No one is beyond reproach and it is in everyones right to be suspicious of your own motives. file photo | nmg
By
culture I mean the behavioural codes that society relies on to support
the well being of its people as they go about raising their families,
building their careers, running businesses and settling disputes.
The
codes can either be supported by legislation or not, but if you really
want to get your finger on the pulse it is useful to read the popular
literature of that society.
For example, if you want to
understand the British, read Shakespeare, and likewise read Tolstoy if
you want to figure out the Russians. Closer to home if you want to know
how Kenyan’s think then read Ngugi wa Thiongo.
However, the stories that I find particularly insightful about
East Africans are the Tales of Abunuwasi that everyone who’s been
through the local curriculum is forced to read.
The
collection is based on a combination of the Swahili and Arabic
storytelling and features a clever fellow who makes his way through life
using his wits and trickery, and the rudimentary lessons are about the
avoidance of greed and pride.
Drill down a little
deeper and you’ll find a set of values that are in conflict with the
Western principles that we have adopted through religion and laws.
While
the stories celebrate the heroes sleight of hand and his ability to
extract valuables from his victims, foreigners would consider him a
cheat, a fraud and generally a socially undesirable character.
He
goes about winning favour among his friends because he can outwit the
rich and the greedy, and onlookers applaud his cunning ability to elude
the consequences of his actions.
Map the underlying
values to modern politics and you begin to understand why communities
cast their votes for shady politicians who spend their entire waking day
emptying public coffers.
Politicians who retire
without fat bank accounts are considered fools because they wasted the
opportunity to amass wealth while in office.
In the
private sector, businesses and consultants thrive in an environment
where firms pay big bucks to double-check that they have received the
full value of their purchases or to ensure that their people are doing
what they are paid to do.
Media monitoring is one such
service and close to a billion shillings is spent to ensure that TV and
radio stations flight ads as booked and paid for.
Years
ago, when we went around the country evaluating the size of the outdoor
advertising industry we found several billboards that were erected
behind great big Mugumo trees and sold to unsuspecting clients who
wouldn’t know that only the birds could appreciate the ads.
So
the ‘Abunuwasi Phenomenon’ governs expectations across the board. In
research, when clients don’t like the findings they accuse the agency of
trying to trick them as they invoke the cultural factor that indicates
that integrity can and will be sold to the highest bidder.
In
political elections if a section of the voters don’t like the results,
they apply the ‘Abunuwasi Phenomenon’ and accuse the organisation that
runs the process of working for the enemies of development.
From this perspective, no one is beyond reproach and it is in everyones right to be suspicious of your own motives.
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