In a bid to promote and preserve African culture, students from the Islamic University In Uganda, (IUIU) have asked for the use of technology as a backup for culture so that cultural values that have been lagging, get back on board.
Through poetry, music, drama, and cultural exhibitions that the students presented at the inaugural OIC_OCI cultural event in Africa. It was held at Islamic University Female Campus Kabojja over the weekend and students expressed the need for an environment where culture can coexist with technology citing, technology is outshining culture yet the latter greatly complements the former.
Through a poem dubbed ‘My Culture My Pride’, they expressed the need for Africa to look back on her values before technology came in, giving examples of child nurturing, marriage, and family setup.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the University rector, Prof. Dr. Ismail Simbwa Gyagenda urged students to always practice, respect, promote and preserve the African culture as it speaks so much of their origin.
“I will speak about this cloth am putting on (Kanzu) it is well and highly respected cloth in our culture here in Buganda and that’s why you see people putting it on when going to ask for a woman’s hand in marriage,” he said
He believes that substituting the African Culture with the western is the same as demolishing it yet argues that educating young Africans is very vital in preparing Africa’s leaders to be global citizens who will preserve their cultural heritage.
The university is a collection of students from distinctive cultures across the African continent therefore; the gala was a platform to showcase and exchange local cuisines from Buganda, Ankole, Malawi, Somali, and the Nubian culture.
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