I have always thought, as a country and continent, if we created more spaces through which we can all explore different ways of relating to each other, then we could answer to some of these peace issues that we are constantly battling.
Having worked in the area of communication and culture before, I can confidently advocate that events that touch on culture are such events that can bring about interconnectedness and mutual understanding.
Cultural events happening in Nairobi are an almost must attend for me. In fact, I get that fomo feeling, otherwise known as fear of missing out. I have also over the years convinced some of my family and friends into this little obsession with cultural events and festivals. After all, culture is our way of life, and understanding each other is key.
So last Saturday, June 17, the eighth Nairobi International Cultural Festival took place at the Nairobi National Museums. Exhibitors were mostly representatives from various embassies and other affiliated cultural organisations, each with their own booths.
Organisers were generous enough to make it a free entrance event. The attendance was great. The outcome was a wonderful display of items from various cultures, from clothing, flags, utensils, ornaments and art. Activities were also there and they included music and dance, activities depicting language, norms and past-times.
This was an event I had been looking forward to attending as a spectator. In previous times, I was working under one of the exhibitors. So I never got that liberty of moving around, as our booth would always be busy with interested members from the audience.
This festival, therefore, had a fresh feeling for me and gave me different perspectives besides my curiosity to taste the many foods that were being sold. Most people in attendance, just like me, seemed to enjoy the foods the most, then the activities and performances.
To the audience, all foods, activities and performances felt unique and therefore none superseded the other. In as much as some performers went ahead to put up quite a special show with outstanding glamorous outfits, at the very least all performers, especially, were cheered equally.
My family, especially my sons, not as exposed to all these cultures before, had a difficult time telling me their personal favourite booths. Both dangling a 'Travel to Philippines' generous freebie, all they said was “They were all so nice mummy, could we do this again next year?" This then reminded me of the philosophy of Ubuntu that 'I am because we are’. Ubuntu-ism perpetuates the power of reciprocity and profound humanity.
According to the New World Encyclopedia, Ubuntu is a traditional African concept that comes from the Zulu and Xhola languages, and can be roughly translated as "humanity towards others". The encyclopedia goes ahead to explain that Ubuntu embodies all those virtues that maintain harmony and the spirit of sharing among the members of a society.
Ubuntu implies an appreciation of traditional beliefs, and a constant awareness that an individual’s actions today are a reflection on the past, and will have far-reaching consequences for the future.
A person with Ubuntu is said to know his or her place in the universe and is consequently able to interact gracefully with other individuals. One aspect of Ubuntu, according to this encyclopedia, is that at all times, the individual effectively represents the people from among whom he or she comes, and therefore tries to behave according to the highest standards and exhibit the virtues upheld by his or her society.
Our African leaders are therefore at task to create more of such events, that bring about the spirit of Ubuntu-ism alive. We cannot keep fighting each other from the community level to the national level, regional level and even as a continent. We have so much to celebrate about each other, rich cultures being one of them, where, since it is so unique, the spirit of unhealthy competition barely exists.
Hopefully, we as Africans can embrace more of these festivals, to embrace each other and avoid seeing unwarranted attacks between neighbours.
Rebel attacks last week in the Ugandan school near the Congo border that left around 41 innocent children dead, and many other xenophobic-like attacks of such nature should not be depictions of our continent but rather exchange and embraces of our beautiful cultures leading to further development for a better future.
Part-time lecturer and communications researcher
