African Cultural Anthropology
by Political independence in any African nation opens the door not only to the right to self-rule but also to the right, the duty and the pride-filled urge to search for, discover and live one’s national identity and culture. In this exercise, Africans are asking themselves not just the question: who am I, but also the two related questions well: who was I? Who am I going to be? In asking these questions, the African sees himself as a member of a group. Anthropology therefore is the study of man.
Secondly, he must reinforce his sense of self-discipline, self-acceptation and self-pride as African. this he can do by meditative reading of such great Africans like Leopold Senghor, Kwame Nkrumah , John Mbiti, Nnamdi Azikiwe , Jomo Kenyatta etc . Thirdly , let him spread the glow of fire welling up within him to other Africans by organizing symposium, seminar, studies, debates on themes of African cultural anthropology. Fourthly, with the developing knowledge of, and love for his own, let him proceed to make intensive research work.
The African cultural anthropologist must study the African ideal patterns, the implicit items in our culture. He must inquire into and verbalize the mentality, philosophy etc, of the Africa. He must find the true functions of the different constituents of African culture, how each cultural element is integrated. He must make a critical analysis of his findings eschewing what is suggestive of the illogical , base, indecent, inhuman and superstitious. We must admit that not everything in our culture is good. In this critical analysis, he must develop, praise and promote all that help the African grow as a dignified, cultural person. The African cultural anthropologist must himself live out his findings and help others do the same.
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