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African Renaissance

As in many politically independent African countries, a "renaissance" of African culture is under way in Uganda. "Renaissance" is the appropriate word because European missionaries and administrators during the years of colonial rule, often denigrated, and successfully suppressed indigenous music and dance of the "dark continent," for such reasons as "the white man's burden" (1) of spreading the Western civilisation, the perceived licentiousness (2) of the African cultural elements viewed from the ethnocentric perspective of Victorian morality (3) and the common link between African religions and performing arts. In recent years, however, African leaders have increasingly questioned the denigration and repression. Many are now seeking traditional values relevant to the contemporary era and trying to forge a "traditionalised" national identity.
In this vein, Leopold Senghor has written: "By the grace of God, the flame is not quenched (4), the leaven (5) is still there in our wounded hearts and bodies to make possible our renaissance today." But this renaissance will be the doing not so much of the politicians, as of the Negro writers and artists. Experience has proved it, cultural liberation is an essential condition of political liberation.
The well-educated are now taking pride sometimes even to the extent of participation, in performing arts which, for many years, were largely the province of illiterate villagers. At the same time, villagers are drawn into an aspect of national life.

J. L. L. W.WJ. Hanna (Uganda)

Vocabulary

1. the white man's burden: his task, his mission
2. licentiousness: viciousness, sinfulness, immorality
3. Victorian morality: Puritanism
4. to quench (a fire) : to put out (a fire)
5. leaven: levain