The Impact Of Western Culture On The Lifestyle Of Students Of Federal University Of Kashere
Abstract
The main focus of this study is to explore the impact of western culture on students of Federal University of Kashere. For this purpose survey design was used and data were collected from randomly selected 105 people who are members of students that means the boys & girls of the age from16 to 25 years. These people were randomly selected from Gombe city. Under this city corporation area four LGAs have been randomly selected & from each LGA, 8 areas or localities have been randomly selected and from each area, 13 people have been randomly selected. Findings indicate that most of the people of students are habituated with various pattern of western culture. They are adapted with dress pattern, film and literature, family pattern, cultural festival, English language, education system, food habit, religious behavior, technology and so on. Many of the respondents don’t even know about our traditional culture and they can’t differentiate our traditional culture from western culture. This study also indicates that our education system have failed to teach the students about the culture and tradition of our country. And the education system is mainly western influenced. But it is a matter of hope that, many of the members of students still have the courage to maintain our traditional culture avoiding western culture.
From the historical perspective, Nigerian culture has rich literary heritage. The riverside landscape and the tropical climate are closely related to the cultural practices of this country. It focuses the lifestyles and culture value of the indigenous people. From the earlier age, people give value and maintain social customs which are in our culture.
However, people are now following some of the western cultures beside their own one. Mostly, the students are very much interested on English movies, western music, dresses, foods and other things rather than Nigerian culture. Now, students and even also middle age people are not that much conscious about Nigerian culture because of the globalization. In this way, Nigerian culture is now no more originated by own culture, even it is losing her own value. We should reconsider ourselves to adopt and habituate with western culture.
CHAPER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
This study is on the influence of western culture on the students in the University of Kashere in Gombe state as a case study. The term culture has been defined differently by many people. The different definitions attached to culture are based on the differences in the orientation of the people.
According to Ekeh (2012), culture is construct used in an attempt to analyzed and integrate events and ideals in broad spectrum of area of society. Jakayinka (2002) states that from wider perspective, culture includes the total repertoire of human action which are socially transmitted from generation to generation. Obiora (2002), say that the transformation of culture is gradual and not sudden. Culture is a continuous process of change. it changes exactly the same way as the human being change. It is dynamic, learned, acquired, transmitted or diffused through contact or means of communication flow from generation to generation. The Nigeria culture is observed to be fading out as a result of the acceptance and adaptation of the mode mist’s solution on to underdevelopment.
Cultural imperialism is a term used to describe the imposition of western culture on the culture of people in developing countries. Cultural imperialism often refers to America’s cultural influence on other countries, for better or worse.
A man’s right lies in his confidence and personality which is greatly nurtured by his culture. Man is essentially the product of his culture. It beats and moulds a person into a particular shape. Culture makes one think, speak, dance and behave in a particular manner. It’s culture that makes one Kanuri, Jukun, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Alago, Tiv, etc.
Africa as a continent and Nigeria as a country have their given cultures which are unique in their own respect. This culture may not be absolutely the same among all countries and even within a country, a lot of cultures exist but there are features that differentiate Africans from other people of the world. The issue here is that any person with passion for the African culture today will believe that, the very material, spiritual and aesthetic fabric of African people had been destroyed by western civilization considering the youth in University of Kashere Area.
Nigeria which is made up of rich and diverse cultural values is beginning to lose most its cultural ideals especially through the adoption of foreign culture showcased through the mass media. Nowadays, it is observed that our youth have abandoned our local attires such as the ‘Adire’ and ‘Ankara’ for alien attires. It is common to see young people (youth) walking across the streets half nude putting on micro-mini skirts, handless top, trousers and other outfits that are not part of our cultural identity.
Africans and indeed Nigerians have their traditional attires especially University of Kashere, but how many youth proudly abide by the culture and wear such traditional attires today? A visit to banks in University of Kashere will give you a perfect example. In fact, it is mandatory in the banks that you wear a suit except on Fridays that you are allowed to wear native attire. The question we must answer is whether wearing of suit part of Kashere culture or western culture? Must we copy everything western? Can’t we promote our rich cultural and traditional outfit so our local industries can boom?
