Musaazi:
Globalization has not taken away African tribal/national identity. I can and all members on these discussion groups can prove that. The point however is What do you, yourself understand as "taking away" tribal/national identity. Musaazi, if you can not do some critical thinking on this subject, I'll help you out.
Today, we have globalization with its influences of western modernity. Western modernity has nothing to do with African tribal/national identity. Africans today dress in western made or designed clothes but they have not lost their tribal/national identity. For example; Musaazi you dress, eat, talk, use technology but that can not take away your tribal/national identity. People in African identify themselves with their countries, downwards to their tribe. E.g, African, to Ugandan, to Northern, to Langi - the identity is very strong and can not be westernized.
We can westernize our lifestyles but identity is another totally different issue. Japan today is the leading technologically advanced society but it has not lost its identity. Yes, it considers itself westernized but identifies itself as Japan. Take an example of Japanese names, which identify children as Japanese and not Chinese or Korean. Take a good example on yourself. You have "Musaazi" as your African identified name even if you own "Emmanuel" as a colonial legacy! You might be a musamize and yet to you posses that colonial name (Emmanuel) which has nothing to do with Christianity. Such names existed long before Jesus was born. But that is not the point here.
Nze, I might be dressing in western fashioned clothes, speak and write English, eat western food, even in a dream see myself in a western country conversing in English BUT my African identity is undeniable. I consider myself an African, a Ugandan, a Muganda. All of my descendants are to posses an African tribal/nation name identifying them as descendants of their ancestors. This has none to do with modernization and globalization. This is matter of ancestry and identity.
African Americans are westernized in and out, but their identity is strongly undeniably attached to Africa. Hence, the need for some of them to forge names as "black names" as their identity attached to ancestry instead of using purely white names. They consider themselves to have an African American culture within the western culture.
Lastly, about my "over zealousness" being understood as "cultural insecurity" is totally absurd! I have pride in my cultural identity and I can not deny it. If one feels good about something, what's the important of keeping quite about that thing they feel good about?? It makes no logical sense! Let's say that if Uganda had a very great economy, don't you think Ugandans would talk about it and thank their creator for having such a wonderful economy??
Globalization or Westernization is helping humanity to live a similar life style. Apparently, the life style is working best of the humanity since every corner of the world has swiftly adopted it. We live a similar life style with different cultures and identities. Musaazi, you need to make a separation between "life style (westernized)" and identity.
Today, the USA proudly with pride stands up to the world and declares itself a 'super power'. They have what it takes and their self esteem is way high, shooting up. Their achievements can not be denied by the world. The same is applying to me. I have pride and I can stand up to Uganda and declare pride in myself and my tribe. My tribe and I have and had what it takes, the self esteem is way high, shooting up to the skies. My tribe's achievements can not be denied by Uganda. History can tell that story! My own achievements can not be denied by those who know me.
Pride is a source of creativity and aiming higher to do even better, than the rest! Pride gives a feeling that its your destiny to have the best in life and utilize what your ancestors left off. Pride can do alot of things. The USA and I plus my tribe are very good examples of exactly of what pride can do. What didn't you know about pride?? Pride has the magic!
Don't you mix pride with tribalism! Tribalism is where one tribe atleast tries to hurt the other in different ways. I'm not into such crap! The pride that I have is only and for only me and my tribe! No others can be hurt by my high self-esteem and that of my tribesmen and women. When the USA declares itself a 'super power', I'm not offended at all. It's the truth! How can sensible critical thinkers be offended by facts?? What we do is to work with these facts and make the world a better place.
However, right now in Uganda today we have some serious issues we need to focus on. The USA also has some serious issues it is trying to focus on. We (the world) do not live in the perfect Eden, we live in a real world. We have to work on our issues in Uganda. We have got to start! We need to focus! We need to organize! We need to develop ourselves! Our off-springs have got to have pride in their country! Let's continue this debate...
Zakoomu R.
emmanuel musaazi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
emmanuel musaazi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Rehema, i agree with you to some extent but take issue with you on the
statement that "Globalization has never taken away African tribal/national
identity". Of course it has done so and is doing so, more so now, and at an
accelerated rate, due technology and economics. You only need to start by
looking at yourself and then your children (if you've got any) to find
out...cable television and other communication avenues are contributing to
the fast erosion of african cultural norms add to that mixed marriages and
other modern social arrangements. Ironically in Africa, the rural areas are
normally the custodial areas of our traditions, yet these areas are the most
backward...the trend now is to urbanize, but urbanizing means KFC,
McDonalds, Cable TV, Foreign clothes, more English (with the right accent),
Computers etc..in short; Urbaniz ation = Mordernization =
westernization....Sustainability of our African cultures at this rate is
next to impossible. It's just a matter of time before the tide consumes us
all...as for being proud of your Ganda culture, i'm all for that, however,
sometimes a little discretion is in order as to when and how you display
your cultural pride because you could as well be accused of being insecure
hence the over zealousness.
>From: Rehema Mukooza <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: ugnet_: RE: Museveni Gives 25 Cows To Obote Kin
>Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2004 10:53:24 -0800 (PST)
>
>Musaazi:
>
>I think that you need to cut down on dreaming! Globalization has never
>taken away African tribal/national identity. Where have you been?? But
>you are entitled to your own opinion. I have my own and I'm not anywhere
>ready to "cool down". I'm not mad or angry, I'm simply stating facts as
>percieved in the books of record.
