Western influence and westernization have led to the
extinction of indigenous languages and cultures of many
societies in the world. Nigerian cultures and native languages
have suffered base on the adoption of western language
(English) and values. The Chinese people have been a
culturally sensitive people and they have done wonderfully
well in preserving their language and cultures from going into
extinction more than any country in the world. They never
assimilate western language in their every day communication
and education; unlike the Nigerian society where English
language has been adopted as the official language for
education and day to day communication.
Western influence on the developing countries of the
world has been an interesting area of study. Many countries
especially some of the developing countries have lost their
cultural uniqueness and identities due to western –inspired
model ways of doing things. Many countries desire to be
progressive and successful in order to meet up with the fast
changes of modern times; therefore, the desire and fascination
for change and transformation are very inevitable.
In Nigeria, westernization is seen as the effects of western
invasion and colonization on some native societies of the
world which had both positive and negative impacts. Nigerians
have been westernized due to their past British colonial
influence and leadership which relegated the Nigerian cultures
to the background. There have been different levels of western
cultural domination and destruction of Nigeria’s local customs
yet there were also resistance and modification of the native
Nigerian cultures. However, some of the Nigeria’s traditional
cultures have gone into extinction as a result of western
influence and impacts.
There are some good and bad effects of western influence; and their influence could be traced from Nigerian colonial past. During the colonial era, the British used western education as a tool in cultivating their western religion and cultural hegemony in Nigerians. They oppressed the indigenous natives by subjecting them to western values, so Nigerian natives were forced to accept the superiority of western cultures over their own unique Nigerian culture.
Amongst the good effects of westernization are the abolition of some Nigerian cultures, like the killing of twins, slave trade businesses, the cast system and burying of people alive in the evil forest. Though western influence and British colonial rule had put Nigerian some languages and cultures into extinction; yet they have saved the lives of many people who belonged to the above mentioned categories.
While i was growing up, i got hold of some fascinating age-long cultures. Some of which i read in the course of my education. Others, i was told by grannies, or elderly ones i was fortunate to meet. One particular story struck me, only years after i had heard it. In past, i was told that traders don't usually/or never stay by their wares. What they do back then was simply display their wares. Then they use either stones or pebbles to indicate the amount of each wares. That whenever any one wants to buy anything, all they need do was look at the amount of stones/pebbles placed beside that particular item to know it's amount. They will then pick the items they wanted and replace it with the money. The owner of the stale comes back much later in the day to take stock of what has been bought, collects the money and restock, then go back home.
Why this story particularly resonates is that some of these things are still being practiced in some hidden villages. One of such places is Ife in Osun State. I witness this while i was an undergraduate at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. The local farmers often leave the farm produce such as Tomatoes, Peppers, Onions and so on outside and even overnight using a number of stones to indicate the amount.
However, this was only done by the local farmers who sell farm produce.
I think this age-long practice is what gave birth to modern day price tagging we see in supermarket only that this time, you have attendants, with all manner of security gadgets and personnel. Some malls are even so security conscious such that aside paying for the goods you bought in the mall, you have to present your receipt to the security at the exit for clearance.
In the contemporary Nigerian society, western values and influences have affected almost every part of the Nigerian cultures such as:
In Nigeria, the citizens have been forced to adopt and be educated using the English language. Also, English language is the official language for learning and every day communication which made some of the Nigerian languages to die off. As a result of this, many traditions and customs are lost to modernization and western influence.
Language plays an integral role in the preservation of our Cultures and Traditions, yet it has become the most vulnerable aspect of education in this part of the world especially with the 21th Century parents. Some parents forbids their children from communicating in their local dialect. They push their kids to only communicate in the English.
Local languages are not properly inserted into the school curriculum. Neither are they given adequate attention. The English Language is given far more importance, and this shows in the amount of different books school invest its resources on. More time is allotted on the Time Table for English and even now, gradually, the education system is beginning to embrace the Francophone language. More time is equally being allotted to these other languages than our indigenous.
Our elders fear the extinction of Cultures and Traditions, majorly our language. The Aged are moving on to answer the inevitable call of nature, going with our ancient wisdoms and knowledge while we, the youth watch on believing our cultural norms and traditions are old school. We only want to catch up with new trends. One then begs the question, What then becomes of our identity in the next Thirty(30) years or say, Fifty(50) years from now?
Written by Abdul Hakeem Adegoke-Are
There are some good and bad effects of western influence; and their influence could be traced from Nigerian colonial past. During the colonial era, the British used western education as a tool in cultivating their western religion and cultural hegemony in Nigerians. They oppressed the indigenous natives by subjecting them to western values, so Nigerian natives were forced to accept the superiority of western cultures over their own unique Nigerian culture.