One of the negative roles the mass media plays in our today’s society is the dominance and propagation of violence particularly on television and video film industry. A lot of the foreign film content on television is mainly scenes of violence. The actors who engage in murder and other violent actors are portrayed as heroes. Home video, which is very popular now with Nigerian films, also carries the same theme. Research has shown that children who watch violence on screen are most prone to violent behavior in adulthood.
1.2 Statement of the Problem:
Students are the future of a country. Every country depends for the building of their brighter future on students. Nigeria is not an exception. The students of Nigeria has played very important role to face the barriers and various problems regarding our country. It is very important for government and all the general people and the senior generation to manage and observe the environment and the culture among which they are growing up and what are influencing their life. In recent time or over some decades the situation in Nigeria of the students has been changed. This change mainly seen in the process of culture and culture related issues. Because, if we see the present time or can see back few years, there must be reveal a huge effect of Western culture upon the students of Nigeria. This effect of Western culture is both bad and good among the present generation of Nigeria. But the main concerning topic is that the culture of students are changing through the impact of Western culture. We can see the effect of change in the pattern of dress, pattern of fashion, pattern of education, pattern of thinking, pattern of conversation, pattern of communication, pattern of music and other media, pattern of job, pattern of moral, pattern of behavior and so on.
The globalization and the proliferation of the mass media confronted the risks of cultural uniformity with the possibilities of unprecedented cultural integration. The problem starts with the world or global culture. In this context of integrated world, similar apprehensions of loss of national culture and identity are justifiably felt by peripheral nations as this unbridled and free flow of global communication poses genuine threats to the autonomy and the viability of the cultures of weaker and economically more dependent societies, primarily indigenous third world cultures, or even to the cultures of some first world societies, whose ‘authenticity’ and uniqueness were seen as perilously vulnerable to the products of Hollywood and U.S Television. For example, European Union policies designed to create ‘a trade barrier to limit American entertainment imports in the name of cultural preservation’ to reduce the effect of American culture on their students. (Ashraf Khan, 2009).
In order to understand the concept of national cultural identity or culture of students, it must be clear what is meant by “Culture”. Culture can be defined as a complete way of life of people, the shared attitude, values, goals and practices that characterize a group, their customs, art, language, literature, religion, philosophy, etc., the pattern of learned and shared behavior among the members of a group. In short culture is a way of life shared by the members of a society. This includes their ideas, beliefs, language, values, knowledge, customs and the things they make. (Ashraf Khan, 2009).
1.3Objectives of the Study:
Here two types of objectives have been identified for the study:
Broad Objectives-
The broad objective of my study is to identify the impacts of ‘Western Culture’ on students of University of Kashere, Gombe state, Nigeria.
Specific Objectives-
- To knowhow western culture plays role to change the pattern of behavior of young people.
- To explore the types of the major changes that have been taken place among the students caused by the effects of western culture.
- To identify the attitude of students toward the traditional culture and western culture
1.4 Research Questions
- What is the impact of western culture on students of the University of Kashere, Gombe state?
- How does western culture play a role to change the pattern of behavior of young people?
- What are the types of the major changes that have been taken place among the students caused by the effects of western culture?
- What is the attitude of students toward the traditional culture and western culture?
1.5 Significance Of Study
The study will help create data base for intervention programs that would help promote and showcase aspects of Kashere culture that are good by making them attractive to the youths.
It will help the youths to understand the adverse effects of imitating the dress pattern on the western culture and its effects on Nigeria cultural values, so as that they can now make a responsible choice.
This study will help the National Broadcasting Commission to know the adverse effects of western contents on domestic television so as to make them effect better regulations on the matter.
1.6 Limitations of the study
There can be pointed out some limitations which have been faced to complete the study:
This study can’t cover up all-embracing dimensions of young people’s culture.
There is limitation of logistic support to, correctly, gather and interpret data.
There is possibility that the informants might not provide the actual data due to unconsciousness and conventional thinking.
There was problem of communication as the study area is limited.
Financial support is essential to conduct a comprehensive study, and as a student I don’t have that ability to conduct the study in large scale.
There is problem of experience as I am not much experienced in research.
1.7 Definition Of Terms
Culture: Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts.
Media: Communication channels through which news, entertainment, education, data, or promotional messages are disseminated.
Influence: The capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc.
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