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CULTURE ---CIVICS FORM FOUR STUDY NOTES
WHAT IS CULTURE
?
Culture can be defined as all the
behaviours, ways of life, arts, beliefs and institutions of a population that
are passed down from generation to generation. Culture has been called “the way
of life for an entire society”. As such, it includes codes of manners, dress,
language, religion, rituals, norms of behaviour such as law and morality, and
systems of beliefs as well as the arts.
The Origin of Culture
As stated before that, culture is
the totality of people‟s way of life, so it is compatible with human life. It
is argued historically that, culture started simultaneously with the creation
of man and the formation of communities of people, which were adopting
themselves environment and struggle to obtain their livelihood. As human being
started to struggle for basic needs in his environment, he used different tools
ranging from stone tools to iron tools, like axes, arrows pots and knives.
At the beginning culture was also
determined by wearing style. Previously man made clothes using animal‟s skins,
grasses and trees. Language was used in communication especially when man
established permanent settlements. Language united people during working, such as
cultivating and hunting; through language man was able to construct songs and
poems, which were used as a part of refreshments particularly when issues arose
such as traditional rites. Although culture went hand in hand with human life,
it varied according to the needs of the society, and the influence of
environment.
Importance of studying culture
{I}Aspects and Elements of Culture
Meaning of Aspects and Elements of
Culture
Explain the meaning aspects and
elements of culture
Culture has two aspects namely:
1.
Material
culture;This is the extent of materials
wealth produced or used in a society. It includes the achievements to which one
has mastered oneself nature; level of instruments and technical skills, the
scientific organization of labour, the availability of individual material and
everyday needs.The instruments of labour are the tools that individuals use to
carry out material production. Their quality depends on the level of science
and technology in a given society in that particular time in history.The level
of material culture is expressed in skills and know-how applied in material
production. It is also seen in other material elements of the society‟s life,
for example, in the objects one uses such as clothes, furniture and utensils;
scientific, academic and medical equipment as well as transport facilities.
2.
Intellectual
culture; It is a societal knowledge, skills
and technical ability to organize and produce things as well as how one relates
with others.This includes the achievements reached in science, education,
ethics, literature and art. It is also reflected in the political ideas, civic
education, legal relations, language, speech and behaviour.
Culture is traditionally considered
as kind of civilization. It is very complex. It includes knowledge, beliefs,
arts, morals, laws, traditions, customs and other capabilities and habits
acquired by an individual as a member of society. Culture consists of patterns
of behaviour which are acquired and transmitted by symbols.Essentially, culture
consists of traditional ideas, part
Essentially, culture consists of
traditional ideas, particularly their attacked values. These include standards
of behaviour and ideology which justifies certain selected ways of
behaviour.Culture is rooted in the facts of human nature. There is always
interplay between man, his environment and society. As a result of this
interplay, man behaves in certain ways.
Man shapes the environment and he is
also shaped by his environment. Thus while it is true to say that man makes
society, it is equally true to say that society makes man, hence, culture means
total ways of life shared in the society. Culture therefore, consists of
behaviour patterns that are either open or hidden.
The open or explicit behaviour
patterns are those whose meanings are easily understood either by an individual
or the outside observers. Examples could be like patterns of modest and
hospitality. This does not mean that an open pattern of behaviour is universal
and is practiced in the same way in all cultures. In fact, there can be many
varieties in its expression from one culture to another.
In the hidden or implicit behaviours
patterns the meaning of these patterns is not easily understood because it
depends on some other factors which are hidden in the cultural system. The
inner aspect is not open. It is either deliberately concealed or it pertains to
the unconscious life of the group. There are many concealed social practices in
all parts of the world, especially common social fears; fear of the evil eye,
fear of witchcraft , the fear of speaking openly about sexual matters, taboos,
fear of witchcraft, the fear of speaking openly about sexual matters, taboos,
fear of the luck on certain days or after certain occurrences like split salt.
Although the practice of these things may be open and public, the meanings
remain concealed. In most parts of Tanzania, salt is not asked or bought at
night by mentioning the name „salt‟ instead people say, „dawa ya jiko‟
literally translated as , „kitchen medicine‟.
Man needs culture in order to
survive but in order to be cultured he must participate in the cultural life of
his group. He must get line with the norms of thee group. Therefore, in this
sense man lives by his culture. It follows therefore that, culture is the
common way of living.
Elements of culture manifest
themselves in physical and practical ways.
a.
Customs and Norms: Customs refers to
short-lived patterns of behaviour shared by the members of a group. They can be
directly observed. For instance people who know each other greet by shaking
hands whenever they meet while others hug each other. However, customs differ
from one society to another. The set of customs form one of the indicators of
culture.
Norms are accumulated experiences proved
to be acceptable and appropriate to a given society, and they have the tendency
of staying longer before they change or disappear. The difference between norms
and customs is that, norms are accumulated experiences proved to be acceptable
and appropriate to a given society, and they have the tendency of staying
longer before they change or disappear. Customs on these other hand, are the
everyday practices of behaviour which are passing and are vulnerable to
changes. Take for instance, the wearing of clothes, shoes or hats in a certain
fashion usually changes with time.
Norms can be classified in different
ways. All groups are called folkways. But these folkways are further subdivided
into mores. These are special folkways that a society regards as essential for
it‟s for its welfare. Mores are enforced with great vigor and intense feeling.
Folkways are the practices that govern most of our daily routine and ordinary
contacts with other people. They often define what is socially correct, and
they are informally enforced. However, the violation of folkways is not
considered as a threat to the group at large. Folkways can include the daily
practice of things such as language. Other folkways are patterns of behaviour
like the pattern of eating. Take for example, someone may not be allowed to use
his left hand to eat or to adhere to the proper way of greeting elders.
Folkways define the proper etiquette
in various roles. They distinguish children‟s roles or man‟s roles. They govern
our general style of life in types of housing, dressing, food and feeding
habits. Other behaviour patterns include education. Marriage, recreational
activities, youth initiation, youth initiation, science and technology.
Furthermore, death and burial procedures, forms of governance, respect to
status and mode of communication to people of different ranks are essential to
the folkways of a given society.
On the other hand, mores are norms
that are considered vital to the welfare of a society. They are not only proper
but also obligatory. They are supported by the dominant values or principles of
the culture. Mores define right and wrong, moral and immoral actions, thought
and feelings. They may be expressed in a command way like; “You must not” in
which way they are referred to as taboos.
Fashions are highly passing patterns
of behaviour. Fashions allow many changes in norm. In things like art, dress or
furnishings can change so fast. Fashions appear to be most important in a
complex urban society. Women usually change their dressing styles from time to
time so as to keep track with the changing fashions.
(b) Language: This is another
important element or indicator of culture. Language is a learned, shared and
arbitrary system of vocals and symbols through which human beings communicate.
It is a system of convectional symbols that covey meanings language is useful
instrument in all economic, social, political, psychological and ideological
aspects of the society. Language is not only a communicative instrument but
also it is a product of work. In their effort to produce goods and services,
people develop some words and therefore, language is further developed. Each
language shapes and shows the culture, the behaviour patterns and understanding
of the group that speaks it. it presents to the learning child a ready –made
and distinctive way of looking at the world. It also guides him/her not only to
observe the world in a certain way, but also to express him/her and react to it
in a certain way. Every language has an effect upon what the people use, see
and feel and what they talk about.
The names given for example, to
various relatives in different cultures are often signification because they
connote different behavioural norms. In Kiswahili for instance, we regard the
brother of our father as father, the sister of our mother as mother. This helps
to indicate how close these relatives are to you and therefore, the kind of
behaviour you should express towards them.
Language is an instrument enabling
communication among people in their customs, norms, philosophy and ideology of
a given society.Over 100 languages are spoken in Tanzania, most of them from
the Bantu family. After independence, the government recognized that this
represented a problem for national unity, and as a result introduced the
Swahili language (Kiswahili) as the only official language. The government
introduced it in all primary schools to spread its use.
Given the conditions of the material
time, it was not possible to introduce the language in the entire educational
system, because the scale of the task of writing Swahili textbooks for primary
schools was already considerable. As a result English (which has been
considered the colonial language since the end of the First World War) is still
used in high schools and universities. However, the great majority of
Tanzanians have accepted Swahili, thus English is generally not well known. As
a result of this linguistic situation, many pupils who finish primary education
cannot express themselves well in English. Although many tribal languages are
actively suppressed, they do not enjoy the same linguistic rights as Swahili.
