The fact that
morality is a product of social construction is well established that I don’t
intend to lecture Kenyans on. A quick example can be found in Prof. Greenfeld’s
excellent essay titled “Modernity and the
Mind” that seeks to explain the Russian revolution inspired by the ‘envy’
of modern nations in the West, particularly, France.
The ‘envy’ was
captured by Russian dramatists Dennis Fonvizin, who after visiting France,
could not help but conclude that he saw more bad things happening than good
ones and many bad people than good. The same rationale seems to apply everywhere
in the world. Having seen France, Fonvizin saw no reason to adopt the Western
model but surely envied it. In the
essay, Greenfeld concludes that what is actually a virtue in France is, most
likely, a vice in England. Is modernity the anti-thesis of morality?
Morality and the new normal
Can one therefore
argue that immorality is a result of the envy of foreign cultures that paves
way for cultural assimilation and subsequent cultural imperialism? Or is
immorality simply self-inherent in those that play God, are in the business of
‘othering’ and are convinced that their ideas of humanity and creativity are incontestably rich
for uncritical adoption by emerging others?
Who is
responsible for the cultural collapse in Kenya? The obvious culprit is the
media but it is not that simple. Immorality has been a thorn in our flesh even
before the advent of mass media. But can we trust our ‘foreign’ media to be ‘custodians’
of morality now that immorality is becoming the new normal? If you don’t agree
with the latter, then you have not listened to Jaguar’s lamentations in the
local hit song Kigeugeu that
describes all sorts of immoralities perpetrated by politicians, doctors, wives,
constructors and drivers.
Law and order
I am convinced
that if an Englishman or woman would visit France, then he or she would be
‘happy’ with the ‘virtues’ in France even though some of them might be ‘vices’
back in England due to law and order. Would the same persons find the same
measure of happiness with the ‘virtues’ in Kenya that would compel them to
visit again? If not, can the law really be our antidote to immorality given
Kenya’s dependence on tourism?
The answer is
complicated and requires a whole thesis. However, history has proven that law and
order can be used to tame the reptilian brain of deviant characters in the
society. When this is well done, it helps shape moral behavior. That is why
liberal Western societies believe in freedom but within the confines of law and
order. Without the latter, which entails rewards and punishment in social
learning theories, then the society can be a jungle.
Africanizing modernity
Instead of
importing foreign programmes, the media should support the production of local content
that reflects the realities in Kenya. The current local edutainment programmes such
as Tahidi High, Machachari, Inspekta Mwala,
Heartlines, The legendary Vioja Mhakaman
and Vitimbi, Papa Shirandula, Waridi and
others should be supported since they can influence and shape behavior in the country
positively.
The most successful
evidence of the role of local edutainment initiatives in shaping societal
morals is found in South Africa where locally produced content has helped
address challenges like HIV/AIDS, crime and poverty. However, this calls for thorough investments
beyond the media to include liberal arts educational training that would
Africanize modernity.
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