© Kamla-Raj 2004 Anthropologist, 6(1): 37-43 (2004)

Is There Really a Relationship Between Culture and

Development?
Ifeyinwa Annastasia Mbakogu

INTRODUCTION are communicated. It has to do with all the

social, ethical, intellectual, scientific,
The focus of this paper should expectedly artistic, and technological expressions and
arouse diverse perceptions or expectations for processes of a people usually ethically and/
equally diverse individuals due to its universal or nationally or supra-nationally related,
appeal in a world in constant search for new and usually living in a geographically
ingredients for sustainable growth and develop- contiguous area; what they pass on to their
ment. However, it must be emphasised that the successors and how these are passed on.
paper is not intended to provide a network of Culture could therefore depict glaring simi-
definitions on what culture and development are larities between people within the same territorial
or are not. The major intentions are: providing space that fosters a feeling of oneness that they
simplified definitions of ‘culture’ and ‘develop- would wish to preserve for future generations.
ment’; discussing some issues that could have In addition, Shoremi (1999: 94) is of the view
accounted for the gradual disintegration of our that “…any culture is a set of techniques for
cultural heritage; assessing the culture-develop- adjusting both to the external environment and
ment relationship; and seeking avenues for to other men…cultures produce needs as well as
nurturing that relationship. provide a means of fulfilling them.” In essence,
an individual born into a society would through
THE CULTURAL REALM
social interaction, unconsciously imbibe certain
Culture is a term that should connote different traits that could build up personality or act as
things to different individuals. As such, often, boosters for adjusting in that society. Some other
people trivialize the limitless scope of the term researchers (Oyeneye and Shoremi, 1985: 3) also
with definitions of culture as simply music, sing- highlighted certain features of culture as:
ing and dancing. To them, the goal of culture is • Culture is shared by members of a society;
nothing but entertainment (Ayoade, 1989:5). If • Culture is not genetically transmitted;
this is not the goal of culture, what then is culture? • It is historically derived and … transmitted
Most definitions of culture, describe it, as the from one generation to another;
way of life of a certain group of people in a parti- • Culture is created… through the process of
cular society for instance, the nomadic Fulani adjustment to the social setting;
should possess similarities in language (Irish and • Culture is universal-found in every human
Prothro, 1965:19; Ukeje, 1992:395; Shoremi, society;
1999:94). Ukeje (1992) added that culture is the • Culture is dynamic.
totality of a people’s way of life as deduced from In summary, culture is a network of traits that
material and non-material aspects of their life could be learned, based on interaction or derived
such as clothing, values, beliefs, thoughts, feel- from history. Whatever culture is, it definitely
ings and customs. This should include traits regulates our lives by unconsciously shaping our
imbibed by all healthy individuals in the course attitudes, values, goals, behaviour or personality.
of growing in a specific society. From all indication, man is definitely nothing
Andah (1982:4-5) presented a more embra- without culture. Little wonder that Dabaghian
cing definition: (1970: 103) stressed “…the pride of any society
Culture embraces all the material and non- lies in its culture since no society in the world
material expressions of a people as well as could be considered great without reference to
the processes with which the expressions its tradition and culture.”
38 IFEYINWA ANNASTASIA MBAKOGU

AFRICA: OUR CULTURE, THE WAY WE One may need to ponder on Gbotokuma’s
WERE AND THE EVASION (1996: 23) stance that if Africa has been weighed
down by 400 years of exploitation, alienation,
The African society had prescribed ways of cultural and economic dismantlement, the white
educating their young ones before the colonial man’s recent deliberate political absolution of his
period. Such education could be through art conquests by renouncing colonialism, does not
forms, music, artisanship, and initiation camps change anything.
for maidens and young men. There was also the
role of oral tradition in passing our cultural What is Cultural Dynamics?
heritage to emergent generations through legends
or folklores. All countries are prone to a tendency towards
During the colonial era, our traditional culture either stability or change “…because the indivi-
and values were seriously threatened. This could duals in the society or the ‘cultural architects’
be because of dividing the African territories constantly modify their cultural plans, improve
without regard for the traditions, languages and and adapt their behaviour to the caprices and
values of these African people. Sometimes, exigencies of their physical, social and ideo-
African subjects were forced to imbibe the logical milieu.” What may however remain a
cultures of their colonial masters. And with the puzzle, is ascertaining in what ways, at what
introduction of western education and ideas, our periods, for what reason and where cultural
cultural heritage slowly filtered away. In extreme elements are included, lost, replaced or blended.
cases, Gbotokoma (1996:21) reported “…the It may be deduced that stability and change could
colonialists categorically denied the existence of be positive and negative factors in cultural
African cultural values and worse still, taught the dynamics. More importantly, cultural dynamics
Africans themselves to despise them” could breed negative changes that result in
cultural dearth.
Cultural Disintegration: The African
Perspective The Realm of Development