However little by little they are disappearing. To date none of them has
entirely vanished, but it is clear that unless the linguistics policy is
changed, many of them will soon cease to exist.
Kiswahili as the national language
in Tanzania has the function of developing, enhancing and maintaining nation
culture. Ho then does Kiswahili as a national language promotes national
culture? Kiswahili like any other language has symbols that are spoken or
written. And these symbols have specific and arbitrary meanings in this
society. Before we can answer the question above on how Kiswahili can promote
national culture we should first answer the possible?
First, language caries peoples
experience beyond an immediate time and place. That is, when these symbols
(word) are spoken or written, the meanings conveyed stay for a longer time and
they also go to distant places beyond where these words were spoken or written.
Let us look at the experience that we have from words spoken by our ancestors
and words written by other people who lived far from where we live.
Every one of us a list of
traditional stories that was told to him or her by one of his/her grandparents.
This story could be bravery, praise, sorrow or happiness. Whatever the
meaning12the story had, it created some feelings that had an impact on your
attitude. The result of this impact is the change of your behaviour in the community.
We have songs and other written
literature about our nation, our leaders and our people as a whole. All these
have helped to create feelings towards the love or our country. There are
feelings that can lead to defend someone‟s nation. Songs like “Mungu Ibariki
Tanzania” (God Bless Tanzania) and “Tanzania, Tanzania” inculcate patriotism to
Tanzanians.
Certain words in these songs have
some psychological impact on the Tanzanians. Patriotic, e.g. words like “Jina
lako ni tamu sana” (Your name is very delicious) implying a strong love to
someone‟s country. Such words can create and promote national culture in that
they are learned and shared with others and therefore, socially transmitted.
This makes the whole society to have that common belief and attitude that the
song creates to them, which is patriotism.
A common language binds people
together. To speak the same language is to have a strong bond. And this strong
bond enables a person a person to work together something that is one of the
most favourable cultural values.
(c) Art: It is an element or
indicator of culture. Art as part of culture is an expression which reflects
the feelings, attitudes and the level of development of the society. Arts
denote man made things displayed to be enjoyed. For instance dramatizing and
singing. Any art which originates from a given society has some roles to
perform to that society. For example, it reflectively shows what people have
done in their struggle for survival. The carvings, the painting, the songs, and
drama represent certain actual struggles or practical life these people have
had before.
Forms of Art
1.
Using sound such as in singing or
pronouncing a speech.
2.
When someone combines language and
instruments like when doing some things like singing, drumming and dramatizing.
3.
Visual aids like pictures, maps,
paints and cinema.
4.
Demonstration of cultural troupes,
sport, and games.
Art reflects the feelings of
patriotism in the struggles for the development of a national economy. This
situation drives people to the extent that musicians came up with songs of
different and, some defend, support and praise the national institutions.
“Art reflects the type of problems
encountered or by a given society. These problems can be social, political or
economic. The drawings in the Kondoa caves are typically reflect the economic
occupation of the people in that area in the past.
Again it is art which is one of the
effective communicative systems in the traditional societies that are
illiterate. Art is used to convey, to store and to preserve all important
events and phenomena in their life. Important memories in life can only be
artistically expressed to appraise events. Art also preserves records of those
successes in different artistic forms.
(d) Rules: In their collective form,
rules or patterns form another indicator of culture for behaviour which is
called Norms. These rules are those that members of a group, community or
society agree to follow. The rules determine what is right or wrong in a given
society.Norms are connected with ranks as well as situations. They are
recognized into roles, the pattern of behaviour4 expected of people in certain
ranks, such as husbands, fathers, citizens, employees, and children.
It is also a norm for our children
to start greeting elders and vacating seats for elders at certain situations
norms include the most important things in the society. Consider things like
taboos, legacy, history of the society, rituals, treatment of diseases,
respect, obedience and laws concerning marriage, births, inheritance and burial
ceremonies to mention only a few.
(e) Recreation: Another important
element of culture is recreation. The word recreation means relaxing and
amusement. In any society where work is done, recreation is quite necessary.
Work tires the body and mind so that is possible if someone is exposed to good
entertainments. Good entertainment is that which refreshes a person e.g.
voluntary hobby, sports and games, music and even dancing.
(f) Ideology: Ideology combines the
beliefs of people. It is this element of culture that lays down the principles
and conditions to be followed by a given society. It is ideology which is14the
foundation of all other elements of culture. The mode of production is the one
which explains the way people own property and how they share what they
produce.
The fact that ideology of a society
is a product of how people own property, it is clear that the type of ideology
prevailing in society will be a true reflection of the type of the organization
of the economy in general. For instance, in the society where the dominant type
ownership is private, the beliefs of the people is that particular society is
competiveness and individualistic.
(g) Laws: Laws form another
indicator of culture there is not culture without laws. We can define laws as
deliberately formulated rules of behaviour that are enforced by a special
authority. Laws serve several purposes. They enforce the mores accepted by the
dominant cultural group in the society. They regulate new situations not
covered by customs. They also bring about the real cultural and ideal patterns
of a society. The enforcement of norms by law in Tanzania is the responsibility
of society and the community as a whole. For instance, it is the responsibility
of every individual, every family and the community as a whole to make sure
children go to school. Failure to implement this obligation, the law of the
country can be applied to enforce this law on him.
(h) Cooperation: implies interacting
with others in the community. It helps not only the members in getting the
feelings of what goes on in the community but also gives a chance for the
members to learn and benefit from the community. It is very much important for
each organization to stabilize personal relationship between members of the society.
This is essential to primary or secondary groups. Primary groups in this
context include the family, schools, organized clubs, or villages where members
know each other. Secondary groups, include such levels large societies and
nations.
Man is a social being because he
likes to live and work in groups. These groups are normally organized for short
or long periods of time. In all societies of the world today, people have lived
and worked together with the objective of assisting one another in producing
commodities for their consumption. These include the production of food
requirements, the provision of social services like building houses,
harvesting, attending funerals, and holding ritual ceremonies.These activities
were some of the social values of cooperation during the communal period of
life. These social activities were carried on up to the time when foreigners
came to Africa. These15social activities were carried on up to the time when
foreigners came to Africa. The same practices are still maintained in some
societies though with some modification.Cooperation spirit has been and still
an important social value in keeping the nation in unity. Without this cultural
value, individual members would not have been bound together to form an
integrated nation.
(i) Tradition: These are experiences
of the past that are inherited by a society and they are unchangeable. They
include marriage, food, local brews, funeral ceremonies, family care and home
economics. The other aspects are initiation, worshiping system, sports and
games. Every society has its own tradition.
(j) Crafts and tools: Tools are the
instruments of labour used by people in production and it differs from one
society to another depending on the nature and level of technology of the
society. For example, tools used in stone ages were poor compared to the tools
used during Iron Age. These tools were iron hoes, axes and pangas.Crafts are
technological creations of man which express man‟s culture. These are materials
which are made by man so as to express his culture for example, decorations and
carved materials. These differ in form according to the culture of the society.
People exploit their environment to make crafts.
The Importance of the Cultural
ElementsThe values of culture help the future generations to know how to escape
from bad practices and evils in the societies such as drug abuse, child abuse,
stealing and any other kind of bad behaviour which is not proper to society.
Ethics are passed by adult to young ones through informal education.
Language is used in a particular
society to convey message. Language is also an identity of a nation. For
example Kiswahili in Tanzania identifies the nation of Tanzania among other
nations in the world who use different languages such as English, French and
German. Language can be used to unite, educate and inculcate the sense of
awareness to youth.
Sports and games promote unity,
cooperation and friendship among the social members. This is because sport and
games collect people together for sharing different ideas to build a better
society.
Crafts in particular, provide the
household with necessary materials such as furniture, pots and baskets which
are used daily. Some of them can be sold and provide money to people, hence a
source of income.
Traditions are also worthwhile for
example; Initiation ceremonies prepare the young boys and girls to make part
their responsibility in the society as adults. They promote people from
childhood to adulthood. Some traditions and customs are worth –for example
marriage and burial ceremonies because they collect and bind together at times
of problems and pleasure and share different ideas.
