5 tips for incorporating African heritage into your daily life

My friend Sam has what he calls his ‘African corner’ in his home in Detroit, Michigan. Originally from Uganda, he left high school and went to study in the United States. From high school, he joined college and, after graduation, stayed on, and eventually became a US citizen. He is as American as they come, as he has spent more time in the US than in Uganda. But in his ‘African corner’, he remembers his motherland, Uganda.

“This is important for me and my family,” Sam says. “Our children, especially, have to know where they are from, and the rich heritage that they bear.”

But, what is this African heritage? The website Gray Group International defines cultural heritage as ‘… the tangible and intangible aspects of our shared history. It encompasses the physical structures, artefacts, and artworks that have been passed down through generations, as well as the customs, traditions, and knowledge that define our communities.’

So, how do we preserve our African heritage? A few tips:

1. Community engagement

In any place with a substantial population of immigrants from a particular country, communities bringing these people together are bound to form. Members of these communities can then organize events, workshops and campaigns to raise awareness of their cultural heritage.

The Uganda Boston Community Association is a very good example of communities getting together to preserve their heritage. Formed in 2013, it has an annual calendar of events and activities to bring the community together and preserve the unique Ugandan heritage. One of the high points is the annual ‘kisakatte’, a summer camp-like event based on an ancient Ugandan tradition where adolescent children are taught the norms and values of traditional Ugandan society.

2. Maintaining oral traditions and languages

Nothing defines a culture more than the language of its people, but as immigrants try and assimilate into the new society they are living in, sadly their language is the first thing that is in danger of being lost. Language not only carries words of the cultural heritage, but also its values, traditions, and wisdom. Preserving one’s language is essential for maintaining the cultural heritage.

When a language becomes endangered, it is not just the words that are at risk of being lost. The unique expressions, idioms, and metaphors that are embedded within the language also disappear.

It is important to teach African languages to new generations to create a sense of pride and identity among them. By instilling a sense of cultural belonging, the young ones are motivated to continue using and preserving their ancestral language.

Programs where African languages are the primary means of communication should be organized, and participants encouraged to use the language in daily interactions like during meals, games and storytelling sessions.

3. Championing traditional arts and crafts

African craftsmanship and artisanship represent the mastery of traditional techniques and skills, passed down through generations. Communities should identify members skilled in this, and create apprenticeship programs thus ensuring the continuity of these valuable cultural practices. Artisans are custodians of traditional knowledge, and through them cultural heritage can be preserved.

4. Using Food as Cultural Expression

Food is another unique expression of a particular culture, and preserving a community's culinary heritage is important. Documenting traditional recipes is one way of doing this, making it possible for future generations to savor and appreciate the diverse culinary heritage of Africa.

Food generally reflects a community's history, values, and social practices. Communities should thus celebrate food through festivals, tours and other food-related events. Members should also be encouraged to cook traditional meals in their homes.

5. Fashion

Nothing shouts that you are African more than what you are wearing, it is the first thing others see. So while some African fashions will probably not be very practical in the country you are in, one should try as often as possible to do some sort of African wear. And for African women, the different ways they can wear their hair are almost boundless.

Meanwhile ,back in Detroit, Sam shows off his ‘African corner’ to anyone who visits him, and it has become very popular indeed. Surprisingly, many non-African visitors are also very taken up by the contents, which contain books by African and Ugandan authors; and anything from baskets weaved in Uganda to paintings and carvings by Ugandan and other African artists.