UNIFYING EAST AFRICA THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURE By Prof. (Dr. Dr.) Elisante Ole Gabriel Professor of Strategic Planning and Mgt. Director of Youth Development, Tanzania www.olegabriel.com,
[email protected] +255-784-455
INTRODUCTION The Concept of Culture: A General Overview • What is Culture? Culture is defined as shared patterns of behaviors and interactions, learned through a process of socialization (hence social construction). • These shared patterns identify the members of a culture group while also distinguishing those of another group.
2
Intro cont.. • Most social scientists today view culture as
consisting primarily of the symbolic, ideational, and intangible aspects of human societies. • Even the words we speak and the way we speak is a function of culture. • Moral Capital = Social Capital + Ethical Capital • People are different and their differences are different because of culture and beliefs.
3
Intro cont.. • It is the values, symbols, interpretations, and perspectives that distinguish one people from another in modernized societies • It is not material objects and other tangible aspects of human societies. • Even within EAC people have different working culture, we need to integrate.
4
Intro cont.. • Kluckhohn, C., et al. (1945), in their book
of “The Science of Man in the World Culture. New York. (pp. 78-105)”, define culture as those historically created designs for living, explicit and implicit, rational, irrational, and non-rational, which exist at any given time as potential guides for the behavior of men. 5
Intro cont.. • Therefore, the most notable things about • • • • • •
culture embrace issues on: Behaviorial Patterns Socialization Attitudes, Values Symbols Interpretations and Perspectives
6
BASIC ELEMENTS OF CULTURE
– Language – Norms – Values – Beliefs and Ideologies. – Social Collectives. – Status and Roles. – Cultural Integration. 7
FOSTERING THE INTEGRATION THROUGH A FORMALIZED CULTURAL INDUSTRY
• Cultural industry is not a new
phenomenon in East African Countries. • It has been there since a primitive era. Our ancestors used to practice things such as traditional dancing, crafting, curving, knitting, etc. • Culture was and still a means for socialization, solidarity and integration among different groups in their societies. 8
Cont.. • The situation has remained the same despite of
the emerging new inventions in science and technology. • This have posed a strong challenge demanding the East African Countries to radically undergo a consistent change in Cultural Industry. • It culture which will act as a glue to ensure that EAC becomes ‘one team’ and works through synergy (1+1+1+1+1 > 5). 9
Why is it important undergo this change on cultural industry? • The Governments will be able to collect taxes,
having a competitive economies • To enact and enforce laws which will safeguard the work rights of the local artists in the East Africa • The manifestation of what is being portrayed can help to promote, strengthen and maintain peace and tranquility in EAC and beyond • We need to engage seriously on the cultural integration during peace than waiting for ‘chaos’ then to mediate. 10
Cont..
• Through a formalized cultural industry it
will help the member states in East Africa to have a Regional Representation and Identity beyond borders • A formalized cultural industry will help to address social issues prevailing in the societies include HIV/AIDS, drug abuse and trafficking, crime, to mention the few • A formalized cultural industry if well promoted it will help to create jobs and reduce unemployment rate among youth in East Africa 11
HOW TO SPEED THE FORMALIZATION PROCESS IN EAC?
• Member States in East Africa Community should see the need and importance of Cultural Industry as a formal sector in accordance with the change in science and technology in the World • Member States in EAC should develop policies and strategies to guide through the process towards the formulization of cultural industry and it implementation
12
Cont.. • In order for the process to yield
effectively, there is a need for public awareness campaign to be conducted so that the society will acknowledge the fruitfulness of this industry on social and economic prosperous of their countries • There is a need to mainstream cultural industry in schools’ curriculum in order to increase more awareness about various activities associated with this industry 13
Lessonf from the Cultural Industry in EAC • God has given us so many opportunities
which we are not utilizing • Unemployment being a serious problem globally, cultural industry can help to reduce the pressure. And.. • Some key players (artists) in the industry have some social-cultural problems which do tarnish the image of the industry 14
CONCLUSION • Formalization of Cultural
• • +255-784-455499
[email protected] www.olegabriel.com
Industry in EAC has a strong impact on the Macro environment (SLEEP-TIN Forces) There should be a think Tank for cultural industry development in EAC. AND Research and Deveplemt is necessary for strategic formalization of the industry 15