>
>I'm not ashamed of my Ganda identity and neither should other people be
>ashamed of theirs. What we need is for others to leave us and our identity
>alone in peace. If I praise my Ganda identity, I don't want to hear or see
>another person "offended". It is their right to get offened if they want,
>but if they try to rubb on me, I'm rubbing back! Simple and clear! That's
>the way the world works! If they want to praise their identities too, they
>can go ahead, I have no problem with that. The question however is, why do
>they have beef over my Ganda identity and _expression_??
>
>I'm not going to waste my time trying to understand other people's psyches
>with their insecurities of identity in themselves. It is not my duty to
>act as a therapist for some identity insecure peoples of Uganda. O bote is
>a very good example of some Ugandans who are insecure with Ganda identity
>and expressions. Whenever we show appreciation in our culture, they get
>offended. Obote/UPC rubbed on us (Buganda) and therefore any sensible
>person who rub back! E.g the terrorists rub on the USA, and therefore the
>USA rubbs back. You need to learn these things.
>
>However the good thing is that we have room for a reconciliation.
>Reconciliation would have to be that "they" will need to leave "our"
>identity alone. They will have to accept us and the way we are. We have
>no problem accepting them and the way they are. They have a problem with
>us! I'm very sure that Buganda will have no problem with Acholi or Lango's
>cultural identity. It only rubbs when someone from these areas as a
>president of Uganda carries out his insecurities into actions and rubbs on
>Buganda. E.g Obote.
>
>Do I re ally need to get into this issue?? Do I really need to teach
>Ugandans to peacefully tolerant other Ugandans' cultural identities?? Why
>am I having this conversation?? Is it maybe that "they" are insecure. Do
>I have to do this?? I do not do therapy! Sorry!
>
>Zakoomu R.
>
>emmanuel musaazi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote:
>...seems like you guys are attempting to resolve too many issues at
>once..social/cultural/political issues...your dialogue interests me,
>however, as someone observing from the outside, inwards. I see your your
>micro-conflict as a microcosm of broader conflicts taking place in
>different
>arenas on the African continent, all revolving around
>social/cultural/political issues..also represented are the very strong
>unflexible opinions on both sides, which normally lead to unending
>wars...i'll advise both camps seperately; Rehema (Buganda camp) vs others
>(non-Baganda camp).
>
>Firstly to the non-Baganda camp, i want you to understand that the love
>Baganda have for Kabaka is more symbolic than personal, in other words,
>Kabaka is loved because of what he represents, which is the whole Kiganda
>culture and the territory which he has dominion over, when Babaganda see
>the
>Kabaka they see a personification of their value system which is a big part
>of who they are. So the relationship of Baganda to Kabaka is almost
>spiritual...as non-Baganda you may not appreciate it, but as Ugandans i
>urge
>you to either accept it or live it alone. It's like the English and their
>Queen....of course allegance of a people to cultural structures and norms
>is
>also as a result of benefits percieved, experienced, imagined and/or
>anticipated and normally this state of affairs is of historical
>proportions.
>
>To the Bag anda camp (Rehema)...cool down woman..yes we are Baganda and we
>love our Kabaka and indeed Buganda/Baganda have benefitted alot from the
>Kiganda culture. However we are also Ugandans, we as Baganda need to to
>sometimes step back and realize that we are Baganda in Uganda. I think
>sometimes we tend to be over zealous in our celebration and/or _expression_
>of
>our Kiganda culture to the point where our Ugandaness is questioned by
>others. I for one believe that Buganda belongs in Uganda and therefore my
>cultural pride as a Muganda must be tempered with a recognition that my
>culture is one of many of whom i must also coexist with and tolerate. The
>global trend (which is dictated by economics and technology) is
>globalization, i.e. political/social/economic embracement, breaking down of
>barriers, and as this phenomenon broadens, the definition of; a Muganda, a
>Mucholi, a Munyankole or for that matte r a black man will become more and
>more vague. We need to therefore be aware of our environment even as we
>voice and/or exhibit our cultural pride.
>
>
> >From: Rehema Mukooza
> >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >Subject: ugnet_: Re: Museveni Gives 25 Cows To Obote Kin
> >Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 10:23:32 -0800 (PST)
> >
> >Oracha:
> >
> >How am I expossing how "rotten" Uganda is?? Museveni is not buying the
> >Kabaka, nor is the Kabaka begging Museveni. Mu7 is offering his gifts to
> >the Kabaka. Mr. Oracha learn to be a critical thinker! You need to learn
> >the difference between "buying", "begging", and "giving gifts". Keep
> >searching, use those brain cells, the differences are there.
> >
> >Zakoomu R.
> >
> >[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> >In a me ssage dated 3/6/2004 11:45:07 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> >[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> >To discuss matters of interest to Buganda. That is not beggin'! Museveni
> >offers the gifts, he is not asked. How many political leaders can be
> >offered with gifts?? I told that offering gifts to our Kabaka is a matter
> >of tradition. Kabaka is a traditional leader and yes he will get more and
> >more gifts. Alumwa alumwe!
> >You are bogus. Empty. Sycophant. You do not love or respect any kabaka at
> >all. Stop fooling around because you are exposing how rotten Uganda has
> >become!
> >Oli musiro nyo!
> >
> >oracha
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