Customs help societies to adopt
briefly certain cultural values like dressing style, eating habits, hairstyles
etc. which are sometimes worthwhile for acceptable in certain occasions - e.g.
in wedding ceremonies.
Art helps us to express our
feelings, attitude and events in a very enjoyable way – e.g. through songs,
drama and pictures.
Recreations bring refreshment to a
person after hard work. They help persons to relax and gather energy before
they engage in production again. Hence recreations are important to
man.Ideology is another important cultural element because it lays down the principles
and conditions to be followed by a given society. Thus, it provides a guideline
to how people should live in a given place and time.
Like ideology, rules and laws are
very crucial as cultural elements because they defend social norms and
determine what is right or wrong in the society. Thus, they shape the behaviour
of people.
Co-operation is the next crucial
element of culture, because it promotes interaction of people in a given
society. Through interaction, people are able to perform collective and
important activities like burials or pastoral activities which a single person
cannot do.
{II}.POSITIVVE
& NEGATIVE ASPECTS
OF OUR CULTURAL
VALUE
Disadvantages of Culture Elements
1.
Traditional ceremonies, such as
„ngoma” contribute much to the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and STIs
(Sexually Transmitted Infections). Initiation ceremonies which involve
circumcision of birth female and male can also cause problems such as
transmission of HIV/AIDS especially when they are unsafely done. Female Genital
Mutilation (FGM) can cause high bleeding and difficulties during childbirth.
2.
Through visual arts such as video
and television indigenous culture can be destructed by imposition of foreign
culture. Foreign culture. Foreign culture is imposed through the media such as
the radio, video and television. People learn different practices such as bad
wearing styles, and other things like gay marriages.
3.
Social institutions and religious
beliefs can transmit negative attitudes to the people about the culture of a
certain society. For example, colonial education and religion imparted ideas of
despising Africa culture and glorifying western culture. Christian missionaries
said Africa culture was “barbaric”.
There are some traditional ways of
life which prohibit certain groups of people to eat some kind of food which is
nutritious. For example, there are taboos in some societies which prohibit
women from eating eggs when they are pregnant. Again some discourage family
planning.17Polygamist tradition may also be a cause of poverty and spread of
HIV /AIDS. Patriarchy system as cultural practices limits women rights and
hence retards development in the society.
Importance of Each Element of
Culture
Illustrate the importance of each
element of culture
Culture helps to make young people
acquire the social values notably language, beliefs and taboos.
- It gives knowledge to people (young ones) on social transformation of different societies.
- It helps people to know their past social settings and laws that have been governing nature in different society.
- It exposes the youngsters to those tasks that are similar to those of elders.
- It is a medium for bringing up youth in order to cope with the society.
- It enables people to transmit their skills, knowledge and wisdom from one generation to another.
- It equips learners with insightful knowledge on bad and good cultural practices and therefore chooses the positive ones.
The values of culture help the
future generations to know how to escape from bad practices and evils in the
societies such as drug abuse, child abuse, stealing and any other kind of bad
behaviour which is not proper to society. Ethics are passed by adult to young
ones through informal education.
Language is used in a particular
society to convey message. Language is also an identity of a nation. For
example Kiswahili in Tanzania identifies the nation of Tanzania among other
nations in the world who use different languages such as English, French and
German. Language can be used to unite, educate and inculcate the sense of awareness
to youth.
Sports and games promote unity,
cooperation and friendship among the social members. This is because sport and
games collect people together for sharing different ideas to build a better
society.
Crafts in particular, provide the
household with necessary materials such as furniture, pots and baskets which
are used daily. Some of them can be sold and provide money to people, hence a
source of income.
Traditions are also worthwhile for
example; Initiation ceremonies prepare the young boys and girls to make part
their responsibility in the society as adults. They promote people from
childhood to adulthood. Some traditions and customs are worth –for example
marriage and burial ceremonies because they collect and bind together at times
of problems and pleasure and share different ideas.
Customs help societies to adopt
briefly certain cultural values like dressing style, eating habits, hairstyles
etc. which are sometimes worthwhile for acceptable in certain occasions - e.g.
in wedding ceremonies.
Art helps us to express our
feelings, attitude and events in a very enjoyable way – e.g. through songs,
drama and pictures.
Recreations bring refreshment to a
person after hard work. They help persons to relax and gather energy before
they engage in production again. Hence recreations are important to
man.Ideology is another important cultural element because it lays down the
principles and conditions to be followed by a given society. Thus, it provides
a guideline to how people should live in a given place and time.
Like ideology, rules and laws are
very crucial as cultural elements because they defend social norms and
determine what is right or wrong in the society. Thus, they shape the behaviour
of people.
Co-operation is the next crucial
element of culture, because it promotes interaction of people in a given
society. Through interaction, people are able to perform collective and
important activities like burials or pastoral activities which a single person
cannot do.
Positive and Negative Aspects of our
Cultural Values
Disadvantages of Culture Elements
- There are some traditional ways of life which prohibit certain groups of people to eat some kind of food which is nutritious. For example, there are taboos in some societies which prohibit women from eating eggs when they are pregnant. Again some discourage family planning.
- Polygamist tradition may also be a cause of poverty and spread of HIV /AIDS. Patriarchy system as cultural practices limits women rights and hence retards development in the society.
- Traditional ceremonies, such as „ngoma” contribute much to the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections). Initiation ceremonies which involve circumcision of birth female and male can also cause problems such as transmission of HIV/AIDS especially when they are unsafely done. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) can cause high bleeding and difficulties during childbirth.Through visual arts such as video and television indigenous culture can be destructed by imposition of foreign culture. Foreign culture. Foreign culture is imposed through the media such as the radio, video and television. People learn different practices such as bad wearing styles, and other things like gay marriages.
- Social institutions and religious beliefs can transmit negative attitudes to the people about the culture of a certain society. For example, colonial education and religion imparted ideas of despising Africa culture and glorifying western culture. Christian missionaries said Africa culture was “barbaric”.
Products of Culture
- Beside the elements of culture, we also have products of culture. Culture is now a commodity to be sold in the form of made products, clothes, accessories, leisure opportunities, sportswear and other consumer goods. Products of culture should be understood in its past-present forms.
- All cultures must produce both economic and social types of products. The nature of these products and their use depend on the cultural level of a given society.
Positive and Negative Aspects of our
Cultural Values
Identify positive and negative
aspects of our cultural values
(i) Positive aspects of cultural
values
- Among the most outstanding aspects of our cultural values are:
- Respect among members of a given societies.18Here, children are taught how to respect their parents and elders. Every person in the society has the right to be treated with respect.
- Respect for the law is another positive cultural value, because t helps to maintain order and discipline in that given society. In a society with peace and order no one is above the law.
- Care for the old, sick and disabled is a positive cultural value. It is the responsibility of the society to take care of them, since they are a product of the society. The old, for instance, were once strong people who gave birth to off springs who are now the strong able bodied people of the society.
- The communal self help is a crucial culture value as it promotes performance of collective work in the society for the betterment of the people of the people themselves.Care for the young is a very vital cultural value and it is done not only by parents but all members of the community. In traditional societies, each adult person was a teacher and care taker to the young.
- Community co-operation as a cultural value and it is done not only by parents but all members of the community. In traditional societies, each adult person was a teacher and care taker to the young.Community co-operation as a cultural value is important in that it is promoting interaction among members of the society. Such co-operation brings unity and increases the ability of the community in carrying out various communal activities.Proper or descent dressing according to local or national norms is another positive cultural value because it preserves ones good personality. It makes the wearer look descent and acceptable in different situations depending on the nature of one‟s occupation, occasion and time for the dressing and the place in question.
- Participation in civil activities is a positive cultural value since it brings people together towards performing different constructive activities for the betterment of all the people e.g. constructing roads, building schools for our children or even building dispensaries and clinics in places where there is that demand.
- Hard work is another positive cultural value certainly because through hard work a person is able to produce more and better goods and service for the betterment of oneself, the community and the nation.19Being informed is an important cultural value because; it makes an individual knowledgeable about one‟s duties, responsibilities and rights in his/her society.
