Why is culture vital in a nation’s development?
By Amin Kef Sesay
Looking to the examples of Japan, China, South Korea, Thailand and other culturally conscious countries around the world where culture plays a big role in not only identifying them as a people but also marks them out as huge tourist attractions, Sierra Leone due to the relentless influence of westernization has seemed to shelf its fine, invaluable cultural inheritances.
Culture has mainly to do with the traditions and customs. In this vein, one of our biggest development partners, the European Union has said that in 2021 it wants to give fresh impetus to the partnership between EU and Africa that is not limited to economic and political issues but also culture and cultural exchanges because significantly culture is an important economic resource.
The Oxford Dictionary defines culture as “the quality of enlightenment and refinement arising from an acquaintance with and concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, the sum total of the ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another”. Thus a person can be described as being cultured or uncultured.
Culture is one of the main pillars of development and sustenance of communities. No society can progress in its absence. It is the identity where common values, attitudes, preferences, knowledge are attributed to the behaviour in a particular social group, and has a positive influence on social development in any given country.
As such, the quality of our lives depends, to a great extent, on our being able to take part in, and benefit from our culture. We instinctively know, with no need for explanation, that maintaining a connection with the unique character of our historic and natural environment, with the language, the music, the arts and the literature, which accompanied us throughout our life, is fundamental for our unity by providing a sense of who we are.
Traditional celebrations are some of the core aspects of any culture. Whether it is a wedding, a harvest festival, a religious holiday, or a national observance, our celebrations are woven tightly into our overall cultural identity.
Cultural events are fun, entertaining and educative. They allow individuals to integrate physically and mentally.
Celebrating our traditions – Poro, bondo, matorma, gunugunu, orjeh, hunting, etc – offers excellent opportunity for intercultural exchange and understanding.
In the Caribbean, their cultural traditions (clothes, food, music, entertainment) form an essential component of their huge tourist attraction as at the same time they contribute to an increase in the intellectual potential and build conscious, open and tolerant society.
Identity expressed through culture is necessity for all human development. It creates the fundamental building blocks in our personality and in the ties that link us to communities and nations.
Culture is a powerful driver for development, with community-wide social, economic and environmental impacts. Peoples’ lifestyles, individual behaviour, consumption patterns, values related to environmental stewardship and our interaction with the natural environment are mostly influenced by their cultures.
If development can be regarded as the enhancement of our living standards then efforts geared to development cannot ignore culture.
As such, economic growth will take more than an infusion of investment capital, more than an import of the latest technology, even more than dependable political and economic institutions.
The role of culture in creating green jobs, reducing poverty, making cities more sustainable, providing safe access to water and food, preserving the natural resources such as forests, and strengthening the resilience of communities in the face of disasters, is truly major and irreplaceable.
Politically, culture plays a natural part in a development policy that is serious about human rights. A free and strong cultural sector will promote other rights and values such as freedom of expression, diversity and debate about needs in society. Culture ensures unity during crisis, influences identity, debate and dialogue. It is important for nation building and for peace and reconciliation.
