Traditions and culture

I have lived my life always wondering what was before me. and like that, I really enjoyed stories as a child and to date any chance to read listen or watch a story I will always jump at it.

I have also thought so much about our past cultural and religious practices. Mostly out of curiosity and due to the fact that my mom’s parents were both reverends in their day and my mom also walked in their footsteps.

My sibling and I never got to hang out with most of my aunts who my mom termed as traditionalists(from my Dad’s side) because of obvious reasons hence we grew up not really knowing our traditions. For me, I feel like I missed out on a lot. I feel like we tap into so much wisdom from before when we get into our roots. So have been going to a cultural center called “Gwata Ndaí” somewhere in Kiambu just to learn from the elders.

I always feel bad that boys always receive classes from their ‘wazees’ especially before they wed but it is not the same for girls.

However, having conversations with different people in my age group, most seem to think that African culture and traditions are extremely backward and no one should be revisiting them. We should be grateful for the Western world for coming in and making us “Civilised” What is your take?

Is there a need to learn our customs? Should we let them be in the past and just take it from there?