- Accountability and transparency: The society is supposed to perform its functions and duties with openness so that people know what the society understands of their society. Once this is done, peoples‟ expectations and wishes can be fulfilled. Transparency is very necessary for the development of people and the society at large.
(ii) Negative aspects of cultural
values
These are many but among the most
outstanding are;
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)This is a collective name which describes procedures or
practices that involve partial or total removal of the clitoris in the female
genitalia or other parts of the female genital organ whether for cultural or
other non-medical reasons. The female genital mutilation is a violation of
basic human rights. Areas affected with this practice in Tanzania are
Kilimanjaro, Dodoma, Arusha, Manyara, and Morogoro regions. In Dodoma, for example,
12, 613 out of 16, 789 (75%) of the women who went for delivery between 1988 –
2000 were mutilated.
Reasons which force people to engage
in (FGM)
There are several reasons which
force some of the societies to adopt FGM. Most reasons are based on the nature
of the society. Among these are as follows:
- - To control women‟s sexuality. Societies which adopt this practice (FGM) know that biologically there are some parts of the body which are very sensitive during sexual intercourse. One of them is the clitoris. So to prevent a girl from developing interest in sexuality and become loose they mutilate it.
- - It is propounded that FGM goes with initiation ceremonies that promote young girls to women hood. Thus it is considered by some prestige traditional societies as a prestige and a sign of maturity among girls.
Effects of Female Genital Mutilation
- Marital conflicts due to sexual dissatisfaction. This situation can result from two reasons. Some men dislike women who are mutilated. On the hand, circumcised women don‟t enjoy the sexual activity. Thus, they lack satisfaction in sexuality and may dislike sexuality altogether.
- Women who are mutilated develop a feeling of anxiety and depression. This can be a result of the pain they feel during circumcision or due to the deformation of their pain they feel during circumcision or due to the deformation of their genitalia. This can cause psychological disturbance.
- The practice can lead to the loss of one‟s life. Some girls and women loss of blood from the cut part.
- The last effect is possibility of getting the HIV/AIDS infection as this practice is done under unsafe conditions. Sometimes a single knife is used to circumcise several girls/women without being sterilized. For this case, those who are mutilated have the risk of being infected with HIV/ and may also get other diseases.
Effects
1.
Wife
inheritance :Wife inheritance is the process of
taking one‟s wife after the death of her husband. Inheritance of wives can also
be termed as inheritance of widows.This has been a major problem to the
societies which practice this system of life these days. This is because those
who tend to inherit widows can die due to the effects of HIV/AIDS because
widows may be victims of HIV/AIDS and a person who inherits them will be
infected. This endangers one‟s life. Inheritance of widows should be
discouraged in the society in order to avoid the rate of transmission of
different diseases such as HIV and AIDS. Also inheritance of widows seems to be
a violation of human rights because it has turned women into objects of leisure
form men. Widows appear to be there to be inherited to satisfy men who inherit
them. Inheritance of widows should be discouraged strongly in the nation.
2.
Early
marriage; This is the process/situation
whereby a person gets married before his/her right age. Normally the suggested
right age for marriage is 18 years and above. Nowadays marriages among people
under the right age have been common. This has been happening especially to
young girls who21are married while they are still in tender age. These types of
marriages are sometimes accompanied by forced marriages.
3.
Forced
marriage; Sometimes young girls have been
forced to get married to men whom they do not want. Parents or guardian
propound this situation perhaps for the aim of reducing the burden of children
at home. Young girls are thus forced to be married rather than being forced to
attend school.The reason is, some parents depend on the dowry or bride price
they get as capital for production. This situation leads to forced marriages.
These are some of the driving forces for early marriage because some societies
think that bride price and dowry can help them to run different social and
economic activities.
Customs which Lead to Gender
Discrimination
Illustrate customs which lead to
gender discrimination
These customs can best be analyzed
by different institutions which perpetuate them. Such institutions are:
1.
The
family: The family-level, it is a belief
that boys will continue the lineage and support the family, while girls will
get married. Thus most families prefer to educate boys or spend more money on
them at the expenses of girls, when a choice has to be made between the two.
2.
Traditional
institutions: Initiation ceremonies play a major
role in perpetuating bias. Girls who have undergone initiation ceremonies
become passive in school. Traditional counselors and elders initiate, girls
with emphasis on submissiveness to men. Because of that, women do not take part
in decision making at home.
3.
Learning
Institutions: In these institutions it is a
common practice that boys are offered science subjects and mathematics, while
girls are made to study the traditional girls subjects29such as home economics
and typing. More often there is also discrimination from some teachers, who
expect boys to be more intelligent than girls. Girls are not encouraged to work
hard.
4.
Religious
institutions: Church or Mosque leaders make
references to the Bible or Quran on the submissive nature of women. Women are
denied opportunities to hold positions of leadership and decision making in
those institutions. In some mosques land churches, decisions made usually
discriminate women.
5.
Work
place: The socialization process in the
community has effects on the community has effects on the gender division of
labour for boys and girls. Girls are marginalized from participating in
education and decision making activities.
Major effects of gender
discrimination
The values and attitudes that
society holds for boys and girls have adverse effects on women. Generally
gender discrimination in national development has serious implications as
follows:
a.
With reference to sex there is
unequal distribution of powers in all spheres of social life as in politics,
economics, military and social sector.
b.
Women continue to be left out in
areas of development.
c.
Women continue to face violence and
aggression as they do not have any economic power base to support themselves.
d.
Girls lack the spirit of competition
in class, leading to poor performance in school work.
e.
There are very few women at the
managerial and decision –making levels.
CULTURE AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
There are relationship between
culture and reproductive health of the given society. The cultural systems of
life can be used to relate how far a society upholds reproductive health as a
vital term or issue to every society. This is because people are naturally
engaged in production. So reproduction needs a great care and attention so as
to make it go smoothly. Reproductive health can be boosted or undermined by a
society depending on the nature of culture. There are some cultural practices
which are always degrading provision of social health services which
are30professional such as the local medicines which are not professional such
as the local medicines which are not professionally proved.
Reproduction means the process of
giving out a newly born-off spring which resembles their parents. Reproductive
health ensures people satisfactory and safe sexual life with capability of
reproducing deciding when, how, why and also the ability to decide how many
children to be obtained and the ability to be free from sexual transmitted
disease like gonorrhea, HIV, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PIV) which damages
the reproductive system.
The definition of reproductive
health includes:
1.
Knowledge of reproductive system,
its functions and processes.
2.
Men and Women are informed of and
have access to safe effective, affordable and acceptable methods of regulating
fertility.
3.
People have access to health care
services which include prevention and treatment of infertility reproductive
tract infection and sexually transmitted infections and sexually transmitted
infections.
4.
Promotion of mutual, respectful and
fair gender relations.
5.
People are free to practice family
planning.
Necessary reproductive health
services
The following are some of the
reproductive health services necessary to the individual in the family and
community:
- Maternal clinics, child vaccinations and immunization.
- Birth control by using contraceptive methods such as drugs devices and operations.Lack of reproductive health services can lead to severe consequences. For example, many children could die due to lack of immunity against curable diseases. Moreover, many women could die during pregnancy or soon after giving birth. Tanzania is one of those countries in the world whose birth rates are very high. It is currently estimated to be growing at the rate of 2 -8 percent. A high birth rate affects the development of31the country negatively. Non-proportional increase of people to the rate of economic growth hinders meaningful development.
This is because there will be more
months to feed than what is produced. Similarly, there will be more children to
take to school.
Advantages of Reproductive health
education
Reproductive health is very
essential to everyone in the society. The following are some advantages of
reproductive health education:
1.
Prevention of sexually transmitted
infections (STI‟s) including
2.
Prevention of HIV/AIDS. Unwanted
pregnancies.
3.
Promotion of gender rights and
equality.
4.
Improvement of women‟s safety during
pregnancy and childbirth.
5.
Regulation of one‟s fertility.
6.
Prevention of major child diseases.
7.
Strengthening the management of
infertility.
8.
Identification of reproductive tract
infection and seeking their appropriate treatment.
9.
It ensures healthy motherhood,
steady ad controlled population growth.
