So, given that one is raised in a culture which doesn't have a rich tradition, but one that rather gets by with no sense of rootedness - how does one experience and acquire that richness?

Looking at my own definition of culture (and especially wanting a culture which has its own male initiation ceremonies and rites of passage) - I've perhaps romanticised it. Thinking of Chinese Buddhist Shaolin monks for instance - they are no more. The Shaolin temple was destroyed several times and the monks as I think of - well, they no longer exist. No integration between prayer and fighting. No longer a warrior religion - either religion, or warrior.
And the traditional African initiation ceremonies/rites of passage - those cultures are being more and more Westernised. How do we preserve their richness and also let them move into the 21st century (if they want to)?
Now for me - a white, English South African - I haven't been brought up on tribal rituals. I haven't been raised by a tribe, brought to a tribal experience of manhood by the tribe. I am not able to express who I am through any cultural rituals. So, just like my faith where I had to go outside of my tradition for it to come alive, perhaps I need to go outside of my culture for me to find these expressions. And (from the faith experience), that process will involve losing current friends (although that's not a given), a good deal of pain, questions about who I am, embarrassment (from both sides) of being associated with the "other" camp, and finally, maybe, something completely new.
Who has gone on this journey? I think of Johnny Clegg - white South Africa - who married a Zulu woman and "became" Zulu. How does *that* work?
I'm not sure, but I'm beginning to suspect that there is a lot more that white South Africans can learn from black South Africans than vice versae. The question is - do we have the courage?

johnny clegg did not marry a zulu woman he married a white lady but they had a traditional "zulu" wedding.
something that was raised in my class in rhema last term was the influence of the global culture and how the older "black" generation is concerned about this as they feel their culture is being eroded...now that also needs to be added into the pot...so to speak

Posted by: edgar 12 May, 2005 - 14:24:45

Oops...and to think I’ve even been to one of his concerts...

But the point remains that he didn’t do a traditional wedding (in terms of his background) - he did the Zulu (i.e. different) thing - a complete cultural change. Our challenge is still to move forwards in terms of progress yet retaining (and celebrating) our identity. For too long the West has put itself across as the "dominant/superior" culture - and local cultures are eroded by this (as well as the global culture).

What is the older black generation doing to preserve their culture as well as instill a love of it in the next generation?

Posted by: Roger Saner 13 May, 2005 - 16:51:15