Makwe Nkiruka, PBA Journalism MenteeAs part of efforts to revive the African culture, a university don has stressed the need for the people to become proud of their tradition and shake off influences of Western lifestyles.
Speaking at the Arts Carnival organised by the University of Nigeria Nsukka Faculty of Arts, Prof Paul Obi-Ani, Dean of the Faculty, noted with concern the insidious effect of Western culture pervading African system being aided by modern mass media.
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Prof. Obi-Ani in his welcome address on Monday, said the essence of the festival was to create awareness, especially among students on the need to be proud of their culture, and to neglect the Western media’s notion about the culture being barbaric.
The faculty festival which began on Monday, October 23 and ends on Wednesday, October 25 (today), is exploring African themes, arts and creativity in different capacities.
“The essence is simply to get our people aware and proud of our culture because, for some time, you’ll find that Western media and culture have been infused into our daily lives, so we tend to aid Western culture. We want our people from time to time, henceforth to embrace our culture, be proud of our culture, and showcase our culture wherever they may find themselves,” Prof. Obi-Ani stated.
The Dean, who cheerfully welcomed both lecturers and students in attendance explained that the festival was an initiative to bring the students closer to their culture and have a first-hand experience of what their traditional values really entailed.
“We observed that the students need to realize the importance of culture, so we decided to organize this festival, which is the first of its kind in the history of the faculty.
“I congratulate all of you, who participated during the parade in displaying the colourful and beautiful aspects of our tradition and culture. Culture is our way of life, and you must know it is embodied in our faculty. This is displayed in the different forms of theatrics, cuisines, relics, dance and others.
“You must have a first-hand experience to be part of our culture, and that’s why this maiden edition of our faculty festival was organized in order to make people proud of our culture and not be shy about it, and to also teach and encourage the young ones to shine and speak our native language.”
He also explained that the festival was initiated because of the depreciating nature of our native customs and traditions, owing to Western influences.
“We observed that our language, cuisines and a lot of issues concerning our culture degenerating, so that actually informed us that we’re the embodiment of culture. We study culture.
“Where you want to study History, we study the history of our people, all over Nigeria, we are well equipped with the tools of documenting our history. When you talk about music, we have the people most endowed to preserve our musical culture, and we have a department here. When we talk of those that dramatizes, we have the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, even the relics in the Archaeology Museum, and for Mass Communication, we’re bringing all these issues bordering on culture to the media, So we have all the apparatus that would sustain our culture in this faculty.”
The Dean was presented with an award of honour for his contribution towards the development of the faculty by Dr Uche Okonkwo, from the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature, on behalf of FASA. Also, the Associate Dean, Dr Mrs Tochukwu Okpara was given an award of recognition for excellent leadership.
Other awardees at the event were the Faculty Staff Adviser, Mr Ambrose Onu who was given an award of honour for his supporting role in building the faculty; Mrs Uzoamaka Oluah of the Department of Mass Communication, for her contribution to the growth and success of the faculty, amongst other students of the faculty.
The event which was the maiden edition of its kind in the history of the faculty, was organized by the Faculty Director of Socials, Olisa Emeka alongside the local organizing committee, headed by the Chairman, Prof Chris Ekwuemesi of the Department of Linguistics, and other faculty stakeholders.
Day one of the event was action-packed as it began with a festival parade around the school by Students of the faculty, accompanied by different cultural dance groups, and masquerades, alongside the Ohanaeze traditional council of the faculty.
This was followed by the main event, which took place in the faculty lecture hall, with many dignitaries gracing the occasion. In attendance were the Dean Faculty of Arts, Prof Paul Obi-Ani; Associate Dean, Dr Mrs Tochukwu Okpara; Faculty Staff Adviser, Mr Ambrose Onu; Dr Uche Okonkwo of Music Department; Mrs Uzoamaka Oluah Ogor, Dr Julius Aroh, Mrs Chinyere Ugwulor amongst other lecturers, from different departments that make up the faculty.
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