Initiation ceremonies
Initiation ceremonies include “Jando
and Unyago” female genital mutilation and initiation ceremonies. These have
been hindering reproductive health due to the fact that they are carried
unsafely; like using one knife for circumcising the entire population. For the
case of female genital mutilation several disasters can arise, such as lose of
much blood and development of scars which may lead to severe pains during
delivery.
Cultural values that encourage
bearing many children
Family planning in most societies is
not observed due to some cultural norms like belief system which is based on
religion and prestige. For the case of religion some societies believe that
each child is born with its luck, and that is the blessings from God. Also they
stand on the notion that32God commanded people to bear children and fill the
world. Thus, family planning is seen as the sin against God and the one who
does so is sinning. Other societies believed that to have many children is the
sign of great abilities in reproduction and are more fit in reproducing. Due to
that case reproductive health is limited and obstacle and the society
concerned.
Female genital mutilation: this
causes prolonged bleeding during and after the mutilation. It also disturbs the
natural vaginal elasticity during delivery due to the scar left after
mutilation. It also reduces sexual pleasure during mating.
Cultural practices affecting women
and reproductive health
We made some explanation on how
women have been treated in our societies. Women have been at a disadvantage
almost in all societies in the past. Many developing countries in Africa and
Tanzania in particular have been affected negatively by had cultural practices.
These include those habits of marriage, foods eating, and the practice of women
mutilation, dowry payment, inheritance and excluding women from the consumption
of certain foods.
We made a detected account of these
practices in Book One and Book Three of this series. We need not say much about
them in this book. However, we can touch some of them briefly in this text.
a.
Habits of marriage: In most African
societies, there has been the practice of getting married to a woman by first
fulfilling the condition of paying what is called bride- price. This price has
stood as a payment paid for buying a commodity. Bride price paying has
therefore acted as an enslaving factor for women. Two examples can help us to
get a good picture of this cultural practice. A Sukuma woman married to a man
with dowry of say twenty cattle, when she gives birth to a baby she compensates
for the cattle given as bride price from her husband. If it is a baby girl the
amount of cattle as compensation is a bit higher than a baby boy. Usually it
was at the ratio of 5:4 until the amount of cattle paid is exhausted then the
woman is counted liberated. If she wants to divorce for unbearable causes, she
would be needed to repay the cattle in spite of her time spent with the husband
and her labour in producing whatever agricultural products or any other
material gains that she has contributed to the wellbeing of her family.33In
other tribes particularly pastoral communities they have no regard to whatever
the wife has contributed to the wellbeing of her family. If she is divorced,
she will have to repay whatever amount of cattle was given to her father.Habit
of food eating: In some tribes women are forbidden to eat certain types of
food. The Wakerewe tribe in Mwanza puts a taboo forbidding woman to eat goat
meat, eggs and dogfish. Such cultural customs were contributing to the poor
health of women especially during pregnancy or nursing a baby.
b.
Decision Making: There has always
been the cultural practice of excluding women in decision making in important
domestic, economic and political issues. Women have been regarded as being
unable to give good ideas on certain socioeconomic issues like marriage,
education and the domestic budget.
The government of Tanzania in
realizing the social status of women and on the basis of the Declaration of the
Human Rights Charter together with the Beijing Declaration of 1955 has made
some attempts to improve the status of women. Parliament has enacted laws to
give women right to own property in land. It is now possible for women to own
land during marriage or inherit land after her husband‟s death.
In addition, to the above
explanations, the following are the problems facing women in Tanzania.
1.
Poor health. This is due to the
focus of the society that women should bear many children something that tends
to weaken their health.
2.
Poor diet and little food.
3.
Lack of education.
4.
Too much work. Women work harder and
for many hours than men.
5.
Maltreatment from their husbands.
Some societies administer punishment over women. This cause physical injuries
and psychological hopelessness.
Customs that Lead to the HIV/AIDS
and STIs
Point out customs that lead to the
HIV/AIDS and STIs
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency
Virus and AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Getting HIV
infection leads to a weakened immune system. This makes a person with HIV to a
group of illnesses that a healthy person without a virus would be unlikely34to
be affected by opportunistic infections HIV/AIDS is a killer disease which has
no cure or vaccine.
The following are cultural practices
that lead to the spread of HIV/AIDS and STI‟s.
- Female genital mutilation (women circumcision) can lead to the spread of HIV because the instruments used are nit sterilized and are used by the whole group being circumcised. Most of the instruments used are knives, razor blades, and pairs of scissors or any other sharp tools.
- Some tribes cut tribal marks on parts of the body of their kids claiming that they want to shed off the dirty blood. Also the instruments used are not changed so they can spread HIV to the kids.
- Inherited widows may contact or spread HIV from to men who inherit them.
- Certain traditional dances are accompanied by alcohol drinking which can draw men and women into sexual intercourse. Such practices may cause the spread of HIV.
- Local traditional midwives who are not well trained may spread HIV/AIDS to both mother and the newly born baby due to using unsterilized instruments.
- Polygamy may also be a potential cause of HIV/AIDS. Once one of the wives get HIV/AIDS all of them will also get it.
- Forced marriage can also create problems where someone is forced to be married to certain man or woman who may have unfortunately been infected with one of HIV/AIDS.
Impact of the Negative Aspects of
our Customs
Analyse the impact of the negative
aspects of our customs
(i) Female genital mutilation (women
Circumcision) can lead to:
1.
Prolonged breeding during and after
the mutilation.
2.
Disturbance of the natural vaginal
elasticity during delivery due to the scar left after the mutilation.
3.
Reduction of sexual pleasure during
sexual intercourse.
4.
Spread of sexual transmitted
infections (STI‟s) because the instruments used are not sterilized and are used
by the whole group being circumcised.
5.
Death because of excessive bleeding
and STI‟s such as HIV/AIDS.
(ii) Gender biases can lead to:
1.
Unequal distribution of powers in a
community.
2.
Women being left out in areas of
development.
3.
Lack of sprint of competition hence
poor performance.
4.
Few women in managerial and decision
making levels.
5.
Violence and aggression.
(iii)Beliefs and practice of
witchcrafts can lead.
1.
Transmission of STI‟s especially
when male witchdoctors demand to hold sexual intercourse with their clients
their clients as a cure for some diseases.
2.
Despise modern health services and
rely on local herbs some of which do not cure.
3.
Family conflict.
4.
Unnecessary deaths, etc.
(iv) Polygamy can lead to:
1.
Rapid population increase.
2.
Transmission of STI‟s.
3.
Increase of street children.
(v) Inheritance of wives (widow) can
lead to:
1.
Contact of STI‟s including the
HIV/AIDS.
2.
Conflicts between the inherited wife
and the former/original wife of the husband.
(vi) Early manages can lead to:
1.
Long difficult labour because of
immaturity of the reproductive organs.
2.
Sometimes babies are born too early
(premature).
3.
Blocked births which may damage the
uterus and rapture the bladder and can even cause death to the victim.
(vii) Forced marriages may lead to:
1.
Family conflicts
2.
Contact of sexually transmitted
Infections (STIs).
(viii) Bride price can lead to:
1.
Violation of human rights to women
who are sometimes treated as bought objects.
2.
Forced marriages conducted by
parents after receiving dowry from the man intending to marry their daughter.
3.
Crimes, like beating of the bride
when she refuses to obey.
Ways and Actions to be Taken against
Negative Aspects of our Socio-Cultural Values
Propose ways and actions to be taken
against negative aspects of our socio-cultural values
(i) Female genital mutilation (women
Circumcision) can lead to:
1.
Prolonged breeding during and after
the mutilation.
2.
Disturbance of the natural vaginal
elasticity during delivery due to the scar left after the mutilation.
3.
Reduction of sexual pleasure during
sexual intercourse.
4.
Spread of sexual transmitted
infections (STI‟s) because the instruments used are not sterilized and are used
by the whole group being circumcised.
5.
Death because of excessive bleeding
and STI‟s such as HIV/AIDS.
(ii) Gender biases can lead to:
1.
Unequal distribution of powers in a
community.
2.
Women being left out in areas of
development.
3.
Lack of sprint of competition hence
poor performance.
4.
Few women in managerial and decision
making levels.
5.
Violence and aggression.
(iii) Beliefs and practice of witch
crafts can lead.
