What is culture?

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MEANING OF CULTURE

Culture is the whole way of life of the people of a society. It includes the totality of peoples' beliefs, their modes of worship, their works of art and craft, language, religion, technology, dressing, ways of thinking, dancing, greeting, etc.

Culture varies from place to place. People have different cultures. For example, the culture of the Yorubas in Nigeria is different from that of the Hausas; and Igbo culture is different from those of the Hausas and Yorubas. A society is known for its culture. As society changes, the culture usually has the influence of such changes. New ideas, thoughts, arts, and ways of doing things are learned by people. This shows that culture is passed on from one generation to another. It grows and changes with time and through contact with people from outside our own group. Usually, there is a cross-fertilization of culture when people from different cultures
meet, exchange ideas, values, and beliefs with one another. People learn their own culture as well as the culture of the place they are resident and the culture of the people they come in contact with. The result of assimilating through continuous contact features, customs, beliefs, etc. of another culture is known as
"Acculturation."
Some related concepts in culture
include:

(i) Acculturation.
(ii) Enculturation
(iii ) Cultural influence
(iv) Cultural alternatives
(v)Cultural consciousness
(vi) Cultural universals, etc.

(i) Acculturation: Acculturation, as explained earlier, is a condition whereby somebody acquires the culture of other people through contact. For instance, a Yoruba boy or girl who grew up in Hausa- land or Igboland will acquire behaviour that is similar to those of the Hausa or Igbo, depending on the place he/she lives.

(ii) Enculturation: This has to do with the condition or ability of an individual to adopt or accept the elements of his own culture, such as the norms, discipline, skills, social roles etc. and adjust into his culture fully through the socialization process.

(iii) Cultural Influence: This takes place when the people of a society are influenced by other people's culture through observation. That is when people copy other people's culture. This may have a negative effect on people's original culture. For instance, in Nigeria today, some of our girls, especially those in higher institutions of learning, go almost naked in the name of dressing. They dress to cause immorality in our society. The boys put on ear-rings and plait their hair, etc.

(iv) Cultural Alternatives: This involves a situation where culture is open to any member of a society to choose from a host of alternatives. For instance, the ability of an individual to choose from various cultural occupations like farming, trading, fishing, blacksmithing, etc, as a means of livelihood can be referred to as cultural alternatives.

(v) Cultural Universals: This refers to the aspects of culture that are observed by different cultural groups or all the members of a cultural group and which are difficult to change. For instance, some cultural norms like marriage, dance, and music are usually recognized by different cultural groups. Also, values, beliefs, and ideas are observed by every member of a cultural group as universal elements.

(vi) Cultural Consciousness: This has to do with an individual being well informed and deep-rooted in the practice of the culture of his people. His awareness and involvement in preserving and observing the cultural norms, beliefs, and values is what is referred to as cultural consciousness.

ASPECTS/COMPONENTS AND FEATURES OF CULTURE

The two components or aspects of culture are (i) Material culture, and
(ii) Non-material culture.

Material Culture: This refers to these
aspects of culture that we can see, feel, and touch around us. It includes those things which the society makes in order to meet the needs of its people, such a funiture, buildings, bridges, books, or works of arts, food, in fact, all concret tangible items made and used by man the sonciety.

Non-material Culture: This refers to intangible traits of culture. That is, the aspects of culture that are not visible, such as language, religion, morality, beliefs, values, music, aptitudes, ideas, knowledge, etc. We can not see or touch these aspects of our culture, but we hear or understand them.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE

The following are the characteristics
culture:
(i) Culture is created.
(ii) Culture is shared
(iii)Culture is universal.
(v) Culture is heterogenous
(vi) Culture differs.
(vii)Culture is dynamic.
(viii) Culture is learned.
(ix) Culture is adaptive.
(x) Culture is collective.

Culture is dynamic: Culture changes. It is not static. Through social interactions, societies lend and borrow one another's culture. For instance, Nigeria can not claim to have a homogeneous culture because we, for example, put on coat-and-tie, which are not part of our original culture.

Culture is learned: Culture is acquired by virtue of membership in a human group. It is not inborn or inherited. Man learns culture by being a member of any human group.

Culture is created: Culture is created by people.

Culture is socially shared: Culture is not individualistic but rather shared. It is a situation where members of a group or society understand one another and live in peace and harmony. It ensures peaceful co-existence among members of a society.

Culture is universal: Culture is universal. It is not peculiar to any particular group. No culture is superior to the other. Every culture is good to the people who own it once it serves their purpose.

Culture is collective: Culture is not a personal property. It is possessed by a group or society. So, it belongs to all the members of a community or society.

Culture is heterogeneous: This means that culture is neither indigenous nor foreign. Rather, it is a mixture of both. For instance, in Nigeria, you can entertain your quest with local palmwine or foreign drinks.

Culture differs: Culture differs from place to place. It makes people unique among others. It distinguishes communities.

Culture is adaptive: This entails that people have to adjust to their environment for them to feed, clothe, and house themselves. Sometimes, it can be adjusted to fit the people's situations. It determines the behaviour of people. It takes its place in time and space, but man is the activation of culture.

Question

1. Explain the term "culture."
2. List and explain 5 components of culture.
3. Describe the characteristics of
   culture.
4. What is the difference between material culture and Non-material culture.

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