Culture is the heartbeat of a people, shaping their identity, values, and worldview. But in today’s rapidly modernizing world, many traditional practices and values are fading into obscurity. In this interview with Rita Oyiboka, Professor Adaobi Ugbomeh, a lecturer, cultural advocate, and Secretary General of the Apex Association of Anioma Indigenes, shares her insights on the erosion of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
From the influence of politics to the challenges posed by globalisation and Westernisation, she discusses the urgent need for cultural preservation and the innovative steps being taken to reconnect the youth with their roots.
Professor Ugbomeh also delves into the delicate balance between tradition and harmful practices, as well as the role of language, leadership, and government in reviving and sustaining cultural identity.
Can we know you?
My name is Professor Adaobi Ugbomeh. I am from Ase, Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, and I am a lecturer at Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.
Has culture always been a part of you growing up?
Even as a child, I loved our culture. My father made it a habit of taking us home every Easter. Every Easter and Christmas, we spent them at home. Once school closed, my father would take us home. So, we partook in all the festivals and cultural activities. He even attended family meetings, and he ensured the older ones attended with him.
I became deeply interested in our dances, including the Egwu-Amala, Egwu-Adukor, and Egwu-Igba. Over time, I began to notice these traditions dying. For example, when we would go home and someone would ask for the Egwu-Amala dancers, they’d say there weren’t any. If we wanted Egwu-Igba, they’d say we had to go to Ashaka to find dancers because those in the villages no longer practised these arts.
So, I started discussing how our cultural traditions were dying out with my friends. We began asking, “What can we do about this?” Around this time, we started noticing societal issues: the rise of “Yahoo boys”, troubling behaviour among young girls, and even shocking things like 10 or 11-year-olds smoking marijuana at burials in the village.
That’s when I realised we were in serious trouble. We needed to go back to the basics. This sparked my involvement in cultural preservation came from.
What personal steps have you taken to preserve cultural values within your family?
I’ve instilled moral and cultural values in my children, but I failed to teach them our native language. My husband and I insisted on English as the language spoken at home because, at the time, many students struggled with English and failed their exams.
Now, I regret not teaching them our dialect. My eldest daughter is now learning our language from her husband, and my son picked up some of it during his school years in Aba. My youngest child, however, doesn’t understand our language at all. If I could turn back time, I would teach them to speak and write in our dialect.
That said, I’ve tried to make African traditions and customs part of their lives. For example, I ensure they wear traditional attire and enjoy African cuisine.
What do you think contributes to the erosion of our culture?
Many things. There’s this prevalent “get-rich-quick” mentality. Because of it, many youths are willing to do anything to be recognised as wealthy. Poverty and hardship in the land are also significant factors.
Some young people don’t engage in negative behaviour because they are ignorant of the right path, but rather as a means to an end. Lack of mentorship and examples from our leaders also play a role. If leaders valued our culture, traditions, and ethics, the youth would follow suit.
When young people see leaders with honesty and integrity, they emulate them. But now, those qualities are rare. Instead, our youth copy the bad examples they see, both from real life and social media. Social media, in particular, is a big issue. Many youths cannot discern that much of what they see online isn’t real, and they imitate it. When we try to reintroduce cultural values, they call us old-fashioned.
Tell us about how you have helped promote culture?
I joined the Apex Association of Anioma Indigenes in 2020. Initially, it felt like a community-based association, but I saw its potential to reach youths and inspire them. At the time, there was a growing narrative that education was a scam.
We started by writing articles and engaging the press. This year, we decided to organise events like cultural matches, where youths can showcase their talents and connect with their heritage. This is our first major event, and we’re grateful for the government’s support in making it an annual tradition. We’re planning to involve more youths by incorporating elements they resonate with, like music and entertainment. By making culture relatable and engaging, we hope to inspire a stronger connection to our heritage.
This question has always been posed whether Western civilisation has been a blessing or a curse especially as it has to do with our traditional values. What do you think?
