TWO WORLDS - INTEGRATION, SYNTHESIS OR CONFLICT? PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON CULTURAL IDENTITY

Educational curricula in African countries are predominantly influenced by Western cultural assumptions and methods, and take insufficient account of each African country’s unique social and cultural contexts. Professional and more affluent people in African countries are also often educated in Europe and America, further superimposing the assumptions, norms and beliefs of Western cultures upon the African cultural beliefs of their childhood. This mixed cultural background can create internal psychological conflict in terms of identity, and many Africans find themselves “between cultures”. It is argued that this personal experience of the” two worlds”, and the challenge of establishing an individual identity which encompasses very different cultural belief systems, exactly mirrors the socio-cultural processes taking place in emerging African nations. This paper explores some psychological perspectives on identity and loss as means of understanding the impact of cultural change on cultural identity, from both individual and societal perspectives. It is suggested that these psychological perspectives on cultural identity be considered essential components of the leadership initiatives now being developed in many African countries. Some suggested practical contributions to such initiatives are proposed and discussed .