Saturday, 22 August 2015

DEATH OF THE AFRICAN CULTURE


What do you know of where you come from? I do not mean the nation or country in which you live. What do you know of you roots? What do you know of your ancestry, your language, culture and tradition? Someone once asked me a relevant but disturbing question; “In this modern era, of what use is knowing one’s dialect, culture and tradition?” For years I carried this question within me. I only got to know the answer to this question when I left my home country to venture abroad.

As every tree needs roots to survive, so do we humans need roots to have a firm stand. Our roots are made by the fibers of ancestry, culture, and language. Culture is identity, culture lays down the foundation on which families are built and even the nation, a good culture serves to protect and preserve important values. The African culture as a whole is quite an interesting one. The languages, meals, songs, clothes and laws tell stories and have our history preserved in them. Without this history, Africa as we know it will cease to exist.

I worry because increase urbanization, influence of the western education and even religion is gradually wiping out the African culture. I happen to be a product of these threats. Of what use is speaking in different foreign languages without knowing how to speak my mother tongue. How many Africans home and abroad pride themselves in speaking their own language, wearing their African fabrics, and portraying where they come from? It is even sad that Africans who have never left the shores of Africa suddenly have foreign accents and even cuss. It’s sad how our youths easily copy ill cultures from outside when we have such a beautiful culture. Our young men are sagging their trousers and cussing, while our women are frying their hair and bleaching their skins. Learning and trying to adopt other cultures is a beautiful and unifying thing. However losing one’s identity in the course of picking up a foreign culture is rather disturbing.
  
The African media should show Africa for what it is. Our schools should try to incorporate our culture into learning. Our parents should teach us the mother tongue first before teaching us any other language. From time to time, we should return home to share and identify with our roots. As Africans when we travel abroad, we should share our food, language, clothes and everything African with people of different cultures. Times are changing and fashion is changing. Let us incorporate our culture into the new trend of hairdos, music, fashion and even food…If we stand tall and proud of whom we are, the outside world would respect us. The reason they don’t respect us enough is we are more willing to embrace their culture than ours…Africans let us come together and keep our culture alive. I am proud of my African heritage…I hope you are too!
Love you all!
God bless!
Stay You!
- See more at: http://camerdream.blogspot.com/2015/08/death-of-african-culture.html#sthash.4gFZqBSd.dpuf

Thursday, 20 August 2015

MentorAfrica: MANY HANDS MAKE BEAUTIFUL WORK

MentorAfrica: MANY HANDS MAKE BEAUTIFUL WORK: When I was a kid I read this West African grassland folklore; it was a story of four brothers who fought each other all the time. Their fat...

MANY HANDS MAKE BEAUTIFUL WORK

When I was a kid I read this West African grassland folklore; it was a story of four brothers who fought each other all the time. Their father who was distraught by their fighting called them to his hut one day. When they got to his hut, he gave them each a broom stick and told them to break it. Though confused, they easily broke the broom stick. He then gave them a whole bundle of broom sticks tied into a broom and asked them to break it. For minutes they tried to break the broom to no avail. He then told them the reason they could not break it was because with greater number of broom sticks, the broom had more strength. He then applied it to them saying divided they would fall apart, but united they cannot be easily defeated.

Recently, i came across this  mind blowing story which took me on a journey to my childhood.
These kids are an example of the change we need. As youths under the burden of unemployment, i believe if we took each others hands and ran as a group; we would spark a revolution beyond our imagination. We have the numbers, energy and zeal on our side. Instead of spiting over worn politicians, together we could create for ourselves and be our own voices. Sometimes we need to put aside self interest and realize we have more to benefit when we look at the big picture. 'I can do things you cannot, you can do things i cannot; together we can do great things, Mother Theresa' The easiest way to win in this world is to be part of a team. As youths in this era; networking, creation of discussion forums, formation of business alliances, harnessing creativity collaboratively; are the tools we have at our disposal for change. Your talent, idea can get lost on your own; but the masterpiece produced from a colorful blend of ideas and initiative will be a marvel to the world.The most successful communities function on a 'no one is left behind' policy. If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. A family or country does not need to be perfect, it just needs to be united. Like kwame Nkrumah, I believe I am an African not because I was born in Africa, but because Africa was born in me.

If you think you think you are too small to change the world, then you haven't spent the night with a mosquito
- See more at: http://camerdream.blogspot.com/2015/07/many-hands-make-beautiful-work.html#sthash.OSrGxjJX.dpuf

Monday, 17 August 2015

MentorAfrica: THE TRUE SPIRIT OF A TYPICAL AFRICAN

MentorAfrica: THE TRUE SPIRIT OF A TYPICAL AFRICAN: A letter of gratitude to our African elder brothers and sisters who became our parents by choice and sponsored us willingly…The true spirit...

THE TRUE SPIRIT OF A TYPICAL AFRICAN

A letter of gratitude to our African elder brothers and sisters who became our parents by choice and sponsored us willingly…The true spirit of a typical African


No matter what everybody will think or say, there is a fact about Africa that cannot be challenged in the highest court of law. In Africa, we have a spirit of unity and belongingness. There is a love that each African has for his fellow African that cannot be described. When out of Africa, you find Africans coming together to help each other because of the common bond they share. In Africa, a child belongs to the mother only when he is in the womb, but once he is born, he is the responsibility of the society. This spirit of unity and love originates from the smallest unit of the society, the family.

