Postmodern cynic appraisals of Africa’s geriatric culture of social development in the age of western globalisation and millennial consciousness
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Date
2023
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HUMANUS DISCOURSE
Abstract
Abstract
The paper interrogates the sub-culture of the older generation of the African
population and aspires to ascertain if this class of the African population can drive
the development of the continent. The research is motivated by the control that
the older generation in Africa asserts as they by the virtue of their mature ages
and experiences are at the helms of affairs in divergent walks of life on the African
continent, particularly in political administration. The paper employs Hollis
Chenery's model of Structural-Change Theory which emphasises the patterns of
development as the appropriate approach to economic development of a nation as
the Structural Change Theory maintains that many countries of the world
acquires wealth through different channels. In Africa, a sizeable number of the
people in position of authority especially in governance are in the geriatric
category of the population and do characteristically exhibit such tendencies as
inordinate avarice, ostentation, self supremacy, suppression of the views of
women, retributive vengeance with African voodoo, monarchial absolutism,
superstition, financial prayer miracle, multiple births, as well as the beliefs that
elders should not be queried on their deeds and actions. All of these attributes
characterise the traditional African culture, and go against the modern global
cultural and attitudinal principles such as financial prudence, hard work,
fundamental human rights and science. The social and economic development of
the African continent may be stalled and its progress hampered as long as those at
the helms of affairs on the continent refuse to approach governance with
postmodern approaches and attitudes. There is indeed the need for overt
repudiation and elimination of such unprogressive and unproductive traits such
as avarice, abuse of women, self supremacy, superstition, conventionalism, and
ostentation to mention but a few.
Keywords: African culture, Postmodernism, Social development, Old
generation, Globalisation