The Cultural Effects on Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa
Development can easily be defined as a gradual, warm and considerate process that attempts to alleviate man’s technological and economic standards or conditions without disrespecting or disregarding his social, political and cultural values (Edigin, 2010). Consequently, it is impossible to divorce development from a people’s culture. For any development to be successful, it must have its roots in the culture of people (Nzongola-Ntalaja, 1996). The cultural patterns of any given community will determine whether change will be welcomed or rejected by that community. If a culture is supported and protected, there are usually a number of valuable unseen social goods that flow within it and hence the need of development to comply with them or else the society will reject the developmental effort.
Culture as a Root to Development
Development is deeply rooted in culture (Harrison, 2006). In recent times, culture is being described not only as a tool for economic growth but also as a means by which to achieve a pleasing emotional, moral, intellectual and spiritual existence. The growing evidence showing how important culture is to economic development prompted UNESCO in 2005 to establish a convention in Paris to protect the diversity of cultural expressions (Irogbe, 2005). The convention was based on the notion that culture is the main driving factor behind sustainable development in the world. Culture has a transformative power and can greatly be used to lead people towards achieving prosperity, both socially and economically (Mutual, 2005). Similarly, Harrison (2006) stated “culture can be used to awaken people and enable them to speak to the nation openly, air out their views in relation to current events and become agents of change in the community.” Culture can simply be used to bring about a revolution when development does not reflect the popular culture. Culture, through its connection with the social circles, is a vital tool for change, advancement and discovery.
Many countries all over Africa take a lot of pride in their culture (Harrison, 2006). The Sub-Saharan Africa countries also have rich cultures that have become their most treasured possessions. Many countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa share a common desire of preserving their culture and traditions. Culture plays an important role in the lives of these communities that have chosen to stick with their culture and also in their economic lives. In this region, just like in many other places all over the earth, the failure to incorporate culture into development plans and agendas will greatly undermine development in the area. In recent times, there has been a resurgence in people insisting on their cultural rights which is a basic right accorded to them in the constitution. UNESCO identifies that culture is a fundamental human right which must be ensured in the event of any developmental projects. In places where some people are marginalized or stigmatized, culture is one of the main ways by which people can gain access to education and other infrastructural assets.
Culture as a Resource and a Source of Employment
Jackson (2012) stated that culture is vital to the economic advancement of sub-Saharan Africa and Africa at large. Echoing similar sentiments, Granato, Inglehart & Leblang 1996) argued that culture generates thousands of jobs and can be a highly valuable resource is harnessed correctly. Cultural tourism in itself is part of the larger tourism sector that is a sector of economic development in itself. In many African nations, tourism plays an important role of alleviating poverty by creating jobs for thousands of individuals and also providing an avenue by which people can earn a living from the sale of cultural souvenirs. In many countries, tourism is a natural heritage and is mainly supported by the cultural practices of people in the country. Jackson (2012) stated that in Sub-Saharan Africa, a country like Morocco has managed to successfully develop a thriving film industry. Many film makers from all over the world fancy the cultural cities of Morocco to shoot their films. As a result, the country has earned huge revenues through its support of films, both local and international (Jackson, 2012). Additionally, tourism in the region is developing around major cultural events such as the Fes Festival in Morocco that attracts a huge number of tourists (Jackson, 2012). Tourism, as an economic sector, plays an important role in raising people’s awareness about the cultural heritage of people. More so many people are educated via the sector and the various people working in the industry are trained on various aspects of culture and tourism. Through tourism and community involvement, a people’s heritage is preserved which leads to more information on the culture and civilization of different communities (Jackson, 2012). Tourists coming from different parts of the world may visit these cultural sites hence improving the daily conditions of the people living around such sites.
Culture and Human Development
People meet when cultural events, festivals, songs and dances and theatrical events take place (Granato, Inglehart & Leblang, 1996). During such events people interact with one another hence able to showcase their diverse cultures and exchange many new ideas. Different cultural groups are often given the chance to express themselves and to show off their rich culture and beauty. Additionally, these events are platforms by which people seek acknowledgement and respect of others. Such cultural events and expressions contribute greatly in shaping a population’s identity while ensuring that the authenticity of the message is retained.
Culture and Politics
Cultural expressions have a huge influence on the ways by which people participate in social and political activities that exist (Nyikuli , 1999; Granato, Inglehart & Leblang, 1996). In many parts of the world, policy recommendations often require the participation of the community and hence the importance of culture. Cultures that strongly support people participation in accountability and democratic process is headed in the right direction with regards to development. Culture can easily influence capacity building which may lead people towards participation in processes such as policy formulation (Granato, Inglehart & Leblang, 1996). When people’s capacities are enhanced, they are more likely to regard themselves highly and make steps towards acquiring resources that would enable them improve their situation rather than wait for aid. In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, gender equality is still an issue even though much has been done to reduce the stereotype towards women (Marenin, 2009). Cultural transformations aimed towards development should go beyond providing opportunities for women and provide opportunities for women to vie for elective posts and make decisions in government (Olasunkanmi, 2011). Culture, also, can play a very important role in shaping the political scene by promoting behavior change among the individuals in government and key decision-making posts ((Marenin, 2009; Jackson, 2012).
Culture and Social Cohesion
Olasunkanmi (2011) argued out that culture can play a vital role in promoting social cohesion within a community or a nation. Most African countries have people with different tribes, different languages and different cultures and yet it has been possible to unite all these diverse individuals under one nation. Through the shared national identity, societies have been more cohesive and harmony has been fostered among people. Even though there have always been boundaries between different communities, many people have found ways of working with one another. Many African countries were colonial subjects but somehow they devised ways of fighting for their independence through the cohesion brought about by a shared national identity (Michalopoulos & Papaioannou1, 2013). Today, much of Africa remains underdeveloped despite its freedom from the colonial masters. Olasunkanmi (2011) argued that one of the ways by which to ensure a solution to the under-developed problem is the appreciation and recognition of our cultures which ultimately will lead to the equitable distribution of skills and resources. Moreover, the access to opportunities such as education and employment greatly enhance social cohesion as it will ensure cooperation and inspire mutual confidence among people. An appreciation of the cultural context will lead to development in Sub-Saharan Africa (Jackson, 2012).
Many countries in Africa have been plagued with conflicts and wars that have greatly undermined development efforts. In most countries, fights often involve the fight for mineral resources such as diamond, oil, forest resources and water among others. These fights are also politically motivated hence contributing greatly to the lack of development in a number of countries. Countries such as Congo and Sierra Leone have for a long time experienced fighting among communities and never-ending conflicts. Culture is one of the surest ways towards healing and reconciliation, and ultimately development (Olasunkanmi, 2011). When people take into account their cultural context and appreciate their common cultures, they are more likely to find common grounds and tackle issues that are facing them. For example, a dysfunctional government system can easily be brought down when people unite and find common grounds. Cultural events such as festivals and dances among many others play a big role in bringing people together. Fighting communities can reconcile during cultural events and issues can be solved for the long term when communities bond over mutual cultures.
Culture and Anti-Development
Even though culture is regarded as being part and parcel of development, it is also one of the main causes of under-development in Africa. Many African countries are underdeveloped and this can mainly be attributed to the retrogressive cultures that are still in force in many countries. At one point, many African countries were at par with the Asian countries but it so happens that the Asian countries are now more developed. Development in Asia can be attributed to the progressive cultures such as Confucianism. In Africa, many places battle poverty due to cultures that promote gender inequality, lack of participation in politics and illiteracy among others. In a case where the regressive policies can be abolished in favor of progressive ones, Africa can be on a pathway to major developments.
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