Thanks to the media, we are able to understand how people from different continents behave and relate to each other. It is common in Africa to find someone housing a stranded individual because they are from the same village, region, Country or by virtue of the fact that they are fellow Africans.

To our African elder brothers and sisters, in and out of Africa words cannot express the gratitude we feel towards you for willingly sponsoring us through secondary school right up to the university. While we were young, we thought it was a right for you to do so. We impatiently made a long list of needs and requirements and presented them to you, some of us by phone and some of us through email. You never said No without an explanation. If you could not help us at the moment, you told us kindly, saying you had received our message and you will see what you can do about it.

We made demands from you without even asking if you had met all of your needs before trying to see us through life. Days turned into months and months turned into years. we finally grew up and came of age, ready for adulthood. Then the truth struck us. We realize what life is and understood what you were doing all these years.You sacrificed for us. Some of you had about 4 junior ones to look after and you simultaneously sent us to school. Not to mention, you even went to the extent of sponsoring us in expensive boarding schools.

Some of our African elder brothers and sisters landed good jobs out of Africa. Instead of living in luxurious homes and driving expensive cars, you gave up some of these things and much more to make sure we your younger ones back home could eat 3 square meals a day and wear descent clothes. We still remember the boxes of clothes, shoes and other electronics you sent back home, not forgetting the Christmas gifts you sent. Those of you who are out of the country sacrificed your time to be able to help us. It is now that we realize what you did for us. Some of you took up two jobs, some of you added odd jobs to your normal jobs and after paying all the numerous bills you have by the end of the month (mortgage, health insurance, electricity bills,water bills, car insurance, gas bills, credit card bills, Internet bills, cable bills, taxes....), you still took care of our basic needs willingly.

Some of you helped our parents in raising the family. The moneys you gave our parents helped cut down the number of large farms we worked to sustained ourselves. By so doing, we were able to concentrate more on our studies. The most important sacrifice some of our elder ones did for us was that they dedicated their lives to making sure that their younger ones attained a certain level in life through education. While some of your age mates and friends were buzzy getting married, you put your life on hold to bring us up to a level where we could look after ourselves. 

Your numerous act of kindness and selflessness will continue to inspire us for the rest of our lives. Sincerely, we couldn't have made it this far in life without you. No amount of money is worth the sacrifice you made for us. You will forever remain our heroes and role models. We have grown up to realize that life is not a bed of roses. You will always have a place in our heart. God bless you. 

www.healthplero.blogspot .com

Saturday, 15 August 2015

MentorAfrica: FACE OF CORRUPTION (UTOPIA) - LA FACE DE LA CORRUP...

MentorAfrica: FACE OF CORRUPTION (UTOPIA) - LA FACE DE LA CORRUP...: Dealing with the level of corruption around us here in Nigeria is a humongous task and it is easier said than done. At least we should ackn...

FACE OF CORRUPTION (UTOPIA) - LA FACE DE LA CORRUPTION (L'UTOPIE)

Dealing with the level of corruption around us here in Nigeria is a humongous task and it is easier said than done. At least we should acknowledge whatever steps that would be taken in the direction of trying to deal with this monster and see how we can be a part of that process. However, we need to realise that in this matter we do not have a cure all process. Corruption exists in every human society, it is just that many governments have put in place systems that can manage the situation in such a way that the damage to society and human existence is minimal. Believing in a utopia where corruption is totally eliminated is unrealistic and one that will end up in disappointments. The best we can do is to support the decisions that can help curb this monster. Make up your mind to break the cycle when you have the opportunity to do so. Enough of the finger pointing, look at your circle of influence and try whatever you can to break the cycle. DON’T WAIT FOR IT TO STOP WITH A BANG, STOP IT WHENEVER IT COMES TO YOUR DOORSTEP.

photo credit: dreamstime.com

Agir au sujet de la corruption au niveau dont elle se trouve ici au Nigéria est une tâche gigantesque et il est plus facile à dire qu'à faire. Au moins, nous devrions reconnaître quelles que soient les mesures qui seront prises dans le sens d'essayer de faire face à ce monstre et de voir comment nous pouvons être une partie de ce processus. Cependant, nous devons réaliser que, dans cette affaire, nous ne disposons pas d'un remède totale. La corruption existe dans toute société humaine, la difference se trouve dans le fait que de nombreux gouvernements ont mis sur place des systèmes qui peuvent gérer la situation de manière à ce que les dommages à la société et l'existence humaine sont minimes. Croire en une utopie où la corruption est totalement éliminée est irréaliste et celui qui finira dans des déceptions. Le mieux que nous puissions faire est de soutenir les décisions qui peuvent aider à freiner ce monstre. Décidez de briser le cycle lorsque vous avez l'occasion de le faire. Assez de pointer du doigt, regardez dans votre cercle d'influence et essayez de faire ce que vous pouvez pour briser le cycle. N'ATTENDRE LE MOMENT QUAND CELA S'ARRÊTERA AVEC UN COUP VIOLENT. Arretez le quand il arrive à votre porte.