| dc.description.abstract | The gist of this study revolves round the question and nature
of cultural development. Admittedly, many societies in the
world in general, Africa in particular have been struggling
hard to realise cultural development. This is because
cultural development has become a major issue in the
development debates. Accordingly, it has been argued that for
any meaningful and faster development, cultural development is
necessary. Indeed, the contention is that for any full-fledged
development, cultural development must be real ised
first.
The above notwithstanding, controversies and debates over
the nature of cultural development in Africa abound. At the
heart of these controversies and debates are to be found the
Eurocentrist and Afrocentrist interpretations of the nature of
cultural development in Africa. Whereas the Eurocentrists
define cultural development in Africa in terms of the
proximity of African culture to western culture insisting that -. western culture is the citadel of cultural development, the
Afrocentrists define cultural development in Africa in terms
of the independence of African culture from western culture as
located in Africa's past. The two appear plausible in
themselves.
This study thus critically examines the Eurocentrists'
and Afrocentrists' perceptions and other views on cultural
development in Africa with a view to determining whether or
not cultural development has actually taken place in Africa.
This constitutes the objectives of the study. This study is
based on Library research. More so it is a conceptual
analysis in which various views are examined to see if they
are consistent or inconsistent.
It was concluded that cul tural development has taken
place in Africa. This conclusion was contingent upon the
understanding that cultural development presupposes the
existence of cultural abilities and opportunities to fulfil
cultural needs. These, it was established existed in the form
of -cultural resources and cultural endowments.
It was however, recommended that a lot be done in the way
of resuscitating the desire or will to fulfil cultural needs
for ability and opportunity without the desire or will to meet
cultural needs is in vain. It was hoped that with the
implementation of this recommendation, full-fledged cultural
development will be achieved in Africa, for our contention is
that, contrary to the prevalent view that Sub-Saharan Africa
sadly lacks the capacity to fulfil any need be it cultural or
economic, Sub-Saharan Africa has the capacities in abundance.
Perhaps a lack of a desire to use those capacities optimum
maximally is rampant. It should be noted however, that there
is no limit to desire. | en |