Cultural disintegration in Africa could be Olutayo (1985:200) explained that Nigeria

attributed to internal and external factors, which adopted and has since practiced a model of
include wars, conquests, the slave trade, development entrenched on the modernization
migrations, contact with Europeans and colonia- theory. The modernization theory traces the root
lism, urban overcrowding and industrialization. of Nigeria’s underdevelopment to absence of
An important aspect of contact with the western technology and incomplete disentanglement from
world was the creation of a vacuum in the primitive modes of life.
colonized people that derided a proper fusion or To correct this situation, the modernization
blend of cultures that would have created a theory holds that a state of development can be
balanced reintegration. reached through a transfer of technological ideas,
Cultural disintegration could be explained as institutions, attitudes, values and cultures to the
that destabilization instituted when cultural undeveloped nations. More specifically, Osagie
changes go beyond the control of the people in expressed the opinion of psychologists and socio-
the affected society. We have historical instances logists that a transfer of modern attitudes reduces
of such cultural disintegration in the Ancient the presence of “absurd” traditional attitude and
Mali, Songhai and Egyptian empires. In fact, it fosters an atmosphere for growth in western
is evident from history that dominant cultural markets on which rests “the wealth of nations.”
systems in Africa were irreparably torn apart to In essence, such “free trade” visualised by the
create room for the exploitative western rule. This researcher, is an “osmotic” relationship whose
disintegration of political set-ups, made them benefits could only be reaped by the toughest
easily malleable. This could be likened to the countries. For Olutayo (1985), the implication
reckless disruption of sculptures in the 16th is “Europeanization,” in which Europe is
century in the cover of Christianity and fight perceived as having the “higher” culture which
against fetish practices. This wanton destruction the “lower” culture of the undeveloped nations
persisted until the beginning of the 20th century. need to develop. If this “higher” culture is rightly
IS THERE REALLY A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT? 39

