GNS 201: Nigerian People and Culture - Summary Notes

Culture is a way of life, uniting societies through organized relationships.
Culture encompasses dressing, eating patterns, marriages, religion, language, and family life.
Culture is learned, transmitted, social, ideological, adaptive, and integrative.
Functions of culture: defines situations, explains myths, defines attitudes/values/norms, spells behavior patterns, molds behavior/character, and defines ways of life.
Key concepts: culture shock, culture change, culture lag, culture diffusion, and subculture.

Nigeria's history involves interaction between diverse ethnic groups and European traders.
Amalgamation in 1914 led to Nigeria's independence in 1960.
Nigeria features diverse languages (521 estimated), religions (Christianity, Islam, native religions).
Family is crucial, existing as both nuclear and extended units.
Gender roles vary by region and religion, with patriarchal norms.
Markets are key commercial hubs featuring small traders.
Hierarchy is respected based on age and position.
Communication styles vary by ethnic group and region.

Ethics and discipline are vital for a state's well-being, concerning right/wrong and behavior/character.
Ethics is the philosophical study of morality; morality involves social rules.
Philosophical ethics includes normative (establishing moral standards) and analytic ethics (analyzing moral language).
Discipline: Training that produces specific character or behavior.
Morality in national life requires individual morality (honesty, utility, fairness) and social morality (social justice, individual rights, equality, general welfare).

Norms are guidelines for social behavior; values are what people deem important.
Culture includes beliefs, values, norms, sanctions, symbols, language, and technology.
Social norms regulates citizens’ behavior, which includes folkways, mores and laws.
Values are also factored in on deciding these acceptable patterns.

Moral values are principles distinguishing right/wrong.
Key concepts: re-orientation, morality, values, and development.
Moral problems in Nigeria: crime, corruption, injustice, cultism, drug abuse.
Causes include family breakdown and materialism.
Moral values are connected to religion and act as a catalyst for development, emphasizing respect, truthfulness, impartiality, loyalty, and justice.

African religion is indigenous religion of Africans passed down through generations.
It is communal; integrating the spiritual and secular aspects of life.
Features: belief in God, divinities/spirits, ancestors, magic/medicine, partial reincarnation.
Religious practices includes the various rite of passage and rites of life cycle.
Faces modern challenges from other religions as well cultural ways of life but African religion still continues to be part of their life.

Preexisted pre-colonial Nigeria with diverse ethnic groups having distinct art and culture, ranging from kingdoms, Empire and chiefdoms.
Arts is reflection of culture’s aesthetic of man creations, including literature, fine arts, crafts, museums, festivals, languages, dress music and dance.
Pre-Colonial arts were usually family occupations/professions.
Examples: Brass casting in Oyo and Benin, wood/stone sculptures.
-Nok and Ìgbò ukwu culture are also another aspects the arts and culture.

Nigeria made efforts for economic self-reliance through state-owned enterprises.
Challenges: dependence on crude oil, corruption, policy changes, technological underdevelopment, lack of infrastructure and political instability.
Government implements initiatives, privatization and social-economic programmes.
To foster self-reliance Nigeria suggest improving accountability, empower anti-corruption, renew ethics, foster policies consistency, home-grown technology and entrepreneurship.

Self/Identity includes traits/characteristics/social roles contributing to person's self-concept.
Psychologically healthy and positive identity is an inclination that people strive for and are motivated to improve.
The self is in flux formed through dialogue with others.
Challenges to social norms and societal constructs include rapid social change and cultural upheaval.
Collective identity and social relationships based on respect, integrity, generosity and love and unity are essential for human progress.

Attitude: Degree of favorability toward a person, thing, or event.
Types: miserable, silent killer, drama queen, woe-is-me, paranoid.
Among students: examination malpractices, cybercrime, cultism.
Negativity Consequences: Shortened life, and creation of negative circumstance; and it harms others.
Negative attitude results in eroded ethics and value erosion in society.