The pain i feel as i study development communication and this tradition vs modernity business. I must say, i cringe with embarrassment and hang my head in shame to realise how this modern and western way of life has completely abducted me from my roots...
Reading about these developed countries' theories about how traditional people lack the mental ability to adapt to new conditions....wow... I realise where my ideas about tradition being "soooo yesterday" and primitive, come from.
Why is it that i twang like i am of European origin but need to make a phone call to confirm some words in vernacular? Yes we are moving into a different time and era but why were traditions able to survive from 2000years ago and able to withstand all the evolution that has come about?
Im not saying i want to see men walking around in beshus and women with their tits hanging all over... However, as a woman, 21st century or not, is it not my duty to learn and carry the tradition down to my daughter or niece?
How many of us know how to make pasta salads with olives and salmon with a hint of basil pesto but can hardly make pap... Im all for convenience and quick meals that don't take all the energy in me to 'soka', but at least to learn how to make dumbling, samp, malana... Just the know how is ok... As long as we are able to impart to those that come after us!
After reading about how the media has influenced the 3rd world (us) to LIVE AN ILLUSION OF AFFLUENCE and grow our own produce only to sell it so we can buy processed foods by affluent nations, had me doing some introspection about our development as a people.
Is the development we aspire for truly equipping us or are we becoming puppets and mimicking the western world at the expense of our roots?
Lets not let our customs and beliefs erode because we are phenomenal!
*as i learn how to make ledombolo*
I know right!! I've been chasing not so much "development" but the career, has left me as one author put it "slightly disillusioned". So here I am, 27yrs old, I can't make dough from scratch for ledombolo, can't make decent pap or tripe that my person has been asking me for a year.
ReplyDeleteI would like to think I haven't lost my heritage or roots, but today he told me he had ulusu and igwinya and I had no idea what he was on about! *hides*
So let's make a pact as women- we must learn how to do these things, so we can be well rounded phenomenal women :)!
My heart breaks at the " traditional people LACK the MENTAL ABILITY to adapt to new conditions" ah weh mah! Re seke ra lathla setso sa rona hleng bathong.
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