ekt_bear: Most people want to be associated with success (America).

Very few want to be associated with failure (most of Africa).

White007: I hate when people derail thread that will make for good intellectual discourse.

I can't by any stretch of the imagination fathom why this Dayokanu of a guy have to sneak "ibo" into this. Is it primordial or something?

It's a pathetic waste of intellect when bigotry overrides common sense.

ekt_bear: Most people want to be associated with success (America).

Very few want to be associated with failure (most of Africa).

ogugua88:

Huh? Unless we can wash the black off of our skins, we're forever Africans and forever associated. We may not have skyscrapers, stable electricity, or good roads, but we still have our culture and heritage, unlike the US.

ogugua88:

. . ., but we still have our culture and heritage and practice it in both Nigeria and abroad. To me, that's the greatest success.

Africa is what you think of it. I think it's great, hence, Africa is great. The US is my birth place and residence. Africa is my home.

Kobojunkie: How do we define Culture in Nigeria?

At about 1:30 pm today, I walked into the student center at UIC to get me a snack, and I came upon a placard announcing a meeting in Cardinal room, organized by a 100 Igbos USA, INC and Umu Igbo Alliance entitled "Amandigbo". I was sure the words seemed Ibo so I went downstairs to the information desk and was told it was an african meeting. Being the curious person I am, I decided to check it out.

As I approached I saw a lady speaking at the podium, so I stood outside the door rather than walk in to get a good look at what was going on inside.
From the brochure, I learnt that the gathering was an Ibo gathering and the theme was cultural. However,flipping through the pages, I realized that more than 50% of it was filled with pictures of people/families who I have never heard of, and probably never seen too(no stories of them included--seemed more like some show off magazine lol ), and on the last two pages, the name of a bunch of medical practisioners who, again, I have never heard of before. Got me wondering what of culture they were all gathered to talk about, here in the United States. I admit I have not spent much time researching the organizations in question but if any of you have, please feel free to inform us on what it is exactly they each stand for.

We tend to talk a lot about culture in Nigeria, in a seemingly abstract manner by the way. And it seems individuals have their own idea of what culture is and what it applies to. My question is, apart from attires and dances, is culture still alive in Nigeria? If yes, in what form does it exist? What is culture to you?

J12: What culture and heritage are you talking of? Apart from the language (which is not a huge determinant of culture and is dying), what is there to be proud of?
Africa is what we see, not what we think. I think of Nigeria as a united, strong and prosperous country but that's not what I see.

A people's culture is a combination of all the things that make them a people: their language, their tradition, their history, their etiquette, and their worldview.

Ileke-IdI:
KoboJunkie asked a question a while ago, this question has been bugging me since then:

Ileke-IdI:
KoboJunkie asked a question a while ago, this question has been bugging me since then:

Ileke-IdI:
Still unanswered the most important question; how does it meet our basic needs?

Sugars and roses.

What culture has caused in Africa is frustration. Culture has hindered the attainability of basic human needs. With its twin brother, religion, they have caused animosity between brothers. It has bred ignorance and arrogance.

On most days, individuality is highly preferred.


What's the point of culture to an extrovert in an introverted community?

birdman:

To me, anytime a bunch of Nigerians gather together to do anything, that act itself is their culture. There is nothing magical or sacred about culture - you cannot separate culture from the people practising it. This means Africans, Americans, Asians all have culture. They dont even have to call it that...just by existing and doing what they do, that itself is culture. Maybe this is the reason we remain backward in almost every area of influence. Instead of thinking about Atilogwu dancers anytime someone brings up culture, we should be actively defining what our culture, and therefore identity is. This by itself is ultimate power. If we do, we wont be backwards for long, guaranteed.

emorse:
It beats me when people talk about the African culture. IMO, it died a loooong time ago. We all want to be seen as civilised people by the way we dress, eat, talk, and even the names we bear! Failing to realise that this "civilisation" is actually someone else's culture. I suggest we just move on and salvage the little we can from what's left of the African culture and stop jabbering about how rich it is.

Ileke-IdI:
Africa's greatest tragedy is having diverse culture and doing nothing productive with it........might as well be uncultured.

Thinking one has an identity while in reality, one cannot be identified.

ogugua88:

Culture alone isn't going to move anyone forward. I do think it's one of the reasons why Nigeria hasn't completely died, however. It's one of the few things to which we look forward and unites us.

ogugua88:

Why are you rubbishing the importance of language like that?

redsun: Culture is a way of life that flows with the passage of time.It is the projection of the past into the present and onwards into the future,with one key thing in mind,survival through rational innovations and adaptations.

A people without innovative culture are no people and that is what africa is almost becoming mostly due to mental slavery that obliterates the common sense of the enslaved.

ogugua88: The US is my birth place and residence. Africa is my home.

BlackEmperorX: There is nothing wrong with emulating a country that has seen success. Look at China as a perfect example that was once considered third-world...I say this as black American born and raised in the states.

Nigeria has all the potential to be the NEXT success story as a progressive society. Yet.. somehow...some way... ppl are troubled by other Nigerians wearing American shirts? Utterly pathetic, bitter, and sad. Enough with the oppression bull crap. It never ceases to amaze me the striking similarities of Africans and black Americans.

Nigerians should ask their selves why your most brilliant minds leave the country in MASSES to places like the US or UK. The American shirt wearers should be an indicator!!

Ravaged by terrorism, corruption, poor infrastructure, and failed policies. I got an idea for you all. The Nigerian Government should implement policies to work with the TOP Black American Businesses. FACE IT your "culture" is irrelevant if you got nothing to show for. European and Western countries laugh when they see ethnocentric battles in a black society like Nigeria.

At the end of the day if you come to America. They DO NOT care what your "culture" is. You are BLACK and nothing more.