WHO WE ARE OR WHAT WE ARE

To be who we want to be or what we want to be requires a lot of reflections. Coming from a diverse African cultures with its heterogeneous traditions, for instance, the North West Region of Cameroon in Central Africa has a variation of more than 250 different languages and tribes or clans with its own cultures and traditions(with some similarities) , requires an African(especially the young) to be self conscious and intellectually strong in order to sail above all these conflicting customs and traditions, which inevitably play an important part in the development of the African. Ngugi Wa Mirii and Ngugi Wa Thiogo'o, Kenyan playwrights, in their play "I Will Marry When I want" say that "A people without a past is just like a tree without roots". The individual therefore most be aware of his or her past in order to be prepared for the future.
Literally speaking, African heads of State and the polticians have a tradition of keeping their subjects in the dark. They are given false information and as such the younger generation must stand up to this aged-old custom of lies telling and face the harsh realities of life. Even intellectual institutions like the Universities have become apolitical where University Dons are not promoted on merit but through political lobbying.
We need a society where cultural values are put to high esteem. an ethical society where people must realise that bribery and corruption is stealing and just like the traditional stealing a meat in your Mother's pot of soup is not good because the gods themselves are not angry. Or is it a Sodomic society where sexual immorality, incest, rape, homosexuality has become the order of the day? Going back to our roots and the history of our parents, we some some ethos which vehemently condemns such acts. Virginity and infidelity were our their watch word. The Pope's recent visit to Africa and his sermons and messages should be an eye opener to all these vices, eventhough he came as a Head of State and not as a Holy Father because he was heavily guarded and as such the common man never had the opportunity of touching his garments as a man of God.
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