GST 123: The Concept of Culture and Nigerian Society

Introduction to Culture and the Nigerian Context

Understanding the concept of culture is a fundamental requirement for comprehending the various intricacies inherent in any society. Nigeria, characterized by its rich and diverse cultural heritage, serves as a significant lens for exploring this concept across multiple dimensions. Culture is a comprehensive term that encompasses the shared beliefs, values, norms, customs, and practices of a group of people, which ultimately shape their individual identities and collective behaviors. In the Nigerian context, culture is deeply embedded in every aspect of daily life, acting as a reflection of the nation's historical, ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversity.

Culture carries different meanings depending on the perspective of the individual or the field of study. For some, it represents the appreciation of fine arts, music, and literature. From a biological perspective, culture refers to the growth of microorganisms or bacteria within a laboratory environment, such as in a dish or scientific tissue study for medicinal use. From an agricultural standpoint, it refers to the process of cultivating or growing crops. Anthropologists define culture as the full range of learned human behavioral patterns. In its simplest sociological form, culture is defined as the total way of life of a people or the shared way of thinking and behaving within a specific group.

The Sociological and Historical Foundations of Culture

Sociologically, culture is a central concept referring to the beliefs, behaviors, objects, and characteristics shared by members of a society. It includes language, customs, values, norms, mores, rules, tools, technologies, products, organizations, and institutions. Culture is a learned phenomenon passed from one generation to the next, serving as a framework for social interaction and a method for understanding the world. By examining culture, sociologists gain insights into societal functions and individual relationships.

Etymologically, the word culture is derived from the Latin term "cultura," which stems from the root word "colere," meaning "to cultivate." According to Allo ($2026$), it generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that provide significance and importance to those activities. As noted by Scott ($2014$), culture consists of everything in human society that is socially rather than biologically transmitted. It is a social heritage characterized by a breeding ground within society, consisting of the sum total of skills, beliefs, knowledge, and products shared by a group and transmitted to their children.

The Classical Definition and Implications of Edward Tylor

In $1871$, the English Anthropologist Edward Tylor ($1832-1917$) provided what is now considered a classical definition of culture. He described it as "that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of the society." Tylor was the first to specify that culture is learned and acquired rather than being an innate biological trait.

There are several key implications associated with Tylor's definition. First, culture includes mental capabilities or thoughts. Second, it encompasses behaviors and actions. Third, it is learned rather than inherited. Fourth, it is shared among members. Fifth, it is social and exists only within a group context. Finally, culture is viewed as an integrated whole. Nwabueze ($2010$) further elaborates that culture is everything a society thinks, believes, does, and possesses, acting as a social inheritance that provides structure to one's life.

Distinction Between Culture and Society

While the terms culture and society are often used interchangeably in casual conversation, they refer to distinct concepts. Society refers to a specific group of people who live together within a common territory and share a culture. Culture, conversely, is the "way of life" belonging to that society, consisting of its values, beliefs, norms, artefacts, language, customs, traditions, symbols, and practices. Culture acts as a guideline for human interactions, comprising both tangible things and intangible thoughts.

Classification of Culture: The Iceberg Analogy

Edward T. Hall developed the iceberg analogy to classify culture. He argued that culture has visible aspects (above the water) and significant invisible aspects (submerged beneath the surface). This leads to two broad classifications:

Material Culture represents the visible, tangible, and surface-level aspects of culture. These are overt or explicit acquisitions, such as the products of industry, technology, and arts. Examples include artifacts like bridges, pots, cutlasses, hoes, houses, cooking utensils, and handicrafts. These are objects people have learned to create and use to satisfy their societal needs.

Non-material Culture represents the invisible, intangible, and deep aspects of culture. These are covert or implicit shared elements, including knowledge, philosophy, morals, motivation, language, attitudes, and values. While they are not tangible, they are manifested through the behavior of the people.

