The document discusses how Africans have adopted Western culture at the expense of their own culture, as represented in the poem "The Renegade" by David Diop. It argues that colonialism negatively impacted African culture, causing Africans to take on Western customs instead of their own traditions. This is seen in changes to marriage practices, food, clothing, language use, and more across the continent. The adoption of Western culture reflects the long-term consequences of colonialism on African societies.

1. “HOW AFRICANS HAVE ESPOUSED THE WESTERN CULTURE AT THE EXPENSE OF
THEIR OWN CULTURE IN THE POEM ‘THE RENEGADE’ ”
GRADUATE STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST, GHANA
CHARLES KATEY ADABAH (+233247781516); charleskatey@ymail.com
(2015)
Colonialism has impacted negatively on Africans with regard to their culture. As a result of the negative
impact, most Africans have espoused the western customs at the expense of their own culture. This view
is represented in the poem “The Renegade” by David Diop. The title of my work is couched from the
poem, “The Renegade”, and the discussion of the topic is based on it. That is to say the poem serves as
the reference point upon which the discussion of this paper is based.
This paper examines the Africans, with particular reference to Ghanaians, who have deserted and betrayed
their culture. Renegade, in general terms, refers to a person who deserts and betrays an organisation, a
country, or set of principles. Renegade, in the context of the poem, refers to Africans who have deserted
and betrayed their customs. The poem talks about Africans who have espoused western culture at the
expense of their own culture and values. Africans have assimilated every bit of the western culture, and
(they) pretend to be westerners. Indeed, this is betrayal! The poem indicates that Africans are not content
with their own culture and identify. This can be seen in the following lines:
“My brotheryouflashyourteethinresponse toeveryhyprocrisy
My brotherwithgold-rimmedglasses
You give yourmastera blue-eyedfaithful look
My poorbrotherinimmaculate eveningdress
Screamingandwhisperingandpleadinginthe parloursof condescension”
The poem is a true reflection of Africa with regard to their culture. This can be seen in their education,
food, marriage as well as in their dressing. All across Africa, traditional cultural marriages are dying out
with the influx and normalization of the so-called “White Western wedding.”

2. Africans see the western form of marriage as sacrosanct. After the traditional marriage, they go on to have
wedding at church. In fact, church wedding and customary marriage perform the same role. Therefore,
going for customary marriage and church wedding seem to be a duplication of function, and this is what is
referred to as parallel culture.
Africans have also abandoned their indigenous foods for western ones. In Ghana, for example, foods such
as akple, banku, fufu, cocoyam and other staple foods are abandoned by the youth especially. Although
our staple foods are starchy, I consider them the best of foods as compared to the junk foods by the
westerners.
Also, our way of dressing as Africans, and for that matter Ghanaians in particular, has changed to suit the
lifestyle of the westerners. The youth, nowadays, are seen wearing tattered clothes in the name of fashion;
our young women are now wearing Brazilian and Peruvian hairs in the name of beauty. Indeed, we have
deserted and betrayed our culture as Africans.
On the issue of language, anybody who is unable to speak the English impeccably is seen as illiterate and
uneducated. In fact, we perceive the English language as superior to all other African languages, and if
one is unable to speak English, one is seen as “uncivilized”.
From the issues raised, it a truism that Africans in general, and Ghanaian in particular, have abandoned
and betrayed their culture.The adoption of the western culture by Africans reflects the long-standing
impact of colonialism on the African continent.
REFERENCES
Magesa, L. (1997). African Religion: The Moral Traditions of Abundant Life. Nairobi: Paulines
Publications Africa.
Awolowo, O. (1939). Making Use of Juju. The West African Review
http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/the_renegade_%28poem%29