Western civilisation has brought us many things, technology, formal education, and exposure. However, it has also had a significant impact on our cultural identity. Take India, for instance. India was colonised too, but they have managed to preserve their culture. Indian women, for example, hold firmly to their traditional attire and cuisine, no matter where they live. But in Nigeria, it’s different. Nigerians often adopt the culture of wherever they go, sometimes abandoning their own traditions.
The problem lies in our perception of our own culture. We see it as outdated or inferior. We need to start believing in the value of what we have. Our traditions are worth preserving and passing down to future generations. There’s nothing wrong with our ethics or traditional practices. Let me give you an example from my village. In the past, you could leave your house unlocked, and no one would steal from it because they knew the consequences. If someone stole, the community had traditional ways of addressing it, ways that were effective and respected. Stealing only became an issue when a police station was introduced in our area. Despite this, some people still revert to traditional methods of justice because they trust the system.
What do you think has led to the erosion of traditional systems and how can traditional leaders resist this trend without compromising their authority or relevance in modern society?
Many of our traditional systems have eroded but this isn’t due to colonization, it’s politics. Politicians have centralised power, stripping the monarchy and traditional leaders of their roles. Politicians often have their agenda, remaining in office and exploiting resources. Unfortunately, these values are what many of our youths emulate.
That’s why creating awareness is crucial. We’ve started engaging with traditional rulers to bring them on board. For instance, we’ve visited various royal leaders, including the Oba of Benin, to discuss cultural preservation. By creating awareness through social media and community discussions, we hope to inspire a gradual shift.
How can we effectively promote and preserve our local dialects in a society where speaking “Queen’s English” is often seen as a status symbol and a mark of intelligence, especially among children?
Every child needs to speak both English and their native language. English is Nigeria’s main language and a gateway to global opportunities, but children should also learn the dialect of their community. I believe traditional languages should be compulsory at the primary school level. Schools should employ teachers fluent in the local dialects to teach children how to speak, read, and write in these languages.
With projections suggesting Mandarin’s rise as a dominant global language due to China’s economic influence, what steps, if any, can Nigerian languages take to achieve similar global significance and relevance?
It’s about projections and perception. We need to promote our languages and cultures through literature, music, fashion, and film. Look at the impact of Nigerian music and Nollywood—they’re globally recognised because we’ve projected them well.
If we start writing books in our languages and translating them into English, people will take notice. For example, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s works are gaining international recognition, and some are being translated into Igbo. We must showcase the beauty and richness of our culture to the world.
You’ve spoken about promoting culture. Are there certain cultural practices you believe should be abandoned?
Absolutely. There are harmful practices that should no longer exist, such as female circumcision. It’s a cruel and unnecessary procedure, often done without anaesthesia, causing immense pain and trauma.
Another is the way widows are treated in some communities—being forced to drink water used to wash a corpse to prove they didn’t kill their husband. Such practices are inhumane. Death is a natural occurrence, and no one should be subjected to such humiliation.
There are also traditions where children are mistreated, denied education, or even turned into servants. I strongly believe every child should have access to education and be treated with dignity. Widows, too, deserve respect and support, especially during such a difficult time.
How do you reconcile promoting tradition with your Christian beliefs, especially when tradition veers into the realm of fetish practices?
That’s a line I will not cross. While I am passionate about preserving culture, I draw the line at anything that conflicts with my faith. For example, if a cultural event involves standing before an idol or making incantations, I won’t participate.
I believe in one God, His son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. My faith comes first. Promoting culture s hould not involve compromising one’s religious beliefs.
What do you think the government, particularly the Delta State government, can do to promote culture in this region?
The Commissioner for Culture is already working on it—trying to promote culture by creating awareness through various initiatives. This includes jingles, drama skits, and cultural festivals in local communities and at the state level.
To make it even more impactful, I believe there’s a need to actively encourage and involve the youth in these activities. They should feel a sense of ownership and pride in their heritage. Organising competitions, workshops, or exhibitions that highlight traditional crafts, music, and dance could be effective.
