Culture and tradition express the whole making of humanity in terms of knowledge, belief arts, moral, laws, customs and any other human capabilities and habits acquired by humanity embedded in society as whole.
How does culture differ from tradition, traditions are the ideas and belief that are passed down from one generation to another? That is why all the ethnic groups should make sure that members of any ethnic groups should acquire all the attributes of culture and tradition because culture and tradition are the basis of embracing nationalism, patriotism unity and the ability to initiate socio-economic development, the key for stability is to provide services to the citizens, political space for all and to have a clear direction for socio-economic development
Culture is an umbrella term which describes the social behavior and norms found in human societies, as well as knowledge, belief, arts, laws, customs, capabilities and habits of the individuals in a group.
Culture provides important social and economic benefits, with improved learning and health, increased tolerance, and opportunities to come together with others, Culture enhances our quality of life and increases overall well-being for both individuals and communities.
Culture distinguishes one community from another the community that has lost its identity; a community without culture is powerless, voiceless and politically weak
Language is the principal vehicle of culture. It is a living thing; it can grow whenever actively on use or practiced with new vocabularies constantly created.
Culture dies when it is discarded by the members of the community and when people feel ashamed of practicing it in public and develop negative attitudes and behaviors; many tribal languages have disappeared as result of being replaced by other cultures. Inferiority complex is responsible for the death of many cultures.
Many believed that by adapting an alien culture one improves one’s social status; on the contrary this attitude kills local cultural ascendancy or initiative.
What then is the fate of the Kakwa language? Is Kakwa language alive or on its way to the grave. It is worth to note that whenever a Kakwa addresses a Kakwa audience be it on social occasion like wedding, funeral rite prayers or church occasion even if the whole audience speaker will always prefer to address the audience in Arabic or English.
Whenever a person decides to speak in Kakwa is considered backwards, uncivilized and primitive. Those Kakwa be them political leaders the church leadership, the chiefs together with some parents who have lost interests in Kakwa language contribute for the killing of Kakwa culture or language
To make it worse if you visit Kakwa families, majority of people are Kakwa but all speak Arabic, women or mothers are the worst offenders. What are the necessary remedies to save the Kakwa language and culture from dying?
The following are some remedial strategies to rescue Kakwa language from dying
- Parents should make it compulsory in homes for children to talk in their mother language and the children who ignore need to be persuaded
- Kakwa community should launch a literacy campaign to encourage youth and elderly to learn how to read and write Kakwa language with collaboration of the church institutions
- There should be periodic social occasion where people are exposed to Kakwa cultural traditions to promote Kakwa’s cultural and traditional identity
- Storytelling, singing, dancing surely this will enhance cultural and traditional revival
- There is a necessity to establish Kakwa cultural centers in in the payam or in a central location where Kakwa language and other cultural practices are displayed
It is in every one’s interest and duty to make sure that our God-given culture should be protected from domination and replacement by other cultures or languages that are presumed to be rich and civilized
Joseph Akim Gordon, the author can be reached through e-mail akimgordon222@gmail.com