1.
Transmission of STI‟s especially
when male witchdoctors demand to hold sexual intercourse with their clients
their clients as a cure for some diseases.
2.
Despise modern health services and
rely on local herbs some of which do not cure.
3.
Family conflict.
4.
Unnecessary deaths, etc.
(iv) Polygamy can lead to:
1.
Rapid population increase.
2.
Transmission of STI‟s.
3.
Increase of street children.
(v) Inheritance of wives (widow) can
lead to:
1.
Contact of STI‟s including the
HIV/AIDS.
2.
Conflicts between the inherited wife
and the former/original wife of the husband.
(vi) Early manages can lead to:
1.
Long difficult labour because of
immaturity of the reproductive organs.
2.
Sometimes babies are born too early
(premature).
3.
Blocked births which may damage the
uterus and rapture the bladder and can even cause death to the victim.
(vii) Forced marriages may lead to:
1.
Family conflicts
2.
Contact of sexually transmitted
Infections (STIs).
(viii) Bride price can lead to:
1.
Violation of human rights to women
who are sometimes treated as bought objects.
2.
Forced marriages conducted by
parents after receiving dowry from the man intending to marry their daughter.
3.
Crimes, like beating of the bride
when she refuses to obey.
WAYS AND ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN AGAINST
NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF CULTURAL VALUES.
These ways and actions can be
discussed all two levels namely, strategies to liberate the whole society.
(a) Strategies to liberate women in
Tanzania
1.
The formation of women‟s social
organizations. This will help them to have a collective bargaining power for
their deprived rights. Through these organizations, women can ask for
assistance from the government or donors in order to enable them to open
various projects. Women‟s social organizations in Tanzania are like; WAMA
(Wanawake na Maendeleo), TAWLA, TAMWA, etc.
2.
The governments have to ensure that
women receive equal opportunities as men in all social, political and economic
issues.
3.
The government should commit itself
to the prohibition of all cultural practices and customs that oppress women
like the female genital mutilation, polygamy, forced and early marriage etc.
4.
Educating men to put off the idea
that they are created superior to women.
5.
To establish special programs for
improving life standards of women especially in the rural areas.
6.
Improve the rural technology. To
provide women with modern working facilities ploughs, milling machines.37
7.
To inculcate a sense of awareness to
all members of society that, women are able people and can do everything like
men. Therefore, they have capabilities of thinking and performing like men.
This will stop old perceptions of looking women as enabled people.
8.
To improve and increase the
education opportunities to women. If education opportunities will be improved
to women, the development of the country will increase. Also the whole society
will be almost educated if we refer to the slogan that says “When you educate
women, you educated the whole society” To date, education opportunities to all
in Tanzania is positively implementation , since the government has increased
the chances for girls and women in education sector. For example there is a
programme of enrolling more women students at the University of Dar es salaam
who have been learning science subject when they were at secondary school
(Advanced level).
9.
To improves access to the resources
such as land, the situation which is still difficult to some societies in which
women have no right to inherit resources such as land? However some societies
have managed to reduce this problem. For example, in many tribes of Tanzania
women have now rights to own property and equal access to natural resources.
10.
To participation in political
matters and other economic activities. To justify this, the government has
added more than 15% special seats in parliament for women in order to bring
about gender balance and equal control of resources.
11.
To make people aware with all things
which cause gender inequality? In general, the world is still emphasizing much
on women empowerment through different forums and organization which try to
defend the rights of people such as human rights.
(b) Strategies to liberate the
entire society
1.
The entire society should be
enlightened on the bad impacts of the negative aspects of our socio-cultural
values.
2.
The government should enact strict
laws against those who entertain the negative cultural values like the practice
of witchcraft, the killing of twins, the handicapped and albinos.38
3.
The government should promote and
encourage good leadership especially at the village government level, where
problem related to the socio-cultural values are mostly experienced.
{III}.Promotion and Preservation of
our Worthy Cultural Values
IntroductionAfter their independence, African countries took steps to
promote and preserve their culture at national level. Efforts were taken by
African governments, churches and communities to reach this goal. Why national
culture? This has been so because a national culture is a symbol or identity of
a nation. It comprises things such as language, art, science, technology,
education, economy, politics, beliefs and values. The values are expressed in
songs, dances and ceremonies.
In addition, culture s dynamic. That
is, it changes with time t suit the current social, political and economic
situation of a nation. No two nations can have an identical culture. In order
to promote the Tanzanian national culture soon after getting independence the
Ministry of National Culture and youth was established in 1962. Over the years,
it changed names and departments although its basic objectives remained
unchanged. Its major departments are:
- The National Kiswahili Council
- The National Sports Council.
- The National Festivals and State Celebrations Councils;
- The National Department of Museums, Antiquities and national Archives;
- The National Film Censorship Board and;
- The Department of Arts and Crafts.
Promotion and preservation of
national culture is a combination of efforts made by people under their
government to enhance growth and existence of the culture which has to be
practiced in the nation. Efforts towards the Promotion and preservation of
culture have been going on in Tanzania since 1962. In 1962 the Ministry of
National Culture and Youth was formed. The objectives remained unchanged.
Cultural promotion has resulted into the following:
- Kiswahili to become the national language.39
- In 1967 the government introduced Education for Self-reliance policy which used education to transmit African values.
- Local/ national styles of dressing were officially adopted.
Importance of Promoting and
Preserving our Worthy Cultural Values
Explain the importance of promoting
and preserving our worthy cultural values
Importance of promoting and
Preserving our national Culture
1.
To maintain our national identity.
2.
To provide a foundation for stable
governance.
3.
To maintain our useful value and
systems of life.
4.
To protect our country from cultural
colonization through cultural globalization.
5.
To maintain our cultural heritage.
6.
To create a sense of nation hood and
promote cohesion in the daily life of Tanzanians.
The Roles of Different Groups and
Institutions in Promoting and Preserving our Cultural Values
Assess the roles of different groups
and institutions in promoting and preserving our cultural values
The National Kiswahili Council
The National Kiswahili Council was
established on August 9, 1967. The council has many roles; for example it;
a.
Promotes and develops Kiswahili as a
national language. The Council enables Kiswahili to be sued for all national
communication. Today, Kiswahili is spoken and understood by almost all
Tanzanians. The First President of Tanzania Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere
used Kiswahili to unite the whole of Tanzania as a nation.
b.
Coins new words from local languages
as well as foreign languages to make Kiswahili keep pace with the changes,
which keep occurring, in the Tanzanian society.
c.
Encourages educated Africans to
participate in Kiswahili literature and writing to remove the major weaknesses
of colonial education. The latter emphasized foreign languages such as English
and French but despised or downplayed Kiswahili and other local languages.
d.
Works with other bodies in the
country that are devoted to the promotion and preservation of Kiswahili.
e.
Encourages high standards of
Kiswahili and establishes standard Kiswahili for educational and technical
purposes.
The National Sports Council
The National Sports Council was
established in 1967. The roles of this council are:
To develop, promote and control all
amateur sports in the country. The Council does this in co-operation with
voluntary amateur sports organizations. Amateur sports are sports played for
enjoyment, not for monetary gains.
In order
to carry out this, the National Sports Council does the following:
1.
Provides training to staff members.
2.
Grants or gives aid to national
sports associations or organizations.
3.
Provides play fields and other sports
facilities.
4.
Provides sports equipment and other
sports items necessary for international sports competitions and festivals. In
so doing, national sportsmen and sportswomen gain experience. The council
through sports stimulates and fosters friendly relations with other nations.
The Council stimulates interest in all sports at all levels in the nation. And
finally, the council plans general policy for the promotion of sports.
5.
Provides medals, diplomas,
certificates, or any other rewards to competent people who deserve them.
6.
Provides scholarship for the
training of coaches and sports administrators.Advises the responsible minister
on all matters related to ports.
The National Festival and State
Celebrations Council
The Council facilities celebration
of important national occasions. The council ensures that the nation does not
engage in meaningless and unending celebrations. The council deals with
national public holidays. These national occasions are celebrated with
demonstrations, speeches, songs, dances, feasts, sports and games. There are
religious holidays as well, which are public holidays but are not under this
Council. The holidays include Christmas for the Christians and Idd for the
Muslins. Prayers, sports, games, dance and feasts mark these religious holidays.
