Tradition is Overrated?
oh my God, I'm going to make a lotta people mad with this post...
Now that I've gotten ur attention, lemme explain my title. I'm originally African and as every African knows, they value tradition and culture A LOT. Its always "it's our culture" or "that is the way it has always been" or "our tradition teaches us to do it like this" and so on. There is no quicker way to turn me off than to tell me "a woman should know how to cook". Not many statements annoy me as much as this one does. Now i do know how to whip up in the kitchen but sometimes I simply refuse to do it cos of the stereotype attached to it.
What I'm tryn to say is there's so many aspects of tradition that we hold on to that we really need to let go of.
What I am not saying is to turn ur back on ur roots and forget ur culture. No. Because to know where you're coming from is to know where you're going. Culture is precious and should be protected, celebrated, cherished and passed on. Festivals and historical re-enactments are all good, I'm not saying kick them out. Storytelling, drumming, singing, the proverbs, the clothes etc are such wonderful aspects of the African tradition, value them.
But those aspects of tradition that hold us back, we needs to let go of. Like those that give women little rights in the society, those that burden us with stereotypes, those that practice animism, those that marry children off, those that allow women to be treated inhumanly, those that misuse and hence endanger enviromental resources, those that practice barbaric rituals, those that will not allow africa to progress out into the 21st century.
and also i direct this part at a lot of older africans i meet when i'm out with my parents that hassle me for wearing jeans instead of traditional clothes: Iro and buba; and frown at me when i say "good-evening instead of Eka-sumthin. For the others who look @ me funny and almost angry cos I'm in a profession they consider foreign. For the rest who won't talk to me cos "I look and sound African-American" and the last who can't understand why I rap and do spoken-word, "Africans don't do that".
Before I'm a woman, and before I'm Nigerian, and before I'm anything else, I'm a christian.
That's why no matter how many african shows and drives and events take place, if there's a gospel thing happening somewhere else, that's where I'll be. Don't get me wrong I love and appreciate where I'm from (i proclaim it loudly in the post "the Africa I know", see archives) but my goal in life is not primarily to uplift Africa, but to uplift Jesus. If raising his name comes in the process of my reppin' my roots, wonderful. You might see me flying the colors but it is not my daily banner, the love of Jesus and his cross is my flag. The bible says "in all things put God first" and also "seek first the kingdom of God".
So lets just keep things in perspective. Love ur culture, honor and uphold ur tradition. Let go of long-held systems that hinder and burdern us. No matter what God comes 1st.
Now that I've gotten ur attention, lemme explain my title. I'm originally African and as every African knows, they value tradition and culture A LOT. Its always "it's our culture" or "that is the way it has always been" or "our tradition teaches us to do it like this" and so on. There is no quicker way to turn me off than to tell me "a woman should know how to cook". Not many statements annoy me as much as this one does. Now i do know how to whip up in the kitchen but sometimes I simply refuse to do it cos of the stereotype attached to it.
What I'm tryn to say is there's so many aspects of tradition that we hold on to that we really need to let go of.
What I am not saying is to turn ur back on ur roots and forget ur culture. No. Because to know where you're coming from is to know where you're going. Culture is precious and should be protected, celebrated, cherished and passed on. Festivals and historical re-enactments are all good, I'm not saying kick them out. Storytelling, drumming, singing, the proverbs, the clothes etc are such wonderful aspects of the African tradition, value them.
But those aspects of tradition that hold us back, we needs to let go of. Like those that give women little rights in the society, those that burden us with stereotypes, those that practice animism, those that marry children off, those that allow women to be treated inhumanly, those that misuse and hence endanger enviromental resources, those that practice barbaric rituals, those that will not allow africa to progress out into the 21st century.
and also i direct this part at a lot of older africans i meet when i'm out with my parents that hassle me for wearing jeans instead of traditional clothes: Iro and buba; and frown at me when i say "good-evening instead of Eka-sumthin. For the others who look @ me funny and almost angry cos I'm in a profession they consider foreign. For the rest who won't talk to me cos "I look and sound African-American" and the last who can't understand why I rap and do spoken-word, "Africans don't do that".
Before I'm a woman, and before I'm Nigerian, and before I'm anything else, I'm a christian.
That's why no matter how many african shows and drives and events take place, if there's a gospel thing happening somewhere else, that's where I'll be. Don't get me wrong I love and appreciate where I'm from (i proclaim it loudly in the post "the Africa I know", see archives) but my goal in life is not primarily to uplift Africa, but to uplift Jesus. If raising his name comes in the process of my reppin' my roots, wonderful. You might see me flying the colors but it is not my daily banner, the love of Jesus and his cross is my flag. The bible says "in all things put God first" and also "seek first the kingdom of God".
So lets just keep things in perspective. Love ur culture, honor and uphold ur tradition. Let go of long-held systems that hinder and burdern us. No matter what God comes 1st.
posted by Aima at 8:23 AM
10 Comments:
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Hey Gurl,
"What I'm tryn to say is there's so many aspects of tradition that we hold on to that we really need to let go of."
Amen sista, Amen.
I second a lot of what u said. It's unfortunate that some still can't look beyond obsolete traditions.
I understand ur position but tradition is tradition.
The people that hold it don't want to let go of it. And no matter how the rest of the world moves on, Africa will almost certainly still stick with its ways...its the only way they know how to live.
Granted a lot of the customs are detrimental but it is what it is.
Whot up G?
I agree with you but....don't let my mama see this :).
i however hope my future wife can cook though ;), i needs to grub on fo sho'. But i completely understand women shouldn't be given limits that only surround the house walls, that is not for civil thinking people.
Looking 4ward to sat @ Providence.
hugs, Jayshun.
Aima,
Ekaaro is good morning and Ekaasan is good afternoon....
:) you should at least know those ones!
chica,
common cut africans some slack. Africans will be africans. While a lot of them here can be annoying, many can be equally supportive. I personally know a few who admire what you do and what you are, and i know a few who are jealous. But you just do ur thang gurl, there'll always be people who dislike u for no reason, african or not.
Z.
ps. still waiting for my cake ;)
I second you gurl. One of the amazing things God did was to make us in His own image, ie, in exercising that which we do best, we are exhibiting God's image in us. So do u gurl friend, I am really proud of u
luv ya
chio
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