imbibed, the undeveloped nations will, ultimately man cannot be developed in a vacuum.
develop. In essence, undeveloped nations would
need to imbibe the higher culture of the west to Cultural Dominance: How Deep-seated in
develop. This corresponds with Dabagan’s Africa
(1970) summation of acculturation: “ when an
individual goes from one culture to another, he What really is the cultural dominance of the
gradually superimposes the way of life of the West? The cultural domination of the West is
second culture on top of the first. In some ways, entrenched in imbibing the western way of life
he is still a member of the culture in which he is and thus making our political, economic and
born, but in many ways, he has become a member development aspirations conform to this alien
of the culture in which he now lives.” However, way of life. Very often, we wonder why certain
this does not explain whether there is a limit to tourism, trade, and technological ideas imple-
acculturation or what may be called the better mented by our leadership go wrong. Not surpri-
brew. What if more of the alien culture is consu- singly, such should be the fate of projects fashion-
med and almost nothing of the host culture is ed strictly within the western way of thinking thus
left. What then is the benefit of acculturation? disregarding our cultural heritage.
Based on the preceding discussions, what then It can never be said that there has been cultural
is development? exchange between the economically and politi-
First, Osagie (1985:129) visualized “develop- cally strong western and African countries.
ment” as multi-faceted with its cognate notions Notions of exchanges are mere myths.
and Victorian terms of “growth” and “progress” One may also point out that news on Africa
respectively. and about African people published in the
Also, when the term development is men- western press are written by westerners and
tioned, there is a tendency for economists to dwell without doubt, are prone to diluted accounts of
on the indices of Gross National Productivity, Africans through the eyes of the west.
increasing productivity, developing technology There is also, absentminded transfer of some
in the bid to increase productivity based on the technologies that deride the essence of our
conception that development is the route to cultural heritage. As Professor Joseph Ki Zerbo
economic growth. Similarly, Osagie (1985) pre- cited in Gbotokoma (1996: 22) stressed, “…no
sented an encompassing definition of develop- technical object is culturally neutral, in the sense
ment thus: that it carries with it the stamp of the society in
Development however, is a more incon- which it was conceived. Every manufactured
clusive concept with its social, political and product is an ambassador of a certain culture,
economic facets. It is the qualitative and while the raw materials and finished products
quantitative positive transformation of the exported by Africa carry no social or cultural
lives of a people that does not only enhance message.” A deplorable situation indeed- when
their material well-being but also ensures considered in the light of the vibrant cultural,
their social well being, including the social and moral values of the African heritage.
restoration of human dignity. Maybe what Africans need is a cultural re-
The assertion is that development is a warm, orientation targeted at sieving that which will
gradual and considerate process in its attempt to always radiate the beauty of our Africanness to
alleviate man’s economic and technological create a balance between modern and traditional
standard or conditions without disregarding or outlooks.
disrespecting any aspect of man’s existing social,
cultural and political values. This implies that After Colonization
development does not bring only ill tidings after
all, with colonization; Africans were introduced At the end of the colonial period and the
to a new religion, education, technology and acquisition of political independence, what do
industry. The important thing is that we should we as Africans have to show for this period of
learn to filter the good from the bad to mature forced boundage? Nothing! Nothing but an
into self reliant and actualised individuals. In inability to govern ourselves, resusticate or
other words, development cannot be divulged protect those cultural values that were laid to
from man’s culture, for culture makes a man and sleep during the colonial period.
40 IFEYINWA ANNASTASIA MBAKOGU

In fact, the new breed of africans are more essence of our African unity by creating conflict
concerned with passionately accusing the among erstwhile peaceful groups, breeding the
colonialists of contributing to a derision of our monster called tribalism which Davidson (1991:
cultural values. But are we being completely true 16) described as a major raison d’être, instrument
to ourselves? For how do we explain the rampant and facilitator of corruption in the post-colonial
sale , disappearance or importation of Africa’s era.
priceless works of art.
At the same time, we should also be accused The Culture-Development Relationship
of been willing recepients of western cultures
without making concerted efforts to project our
For a clearer understanding of the culture-
African heritage as attractive and unique enough
development relationship, there is a need to
to be assimilated or emulated by others.
briefly assess the activities and stance of the
In reality, our world is gradually moving to a
United Nations Educational Social and Cultural
time when exchanges should be promoted
Organization (UNESCO) on the issue.
because no nation should be completely satisfied
The organization (UNESCO) has from
with reclining in an arm-chair waiting to savour
inception, stressed the connection between
what others have to offer.
culture and development. This is emphasised in
its mission of “advancing through the educa-
(i) Effects of Cultural Disintegration
tional, scientific and cultural relations of the
peoples of the world, the objectives of peace and
Major effects of colonial domination and
the common welfare of mankind.” Culture
eventually cultural disintegration in Africa could
became increasingly important in the 1960s or
be the biting problems of industrialization and
postcolonial era with the evident deficiencies to
congestion in Africa. With technological advan-
cultural diversity in the currently adopted
cement, there has been an exodus of young people
development model. The liberated people had
from rural to urban areas in search of white-collar
become aware of mode of existence and persis-
jobs. Thus, the alien traits of depersonalisation
tently challenged the notion that modernization
and deculturisation were introduced. (Gboto-
had to mean westernisation-rather than been
kuma, 1996: 20). Before this, life in the African
based on their own tradition. In response, in 1966,
traditional setting was never without a feeling of
the UNESCO General Conference in Article1 of
oneness- because there were laws; family values
the Declaration stated that “each culture has a
and community assistance schemes that ensure
dignity and value which must be respected and
the helpless are never left despondent. In the
preserved” and that “every people have the right
urban setting, man is alone, only responsible to
and the duty to develop its culture.”
his immediate family, uncaring of his moral and
• The Intergovernmental Conference on the
cultural values.
Not surprisingly, an abandonment of the Administrative and Financial aspects of
restrictive strength of cultural behaviour evident Cultural Policies was held in Venice in 1970
in mode of dressing, respect for parents and and spearheaded the process of introducing
elders, opened the gate to the negative urban traits culture to the heart of policy making agenda.
of crime, unemployment, alcoholism, debauchery The hallmark of this conference, was Rene
and divorce. Maheu, then UNESCO Director-General’s
Similarly, Agbaje (1989: 46-47) described message to the world:
colonialism as a disruptive force that tried to Man is the means and the end of
replace long-tested traditional cultural practices development; he is not the one-
with socio-political and economic policies that dimensional abstraction of homo
had been developed and tested in Europe. For economicus, but a living reality, a
Agbaje, when the traditional checks and balances human person, in the infinite variety
for governance and social responsibility have of his needs, his potentials and his
fallen short, cases of abuse of office and inappro- aspirations… in the concept of
priate behaviour would be aggravated. development the centre of gravity
More importantly, colonialism put on hold has thus shifted from the economic
cultural pluralism and moved to disrupt the to the social, and we have reached a
IS THERE REALLY A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT? 41

