In our modern world today, individualism is paramount to collectivism. And that is one of the core reasons we see the social ills we find ourselves in, globally.
The West has had so much influence in Africa that our native African customs and traditions are disseminated with each passing day. In African tradition, the one is not more important than the whole. But today, an individual seeks to do only what will benefit him and himself only.
Individualism is a Western tradition that has found itself within the borders of Africa, particularly in South Africa, it has sadly embedded itself in our families and societies.
Today, it is an every man for himself in our communities.
An individual sees himself as paramount to the whole.
Hence we see people who are the richest in a destitute community. He aims to strive to be the only one. He sees a starving infant, a sickly elder, and a frayed family and feels nothing as he only looks out for himself.
Moreover, everyone has had the mentality of "I do what I want with my life". He does things to his gratification and satisfaction without the regard of those around him, including family and the community at large. It is all about the self.
But this is UnAfrican to the core.
Not to say you must live with the expectation that things will turn bad and therefore please people for when that season comes. You just ought to acknowledge the native African customs, including the fact that it is an African DNA to be communal. Ignoring this fact can and will be to your demise.
For instance, a young woman can be influenced by the Western culture, not listen to the elders and not follow her society's traditional ways and say, "This is my body I will do what I want with it".
Later as she undertakes this individalistic approach she gets sickly due to her chosen lifestyle which is against her community's ways. Guess what she'll do when that happens?
She'll return home, back to the family and community that which she dismissed.
She will return to the community (which can be her direct family) with the expectation of them helping her out. Her influenced individualism would be of no help then.
Another one claims, "I will eat whatever and however I want", and not take care of his health. In the later years, he acquires cancer. Guess what will happen next?
He will require medical care which he cannot afford.
As he goes to the government hospitals, he expects to be helped. The help that will have been made possible by the community, i.e. the taxpayers that ensure hospitals have the medical resources needed. His influenced individualistic approach would be of no help then.
In Europe, where white people originate, they generally have the resources and means to be individualistic (resources that have been brought about by exploiting Africa by the way). Normally in these societies, a family is just a man, a woman and their children.
But in Africa, for black people; a family means way more than that, the family can mean the society that I belong to. My whole community.
And then we want to apply this individualistic Western approach when we do not have the slightest amount of resources the white people have. And think this individualism will work out well for our whole lives.
No matter who and where you are, as an African born, as an individual you do not matter and are unimportant. Your importance is in your closeness with those around you and adhering to the fundamental basics of what builds the community, and the overall advancement of it.
You can be individualistic in your endeavours but acknowledging the communical tradition of Africans is what can set one apart from the rest. And that has positive outcomes compared to being an individualist just like the rich man in a community of the destitute.
Generally, a rich man in a community of the destitute will lose all that he has. The community or a few who belong to the community will take and destroy all he has. But if he is communal, the chances of that happening are lessened. This is purely human nature.
You can go and be individualistic but often those who do, end up becoming a burden to the community/family. They ultimately require the community somehow. This proves that collectivism will always supersede individualism.
So, as you journey along in your individual aspirations and goals, keep in mind that you are unimportant as an individual. All your personal decisions and actions shall always consider the collective, your family. That is being African.
But if you want to be an individualist through and through as influenced by the Western culture do so with no expectation of the community coming to your aid or being around you when you need it to.
By the way, as an African, you will require your community (family) as you journey along life.
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