Department of Museum, Antiquities
and National Achieves
These departments preserve the
national heritage in the form of cultural treasures and writings. Hence, they
strongly stimulate cultural enthusiasm among the people.
1.
Museums; There are national as well as regional museums in Tanzania.
They provide a safe and permanent place for preserving national traditions,
customs and works of art. They serve as cultural and recreational centres for
the people of the United Republic of Tanzania. They are also important as
attractions for visitors or tourists. They serve as educational institutions
for current and future generations. The national museums are supposed to be
research centres. Information from such centres can be used for educational
purposes and in publishing books and pamphlets.
2.
AntiquitiesAntiquities are
important objects that have existed for a very long time. They include remains
of ancient buildings such as mosques, churches, place and tombs. Tanzania is
very rich in antiquities, for example, the ruins of old buildings found at
Kaole (near Bagamoyo), Kilwa and Mtwara – Mikindani. The ancient bomas found in
Dar es Salaam and some district and regional headquarters. The department was
formed to preserve these objects, which are called antiquities.
3.
The
national Archives; This organ has one main role that
is, to censor films before they are shown. To censor a film means to examine it
and decide whether it is not effective. This has been very difficult with the
introduction of TV stations and videos. Hence the Tanzanian society at large
and every person should have moral obligation of seeing that scandalous films
are not shown. Films are required to promote national culture, education and
development. Therefore this organ and every Tanzanian is supposed to ban films,
videos, or pornographic pictures, which promote bad behaviour such as murder,
violence, robbery, gangsterism, prostitution, drug-abuse and racial
segregation.42
4.
The
Council of Arts and CraftsAfrican
countries through their government and communities encourage creativity in art
and crafts. Each country identifies its cultural needs. Then, art and crafts
are applied to serve those needs. The main purpose is to make art and crafts
servants of man. They are supposed to be tools to help. Africans understand and
shape their societies according to their collective needs. That is the meaning
of creativity.
Educational institutions
Role of education in Cultural
Transmission.After independence, African
governments, church and African communities improved the educational system,
inherited from colonial masters, to suit African national culture. There were
various reasons why the education system African culture. There were various
reasons why the education system inherited at independence needed improvement.
These are:
1.
The aims and content of the colonial
education promoted the values and intersects of the colonizers.
2.
The colonial education system was
intended only to train the Africans for clerical and junior distractive posts.
3.
T education system emphasized
theoretical leaning. It ignored practical learning hence African students
lacked skills and creativity. Therefore, African governments, churches and
African communities took various steps to improve education such as:
the following;
1.
To integrate existing educational
facilities;
2.
To expand education at primary,
secondary, college and university level;
3.
To adopt African and Euro-African
national languages as the languages of instruction in schools, colleges, and
universities. In primary schools and Teachers Colleges , while English is the
medium of instruction in the English medium primary schools, all secondary
schools ,colleges and universities;
4.
To reshape the content of the
curriculum to make it more relevant to the needs of the growing African
nations. Educational policies were established in most of the African countries
so as to:
5.
Enable Africans understand their
responsibilities in Africa societies;43
6.
Design and implement suitable
educational programmes , that is, Africans should be able to identify their
problems and solve them intelligently;
7.
Train Africans to get and preserve
knowledge, wisdom and experiences;
8.
Get the Africans to pass on the
knowledge, wisdom and experiences to future generations.
9.
Get and teach the best from other
educational systems which influence African lives; these are the traditional
African systems and the foreign ones;
10.
Merge orcombine theoretical and
practical knowledge; in Tanzania, for example, the policy of socialism and
self-reliance was introduced by Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and to make it
practicable, education for self-reliance was introduced in schools.
11.
This is the way to maximize the
impact of knowledge on the present and future societies of Africa.
Mass Media
African countries use the radio as a
way of transmitting their culture. To date in Tanzania, there are a good number
of radio stations which presents programmes with cultural matters.
Problems Facing the Promotion of our
Cultural Values
Illustrate problems facing the
promotion of our cultural values
Despite all attempts made by the
government to build/promote and preserve national culture, still there are some
problems which act as hindrance. These which act as hindrances these factors
include the following:
1.
Colonial
legacy: Because of colonial legacy many
Tanzanians are not confident in creating things. They are still having the
mental attitude of assimilation and association together with the
administrative and the education systems. Through all these colonial systems,
Africans were forced to inferior.
2.
Low level
of science and technology: The
capacity of production material and morally is doomed in Tanzania because much
of technology is brought from abroad i.e. Science and technology dependence.
3.
Ignorance: A great number of people do not know how to read and write.
Thus the people are limited to their environment. They can hardly effectively
control their environment.44Hence, they are trapped by the environment which
hinders the promotion of their culture and civilization.
4.
Bad
leadership: Most colonialism hence they have a
low standard of leadership. They cannot establish concrete police to promote
our cultural values. And even for those who can do so fail to make follow - -
ups. In this policies remain on shelves.
5.
Lack of
enough funds.This issue hinders proper and
adequate facilitation to leaders and other people who decided to do research or
engage in promoting national culture.
6.
Globalization: The growing of social interaction among people of different
culture history, the growing of social interaction among people of different
culture history , origin and different beliefs has contributed much on
hindering the promotion of national culture. An example can be experienced on
Tanzania traditional songs and ceremonies like the wedding song burial songs,
the mode of these ceremonies the nature of the religions belief system and the
like.
Solution to Problems Arising in the
Process of Promoting and Preserving our Cultural Values
Propose solution to problems arising
in the process of promoting and preserving our cultural values
Tanzania since independence has been
struggling to her level best to promote and preserve the national culture. The
following are some of proposed solutions to problems arising in the process of
promoting and preserving our cultural values.
1.
Reduce excessive dependency on
foreign science and technology and instead implement the local technology
available.
2.
Observing national festivals.
3.
To provide educated on the
importance of importance of culture.
4.
Allocate sufficient funds in
research development for national culture.
5.
Forming youth /peer social sporting
and civic groups and organizations to promote our culture.
6.
Integrate culture with work.
7.
Formulating good policies that
promote culture.
8.
Impose strict laws, rules and
regulation for those who despise our culture45
9.
Formulating good policies that that
promotes culture.
10.
Impose strict laws, rules and
regulation for those who despise our culture
11.
Electing good leaders with cultural
sense.
{ IV}.Culture of Preventive Care and
Maintenance of Personal and Public Property
It is important to keep the
environment and buildings very clean and in good order. In this last part we
shall see the progress and importance of up keeping of environment.
Meaning and Importance of Culture of
Preventive Care and Maintenance of Personal and Public Property
Explain the meaning and the
importance of culture of preventive care and maintenance of personal and public
property
Preventive Maintenance
Preventive maintenance can be
defined as a system of planning maintenance and monitoring social cultural
settings in a community, which involves inspection, followed by maintenance and
modification which is necessary to make items and properties to use for a longer
period.
Causes of Deterioration
The following are the main causes;
1.
Lack of knowledge,
2.
People‟s attitudes,
3.
Habits,
4.
Disregard of public property,
5.
Lack of use of common sense
6.
Laser faire attitude
The Procedure for Preventive care
and Maintenance
People should be aware of their
surroundings. Preventive care should be considered under the following:
- Cleanliness.
- The frequency of checkup and inspection.
- Regional maintenance that minimizes the costs of up
- keeping of buildings, furniture and mixtures.46
- Regular maintenance that creates a conductive environment to users.
- Institutions or public places should have a time table to ensure preventive care because people need it.
- Regular care maintenance of existing buildings and facilities, so as to ensure and prolong the life span of buildings and equipment.
Factors for promotion and
preservation of National Culture Matters which can promote the growth and
existence of culture are:
- National language that should be spoken by the people and used for instruction in schools.
- Protection of handcrafts industries against foreign goods competition such as importation of unnecessary goods.
- African artists like singers, dancers, poets should be assisted in composing and recording.
- Popularization of local culture in mass media using-radio, television, videos, etc. The Tanzania media is doing a good job to promote our culture.
- Commitment of leadership to promotion of national culture i.e. leaders should encourage people to practice the national cultural ways of life.