Characteristics of Culture

Culture is characterized by several identifying features. It is symbolic, meaning it is based on shared symbols where everyone in a society attaches the same meaning to specific gestures or items, such as hitting a specific foot while walking, the use of a staff of office, or specific body language. Culture is explicit, involving discussed aspects like food, dress, and music, but it is also implicit, involving unwritten norms and undiscussed rules. For example, publicly embarrassing a king might prevent an individual from obtaining a position of authority or result in punishment.

Furthermore, culture is overt (manifested in dance, buildings, and food) and covert (norms, values, and ethics). It is dynamic, changing through contact with other cultures, yet it remains stable as it responds to society's needs and environmental demands. Examples of such stability and change can be seen in the evolution of Yoruba women's dress codes from $50$ years ago compared to today. Culture is also socially transmitted and relative, meaning it should be evaluated in its own right (cultural relativity) rather than through the lens of another culture.

Types and Forms of Culture

There are numerous types and forms of culture observed in societies:

Ideal Culture refers to the values and practices a culture aims to achieve, depicting a harmonious society with equal opportunities. Real Culture, by contrast, refers to actual values and practices, including elements of oppression and inequality.

Popular Culture (or Mass Culture) involves values and artistic products with mass appeal, heavily reliant on modern mass media, including films, sports, and music. Folk Culture consists of local traditions in small communities, often transmitted orally through songs and mythology.

High Culture refers to products associated with the upper class and high value, such as ballet, classical music, and fine arts. Low Culture refers to products with mass appeal and widespread accessibility, such as commercial television and blockbuster films.

Global Culture emerges from globalization and interconnectedness, shaped by internet technology, international travel, and media. Corporate Culture relates to the values and practices of a specific organization; for example, the core values and handbooks of Covenant University. Terrence Deal ($1982$) described this as "the way things are done around here."

Sub-culture exists within a larger culture, possessing different values while borrowing from the parent culture (e.g., biker gangs, hippies). Youth Culture focuses on adolescents and young adults, emphasizing self-expression, music, and clothing (Fasick, $1984$). National Culture involves shared practices across a country, such as cuisine and socio-political systems. Cyber-culture encompasses behaviors emerging from technological changes, like social media and e-commerce. Dominant Culture refers to the most influential values in a society, often shaped by the ruling class.

Key Elements of Culture in Sociology

Sociology identifies $10$ key elements of culture:

1. Symbols: Words, gestures, or objects with recognized meanings.
2. Language: The primary means of communicating heritage and values.
3. Rituals and Traditions: Ceremonies with symbolic meaning.
4. Norms: Behavioral standards and cultural expectations.
5. Values: Learned beliefs guiding collective decisions.
6. Social Structures: Patterned interactions and relationships.
7. Artefacts: Physical objects representing cultural accomplishments.
8. Rules and Laws: Codified principles for societal behavior.
9. Religion and Spirituality: Beliefs in higher powers, moral codes, and related rituals.
10. Food and Diet: Specific dietary habits and cuisines unique to a culture.

Cultural Evaluation and Basic Terms

Several terms are essential for evaluating cultural practices. Ethnocentrism is the tendency to judge other cultures by the standards of one's own, viewing one's own culture as superior. In small amounts, it builds group pride and cohesion, but in extremes, it leads to intolerance and was a driver of colonization. Xenocentrism is the opposite tendency, common in developing countries, where individuals consider other cultures superior to their own. Cultural Universals are aspects found in every culture, such as family patterns, marriage, and food, though they vary in form.

Cultural Relativism is the principle of regarding beliefs and values from the viewpoint of the culture itself to avoid bias in research and refrain from judgment. Cultural Lag describes a situation where social regulations do not keep pace with technological changes; for instance, medical technology can keep people functioning long after they would have been considered deceased, creating a lag in the development of related moral and cultural beliefs. Cultural Integration is the process where one culture adopts the ideas or technology of another. Cultural Diffusion is the process by which cultural items spread from one group or society to another, such as the global expansion of fast-food chains from the United States.

Questions & Discussion

The lecture concludes with an open segment for audience interaction, inviting any questions or further clarifications regarding the concepts presented on culture and Nigerian society.