Cultural Sentiments

Let me preface this post by saying that I acknowledge the largeness and diversity of “Africa” and thus the virtual impossibility (and possible immorality) of generalizing an “African” mindset. Yet the professors and Ugandans with whom I’ve interacted have had no qualms with discussing “the African worldview,” so I’m adopting their line of thought.

 (Peter being a stud)

The other day my host brother Peter told me he thinks that “maybe America has been blessed by God because the people there are so generous.”

I was taken aback. If anything, my tendency is to condemn Americans for their unapologetic materialism and greediness.

I think his comment is representative of a lot of the modern African mindset- that the old, traditional ways of living and thinking are “primitive” and in some cases “devil-worship” while the Western, scientific, Christian worldview is more “modern” and “sensible.” Formal attire in Uganda is a shirt and tie. Forks and knives are increasingly supplanting eating with one’s (washed) hands. Electric guitars and drum kits have replaced uniquely African instruments as the weapons of choice for much of modern African music. 

(The cobbler came to visit last Sunday- note his church clothes. He also had some shiny black shoes he removed because it was hot)

Yes, the Western world has done a lot for Africa- particularly in the way of modern medicine for treatable diseases. And much of its impact has carried a good and bad too intertwined to make hard-and-fast judgments. But the West has undeniably done a whole lot to hurt and exploit the African way of life: draining the continent’s material resources for its own profits, forcing them out of tribal territories into ineffective governances, splitting tribes by drawing arbitrary national borders, and so on and so forth.

So when I see the extent to which Ugandans have embraced western culture, I feel anger: toward the colonists who imposed their values on the African people, but also toward the Africans I know who are not upset about their loss of culture. I expected to encounter a culture of resentment toward the West similar to the resentment I’ve begun to develop. Instead I’m more frequently finding people who love and even admire the West… and I’m not sure what to do with that. Resentment fit my worldview much better.

(The walk home from the University- Gabe (Houghton College) pictured)