point where this shift begins to (iii) Broadening participation in cultural life; and
approach the cultural. (iv) Promoting international cultural co-
• Intergovernmental Conference on Cultural operation.
Policies in Europe was held in Helsinki in Within that decade, projects exceeding 1,200
1972 and the major observation was that any were launched in almost every country
growth that is based solely on the economic worldwide. And more recently, the intergovern-
aspects of life, is definitely maladjusted or mental Conference on Cultural Policies for
out of touch with the environment. Development came up with an action plan on
• Intergovernmental Conference on Cultural cultural policies for development and identified
Policies in Asia was held in Yogyakarta some crucial principles for development. It must
in1973 and advised member States to be emphasised that man’s development is
formulate their economic and social enhanced when man is both socially and cultur-
objectives within a cultural framework for ally fulfilled.
healthy societal growth.
• Intergovernmental Conference on Cultural Fostering the Culture - Development
Policies in Africa was held in Accra in 1975 Relationship
and stressed that cultural development is
boosted when cultural authenticity and Yes, for me, there is a relationship between
technical progress continually complement culture and development! For it would be
each other. It is my perception that based on unreasonable to think that, any development task
the meeting, the Festac 77’ Festival was would be successful if it does not have roots in a
organised probably to collectively display people’s culture. There is also the belief that
the uniqueness of the African culture. But culture is one basic assessment of whether a
the whole idea was merely a waste of society is either developing slowly or rapidly.
resources for the host country, Nigeria and Undoubtedly, no society exists in a vacuum, as
like all projects initiated by Africans, there such, existing cultural patterns of the people will
was a lack of continuity. determine whether and to what extent that society
• Intergovernmental Conference on Cultural welcomes or rebuffs change.
Policies on Latin America and the Carib- In support of these assertions, Isamah (1996:
bean’s was held in Bogotá in 1978 and 31) reported that, “ Numerous studies of
emphasised that cultural development anthropologists have shown that the traditional
should be targeted towards alienating the values of a people are closely related to the pace
living conditions or life of individuals. with which such people accept or reject the
• The World Conference on Cultural Policies demands of modern industrial or commercial
(MONDIACULT) was held in Mexico City operations.” While Morris (1976: 15), cautioned
in 1982 and came up with the unique that change “does not necessarily involve
definition that links culture to development: instability, and provided change is gradual and
“culture…is…the whole complex of innovations are steadily tested and absorbed, the
distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual stability of society and all its institutions is not
and emotional features that characterise a seriously affected.” In other words, any agent or
society or social group. It includes not only advocate of change should be judicious enough
arts and letters, but also modes of life, the to assess changing situations within the society,
fundamental rights of the human being, value assess that change and adjust to it if it is relevant
systems, traditions and beliefs.” to that society’s development.
To further fulfil the objective of making More so, how do we contemplate a mission
cultural factors the focal point of all strategies of development when we are still weighed down
for development, the World Decade for Cultural by the shackles of ignorance, insufficient
Development was initiated and spanned between exposure and incompetent leadership? We are
1988-1997. Within those ten years, UNESCO, in a world where we are born free yet find it so
earmarked four key objectives: difficult to express that which is the soul of our
(i) Acknowledging the cultural dimension of existence- that which categorises us as belonging
development; to a certain race, colour or language unit. When
(ii) Affirming and enriching cultural identities; we talk about liberation what immediately comes
42 IFEYINWA ANNASTASIA MBAKOGU