Exercise 1
Consequences of Neglecting Timely
Repair and Maintenance
Analyse the consequences of
neglecting timely repair and maintenance
Refer the following consequences;
{ V}.Promotion of Life Skills
Life skills refers to ways in which
an individual applies mental ability to control or deal with oneself
environment. It involves things like thinking, planning and implementation in
order to solve life problems such as social, political, economic and cultural.
In dealing with cultural values and
its associated problems, various life skills are highly needed for promoting
and preserving culture. Examples of those skills are the skills of knowing and
living with oneself, skills of knowing and living with others, and skills of
making effective decisions. Social skills like relationship and friendship
skills are very important in shaping an individual‟s behaviour and make one
accepted in the community. These skills help an individual to relate well with
others and become a responsible citizen.
Any society has establi8sh a
foundation for its members to acquire various life skills which would lead them
to. This is only possible if culture is integrated with education system, and
work in the country. The big role players for promotion and preservation of
national cultural values are the government, parents, schools, religion and
NGOs.
Life skills education
Education is necessary is order to
improve the quality of labour force. Though education, knowledge and skills are
obtained to enable one produce more and better quality products. In agriculture
for instance, one can produce more and better crop by using knowledge and
skills obtained in agricultural lesson. Such knowledge and skills include
proper use of fertilize irrigation methods, pest control condition methods,
pest control, condition necessary for the growth of crops and weeding.
Education also offers life skills
related to employment and income opportunities Technical or vocational training
is provided so as to offer such knowledge and skills. People with such
knowledge and skills can start their own businesses and in this way gain
income.
Through health skills, one learns
the different types of diseases and how to prevent them; one learns children
care and family management, nutrition health and hygiene. This will improve the
health of the learner and the society as a whole. Mother‟s knowledge on
reproductive health and literacy in general has effects on fertility, infant
and child mortality.
In short, life skills education can change an individual and the
community to meet personal and national needs. This is because life skills
education increases the individual‟s ability to be more productive.
Problem Solving
Life skills constitute a knowledge
and aptitude that are necessary with maximum efficiency and accuracy. One of
the categories of life skills is critical thinking it uses skills such as
reasoning inquiry, analysis, processing, flexibility and evaluation.
In problem solving, it is crucial
to adhere problem solving techniques because are helpful as follows:
1.
They help to tackle problems which
seem to be complex.
2.
They minimize conflicts, frustration
and misunderstandings.
3.
They help people to overcome
limitations in human mental machinery for perception memory and inference.
4.
They overcome constraints and
inhibitions that limit the range of ones thinking.
5.
They help analysts achieve their
full potential.Problems vary from potential.Problems can be those concerns with
adolescents, reproductive health, family life issues socio-economic issues or
environmental issue steps in production solving process.
The
process of problem components subjected to the type of problem in place. Steps
for problem solving process include:
1.
Definition of problem.
2.
Problem analysis endevour
3.
Generating possible solutions
4.
Analyzation of the solutions and;
5.
Selecting the best solution
How to Use Different Life Skills
Demonstrate how to use different
life skills
In any society there are leaders who
lead other people in a given community. These leaders can be measured on how
confident and self-worth are they confidence and self-worth may help a leader
build good relationship with other community members that result to team work
spirit successful leadership trustfulness amongest members in community hence
development.
Exercise 2
1. Briefly explain the meaning of
the following terms.
1.
Life skills
2.
Material culture
3.
Tradition
4.
Custom
5.
Culture
6.
Outline four factors of the
importance of culture
7.
Identify the importance of promotion
and prevention of
1.
Man-made objectives like building,
roads, railways and property like books and domestic items need to be repaired
immediately when damage occurs or when they wear out. Otherwise they will cost
much if they are neglected.
2.
Environmental degradation is mostly
caused by deforestation, soil erosion, and water and air pollution. Land
degradation caused by man should be avoided in order to conserve our
environment.
3.
Rampant destruction of private and
public properties should not be encouraged officials should maintain them from
time to time.
{V}.Promotion of Life Skills
Life skills refers to ways in which
an individual applies mental ability to control or deal with oneself
environment. It involves things like thinking, planning and implementation in
order to solve life problems such as social, political, economic and cultural.
In dealing with cultural values and
its associated problems, various life skills are highly needed for promoting
and preserving culture. Examples of those skills are the skills of knowing and
living with oneself, skills of knowing and living with others, and skills of
making effective decisions. Social skills like relationship and friendship
skills are very important in shaping an individual‟s behaviour and make one
accepted in the community. These skills help an individual to relate well with
others and become a responsible citizen.
Any society has establi8sh a
foundation for its members to acquire various life skills which would lead them
to. This is only possible if culture is integrated with education system, and work
in the country. The big role players for promotion and preservation of national
cultural values are the government, parents, schools, religion and NGOs.
Life skills education
Education is necessary is order to
improve the quality of labour force. Though education, knowledge and skills are
obtained to enable one produce more and better quality products. In agriculture
for instance, one can produce more and better crop by using knowledge and
skills obtained in agricultural lesson. Such knowledge and skills include
proper use of fertilize irrigation methods, pest control condition methods,
pest control, condition necessary for the growth of crops and weeding.
Education also offers life skills
related to employment and income opportunities Technical or vocational training
is provided so as to offer such knowledge and skills. People with such
knowledge and skills can start their own businesses and in this way gain
income.
Through health skills, one learns
the different types of diseases and how to prevent them; one learns children
care and family management, nutrition health and hygiene. This will improve the
health of the learner and the society as a whole. Mother‟s knowledge on
reproductive health and literacy in general has effects on fertility, infant
and child mortality.
In short, life skills education can change an individual and the
community to meet personal and national needs. This is because life skills
education increases the individual‟s ability to be more productive.
Problem Solving
Life skills constitute a knowledge
and aptitude that are necessary with maximum efficiency and accuracy. One of
the categories of life skills is critical thinking it uses skills such as
reasoning inquiry, analysis, processing, flexibility and evaluation.
In problem solving, it is crucial
to adhere problem solving techniques because are helpful as follows:
1.
They help to tackle problems which
seem to be complex.
2.
They minimize conflicts, frustration
and misunderstandings.
3.
They help people to overcome
limitations in human mental machinery for perception memory and inference.
4.
They overcome constraints and
inhibitions that limit the range of ones thinking.
5.
They help analysts achieve their
full potential.Problems vary from potential.Problems can be those concerns with
adolescents, reproductive health, family life issues socio-economic issues or
environmental issue steps in production solving process.
The
process of problem components subjected to the type of problem in place. Steps
for problem solving process include:
1.
Definition of problem.
2.
Problem analysis endevour
3.
Generating possible solutions
4.
Analyzation of the solutions and;
5.
Selecting the best solution
How to Use Different Life Skills
Demonstrate how to use different
life skills
In any society there are leaders who
lead other people in a given community. These leaders can be measured on how
confident and self-worth are they confidence and self-worth may help a leader
build good relationship with other community members that result to team work
spirit successful leadership trustfulness amongest members in community hence
development.
Exercise 2
1. Briefly explain the meaning of
the following terms.
1.
Life skills
2.
Material culture
3.
Tradition
4.
Custom
5.
Culture
6.
Outline four factors of the
importance of culture
7.
Identify the importance of promotion
and prevention of
successful leadership trustfulness
amongest members in community hence development.
Exercise 2
1. Briefly explain the meaning of
the following terms.
1.
Life skills
2.
Material culture
3.
Tradition
4.
Custom
5.
Culture
6.
Outline four factors of the
importance of culture
7.
Identify the importance of promotion
and prevention of our culture values
8.
Name three customs and taboos which
the health of women during and before delivery
9.
Discuss how culture and gender
relations in society undermine women
10.
Discuss the strength and weakness of
culture change
11.
Describe why Tanzanian people as in
other countries worship in religious
12.
How political, economic and
education referred to as roots of culture?
13.
Briefly discuss the methods and
techniques used by Europeans to establish colonial culture I n Tanzania
mainland
14.
It is argued that there is no
culture without laws. In the light of this statement, take one indicator of
culture and discuss in relation to its implementation being enforced by law.
15.
What would be the measures for
promotion and preservation of national culture?
16.
Give two examples for both hidden
and open behaviour patterns.
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