Inculturation of Salesian Charism in Africa – 2
SALESIAN VALUES IN THE AFRICAN CULTURE
Missionary work is primarily a work of conversion, conversion understood in a holistic sense. However, the missionary is really responsible for only one conversion, his own. It is up to the Holy Spirit to do the rest. (Cf. Spearhead, No.120, p.64) The missionary’s conversion consists in making a genuine effort to better understand and appreciate the culture of the people. If the missionary works on his own conversion, the latter would not only become easy, but would follow spontaneously.
It was in this process of my own conversion that my previous article, “Salesian Presence Vs. Privacy in Africa”, was written for Harambee. The article received several reactions, from within the province and from abroad. There was in general an appreciation of the attempt. One such reaction from Moshi is published in this issue. However, there were a few criticisms too, which unfortunately only reached me through secondary sources. Thanks to the critics, I did realize with hindsight that I had wrongly started off on a negative note. For a meaningful dialogue between cultures, in our case between “the Salesian Sub-culture” and the African culture, it is better to start off on common grounds. Hence here is a short reflection on certain aspects of our Salesian way of life that are very prominent in the African culture. In this attempt, we must also be aware that by trying to pinpoint the Salesian values in the African culture, we are in no way undermining or denying the presence of similar values in other cultures. We are only trying to pave the way for a process of acculturation. This process, I believe, could help us to build the edifice of the Salesian system more meaningfully inAfrica. Moreover, the Salesian Values could also become enhanced by the African influence.
COMMUNITY LIFE
The sense of community is undisputedly very strong among the African people. To them, the community could be their tribe, or clan or their extended family. The individual finds his identity in the community, which is very well reflected in Mbiti’s dictum: “I am because we are, and since we are therefore I am.” However, though the control of the community over the individual is great, the individual does not altogether lose his significance. The community celebrates the individual’s coming into the world -his birth. It gathers around him in other significant moments of his life – initiation, marriage, ill-health and death.
Similarly, in our Salesian society community life occupies prime of importance. “To live and work together is for us Salesians a fundamental requirement and a sure way of fulfilling our Vocation.” (Const. Art.49) Hence, community life would surely be an asset in the process of incarnating the Salesian lifestyle inAfrica.
FAMILY SPIRIT
“Ujamaa” (familyhood) and “Jumuiya” (community) are household terms in East Africa, and particularly in Tanzania. The African spirit of familyhood is expressed in collective labour, in a genuine sharing of goods, and a proportional distribution of responsibility. If you had the opportunity of watching the daily routine in a traditional African family, which I had more than once, you will immediately notice that the distribution of responsibility within the family is very well organized. At dawn the women rise and begin the chores of cleaning the homestead, milking the cows, and beginning to prepare the food. The girls fetch water and collect firewood. The father goes to the shamba to work, the elder boys may accompany him and the younger ones take the cattle for grazing. Everyone knows what to do and when to do. Of course, here the relationships are not merely based on functions and but on genuine love and familyhood, which is well expressed when the family gathers together at the night fall. Similar sharing of responsibility and collective labour is found in a larger level between families in a village. People would gather together to work in a particular individual’s shamba, or help him in building his house, in pooling money together to educate someone, etc. This is the African spirit of Harambee (“pulling together”).
These would immediately remind us our own Salesian way of functioning, at the different levels of our organization – Congregation, Province and Community. Perhaps our Salesian system needs to imbibe much more the values of Ujamaa and Harambee. The Salesian family Spirit is expressed in mutual trust and daily forgiveness, sharing of everything, in hospitality, which are all equally significant inAfrica.
HOSPITALITY
Hospitality is yet another African value that has a place in the Salesian system. When you approach a homestead the first thing you hear is “Karibu” (welcome), even if you were a total stranger. When a friend or a relative comes members of the family drop everything to welcome the guest. The welcome is always spontaneous and generous. A meal is prepared, and everyone sits around for hours exchanging news and experience. Time is never a barrier. (In his The Fifth Gospel, Fr.Healey writes eloquently about African hospitality.) And a when a family has sat for meals one more person is always welcome. Even when the family has finished its meal, the woman of the family should see that some food is left over in the pots for a late-arriving guest. “Kusindikiza” (to accompany or to escort) is another aspect of African hospitality. After having given accommodation, or a feast and having conversed with the guest for hours, the host should accompany the guest to a certain distance. Though we Salesians are well known for our hospitality, we can learn a lot from the African culture. Perhaps some times influenced by Western concepts, we could be over-conscious about time, order and “duty”. The African culture reminds us to put people before order and time. We should also have the simplicity to enjoy the hospitality of the people.
JOY AND OPTIMISM
“The salesian does not give way to discouragement in face of difficulties, because he has complete trust in the father.” (Const. Art.17). The African people are a very optimistic people. For instance, the Kiswahili greeting, “Habari?” (News or How are you?) should always be replied with “Nzuri” (good), even if the person is sick and dying. Surely this sounds ridiculous to a person foreign to African culture. But this is the optimism of the people, which arises as a result of their simple trust in God.
Their joy is best expressed in Music, Dance, Sports, Drama and Celebration of Feasts. Hence these are very natural to African youth. Therefore our Salesian System should better facilitate the young people to participate in these activities. Secondly, these traditional means of mass media should not be suppressed by modern means like T.V., Video etc., though the latter can be well utilized too. In addition, the simple, inexpensive traditional media of communication are very effective means of imparting gospel values among the young.
“GOOD-NIGHT”
In the traditional African families, at the night fall as the mother or the elder girls busy themselves preparing the night meal for the family, the rest of the children gather around the elders of the family to listen to stories, family history, riddles and good advises. Usually the boys gather around a fire, together with their father or grand father, and the girls gather around the mother or the grand mother in the kitchen. This is in practice even today particularly in the rural areas. However, in the urban areas T.V. and Video have invaded into the household, and destroyed these meaningful customs.
Our Salesian “Good night”, no doubt, is very similar to this custom. This being the case, the one giving the good night in our institution should be aware that he is taking place of the father or the elder of the family. Using very simple stories, facts and anecdotes the salesian should drive home to the young some values.
CONCLUSION
We can thus go on discovering the common ground between the Salesian sub-culture and the African culture. I do not claim the above list to be complete and exhaustive. You could discover much more on your own. My reflection has achieved its purpose if it has made you look out for Salesian values in the African culture. In this way, we hope, our mission among the young Africans could be made more meaningful.
It was Pope John Paul I who said, “To teach Latin to the youth, it is not enough to know Latin. It is important to know the youth.” As missionaries inAfricalet none of us doubt the importance of knowing and appreciating the African culture, to be more effective in our ministry.