements that were mostly designed to restrict and dilute our societies while demeaning our communities and our identity.
Fatoumata Diawara’s work of art has reminded me that we do not have to be ashamed of our cultures and traditions, instead we should embrace them and accept them as gifts from our ancestors. Embracing them does not make us primitive or benighted, but makes us empowered people who value themselves and know where they come from. However, this does not mean we have to turn a blind eye and hold on to archaic customs and beliefs that get in the way of progress within many African societies such as patriarchy, the abuse and oppression of women and children, tribalism, ageism, etc. We can honor our cultures while also embracing progress within our societies and the modern way of life.
References:
Falola, Toyin. The Power of African Cultures. Ukraine, University of Rochester Press, 2003.