African Obsession for Celebration
When I was 8 years old, my mother organized a birthday party for me and invited my friends, as well as my father’s family. It was a nice day for everyone but myself because I had mumps. Apart from the fact that I had mumps, I have never been a fan of ceremony as I have always been seen frowning in pictures of celebrations like Christmas, New Year’s Day and Easter. Even on the day of my First Holy Communion, I wasn’t smiling. The CD of my birthday party is still at my grandmother’s house and every now and then, I see it, though I never play it to watch it. Coming from Africa, I wonder why I am not such a fan of ceremony and celebration. But why is the African so enthusiastic about celebrations?
I am from a small village in the North West of Cameroon. I belong to the Aghem tribe and my tribe speaks Aghem. In my little village, there is always a celebration — funerals, marriages, child naming, memorials, anniversaries, etc. The average villager in my village has money to at least organize some sort of celebration and if he hasn’t, his friends and family members will gladly step in, as long as it is for celebration. But why? Why do people always find the need to celebrate anything and everything?
Over 50 years after independence, Africa’s problems are still blamed on the West(they are not totally innocent) and on anything but Africans. While Chinese and Japanese children learn skills right from elementary school, the African child reads old books and memorizes theories. While the white man invests in technology and research, Africans concentrate on building churches. Africans are too busy planning an occasion, even if it is a funeral. Even if it is a sad occasion, Africans need some reason to cook, gather and then celebrate. The African man has the marginal propensity to spend — and what better way is there to spend than by organizing something grandiose? A fiesta for example.
Why does the African man feel the need to celebrate every little thing? It should be rooted in our cultures. It should be. Because I will never understand it. But it is a habit I find very unnecessary. It’s a waste of money and emotions. Till date, I can’t find the importance of organizing that party when I was 8. I don’t see the need to have over 500 people for a wedding or funeral or any other celebration. I don’t even see the need for a celebration. Maybe Africa is still backward because of these misplaced priorities. Maybe celebrations should be banned. And like they say, too much of a thing is a disease.
There is always something to be grateful for — but does that call for a celebration?