to mind are the economic, social and political languages. However, a gradual process is re-
aspects of the term. Little regard is placed on quired and strategies should be formulated by
cultural liberation. Yet culture has daily played which prominent African languages are made
an invisible role in determining our customs, appealing via press, radio, literary publications,
values, morals and growth in the society. If we films and other publicity gimmicks. The key
truly aspire freedom from the shackles of intent is a projection of our cultural values, ideals
underdevelopment, there is also an urgent need and unique identity.
to break away from the confines of western Quite often, it bothers me that we, as Africans
cultural systems evident in our dressing, with specific reference to Nigerians, do not know
language, music, artwork, attitude to innovations much about preserving, revitalizing and saving
and search for that which made us proud to be our rich cultural heritage. If we do, then how do
Africans before colonization. we explain why our continent’s rich tourist
For the liberation process to be triggered off, attractions have been inadequately managed
one should address the ugly trend that makes despite their huge economic, social, cultural,
western countries inventors of cultural and scientific, educational and ethical potentials?
technological initiatives that are ultimately There is a need to formulate attractive strategies
consumed by African countries. to promote interest and awareness among
A major step in addressing the issue of an international tourists, regional travels and even
African cultural policy is commissioning profe- local inhabitants about a nation’s cultural heri-
ssionals in the area of conservation of our African tage. For instance, UNESCO, with the assistance
heritage to present an inventory of our works of of Member States, the World Tourism Organi-
art, art forms, folk history or oral tradition and zation, UNDP, NGOs and the World Bank, tour
practices. Such documentation should take into operators, museum experts, are interested in
account the element of cultural contamination contributing to and tackling the tourism-culture
caused by mingling with people from diverse challenge. A useful strategy proffered by
cultures or ways of life. UNESCO (2000), could be “influencing tourist
It is a puzzle why research for the revitali- projects and policies through research, training
zation of our African heritage is restricted to and awareness-raising activities, the setting up
intellectual workings. There is a need to awaken of networks and the implementation of pilot
an interest in those countries calling for a cultural projects, and also to clarify choices for decision-
revolution to assist in suggesting strategies for makers, sensitise the general public and promote
packaging these cultural ideas to be shared with culture as a factor of peace and development.”
other continents. When properly managed, culture could be an
There is also the language problem. To under- important vehicle for intercultural exchanges and
stand a people adequately, one should understand sustainable development.
their language. With this in mind, the colonialists It would be imperative to always remember
started a process of destabilising our African that Africa is a community-oriented community.
heritage by imposing not only their languages Thus, the community moulds and nurtures an
but also their culture on the colonised. The crux individual’s personality. As such, all-new orienta-
of the matter is simple- the earlier Africans began tions toward development for Africa must be
emphasising the use of their national languages community focussed.
as official languages rather than the English, From the foregone, it can be deduced that
French or Portuguese languages of their colonial contact with and acquisition of western ideas
masters, the soul of many Africans will never be have contributed to Africa’s cultural identity
truly African. In my view, it really is a sad situa- crisis. Not surprisingly, a continent that so
tion where many African children can neither haplessly neglects its own development para-
speak nor understand a word of their native digms to welcome alien outlooks will experience
languages. Some may consider it an aspiration such progressive disintegration that only judi-
to glamour or modernization but I consider it an ciously applied medication and therapy can
outright betrayal and disregard for that which our repair. Nevertheless, some may argue whether
ancestors handed down to us. The language issue Africa would ordinarily have had a faster deve-
may pose adjustment problems with the elimi- lopment without the destabilizing interference of
nation of already familiar and functional colonial western colonisation.
IS THERE REALLY A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT? 43

CONCLUSION perspective of the interaction of the African culture with

Western culture or civilisation and the relevance to
development in the African continent.
Seeking Desirable Remedies
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Author’s Address: Ifeyinwa Annastasia Mbakogu, PhD, Department of Social Work, University
of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
E-mail: ifeyinwambogu@justice.com