The Challenge of Cultural Transition in Sub-Saharan Africa

In: The annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Band 432, S. 70-79

Abstract

Postcolonial societies are characterized by: (1) their transitional nature, & (2) their deliberate efforts to redefine their cultures. Cultural engineering, ie, the deliberate political effort to channel behavior toward maximizing national objectives, particularly national integration, demands the notion of culture as an interventionist agent. Since independence, African politics have focused on the search for institutions & strategies to promote nation-building, economic development, & national & continental unity. African nations face the problem of how to select national inspirational symbols which do not alienate their traditions. A related problem is the conflict between national cultural identity & growing cultural convergence. To be effective, cultural policy must be lived by the people who are the culture-builders. It cannot be achieved without cultural strain, & even among countries sharing a similar colonial experience, cultural policy may vary. Modified HA.