Amongst the good effects of westernization are the abolition of some Nigerian cultures, like the killing of twins, slave trade businesses, the cast system and burying of people alive in the evil forest. Though western influence and British colonial rule had put Nigerian some languages and cultures into extinction; yet they have saved the lives of many people who belonged to the above mentioned categories.
While i was growing up, i got hold of some fascinating age-long cultures. Some of which i read in the course of my education. Others, i was told by grannies, or elderly ones i was fortunate to meet. One particular story struck me, only years after i had heard it. In past, i was told that traders don't usually/or never stay by their wares. What they do back then was simply display their wares. Then they use either stones or pebbles to indicate the amount of each wares. That whenever any one wants to buy anything, all they need do was look at the amount of stones/pebbles placed beside that particular item to know it's amount. They will then pick the items they wanted and replace it with the money. The owner of the stale comes back much later in the day to take stock of what has been bought, collects the money and restock, then go back home.
Why this story particularly resonates is that some of these things are still being practiced in some hidden villages. One of such places is Ife in Osun State. I witness this while i was an undergraduate at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. The local farmers often leave the farm produce such as Tomatoes, Peppers, Onions and so on outside and even overnight using a number of stones to indicate the amount.
However, this was only done by the local farmers who sell farm produce.
I think this age-long practice is what gave birth to modern day price tagging we see in supermarket only that this time, you have attendants, with all manner of security gadgets and personnel. Some malls are even so security conscious such that aside paying for the goods you bought in the mall, you have to present your receipt to the security at the exit for clearance.
In the contemporary Nigerian society, western values and influences have affected almost every part of the Nigerian cultures such as:
- Language: Many Nigerian languages have gone into extinction and are no longer in use. English language has been adopted as the official language and has been used in educating Nigerian citizens. Many people in Nigeria are ashamed of speaking their native languages and as result of this; the new generation of Nigerian youths could not speak their languages fluently.
- Weddings and Traditions: Many Nigerians have been converted to Christianity and some do not value their traditional values again as a result of their belief in Christianity. The western wedding has been fashioned by many people in Nigeria as the modern type of wedding and they believe that marriage is not complete without the western type of wedding. So they combine the western and the traditional wedding together.
- Dress Codes: Western fashions and styles have been adopted as a model although some people still wear Nigerian clothes. Western wedding dresses and men’s suites have been adopted for church weddings.
- Buildings: western designs and skylines had been adopted and seen as a model for modernity.
- Music: pop music, acrobatic movements, fashion style, dyed hair etc have been emulated from the western culture and at the same time seen as the real trend of modernity in Nigeria; anybody that is not associated with all these does not belong to the modern generation.
In Nigeria, the citizens have been forced to adopt and be educated using the English language. Also, English language is the official language for learning and every day communication which made some of the Nigerian languages to die off. As a result of this, many traditions and customs are lost to modernization and western influence.
Language plays an integral role in the preservation of our Cultures and Traditions, yet it has become the most vulnerable aspect of education in this part of the world especially with the 21th Century parents. Some parents forbids their children from communicating in their local dialect. They push their kids to only communicate in the English.
Local languages are not properly inserted into the school curriculum. Neither are they given adequate attention. The English Language is given far more importance, and this shows in the amount of different books school invest its resources on. More time is allotted on the Time Table for English and even now, gradually, the education system is beginning to embrace the Francophone language. More time is equally being allotted to these other languages than our indigenous.
Our elders fear the extinction of Cultures and Traditions, majorly our language. The Aged are moving on to answer the inevitable call of nature, going with our ancient wisdoms and knowledge while we, the youth watch on believing our cultural norms and traditions are old school. We only want to catch up with new trends. One then begs the question, What then becomes of our identity in the next Thirty(30) years or say, Fifty(50) years from now?
Written by Abdul Hakeem Adegoke-Are
@Fasola Ajibola, I think you are missing the point. Like i pointed out in my publication, western influence has its pro and cons. Some of our extinct cultural practices especially the rather brutal and harsh ones are as a result of our contact with it. I'm not looking at the total influence it has brought on us. What i really want us to examine together here is, what would become of our Identity when we allow the western culture overwhelm us like it's doing right? I wish to correct you that wearing Jeans isn't your culture but something you and I and every other person in the same line of act have come to accept as an equally acceptable norm. Rap isn't your thing, you adopt it and God bless those whom have reinvented our language into it. Western ideals have made lots of progress to us as a people but should it be completely overwhelming at the detriment of our own indigenous cultures. On a scale, we all know that western influence far outweighs our indigenous cultures today. And If it continues without being addressed, What will become of our identity in years to come. Mind you, we have some very beautiful norms which i fear if care is not taken would be extinct. Language is the easiest way to get across to a people. But due to communication barriers, many have dump, if not completely, their indigenous language. How do we correct the norm?
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