Kerala - Thrissur   

Rich treasure of community culture

Suresh Kumar

Thrissur: Afro-Asian culture can play a major role in advocating people-centred development, Suresh Kumar, head of the Department of African Studies in the University of Delhi has said.

Delivering the keynote address on ‘Land trajectories and culture of Africa and India: semantics connectivity’ at the Second International Theatre Festival of Kerala on Thursday, he said that while rich nations strive to control global resources on the basis of money power and technological advancement, Africa and Asia had an invaluable treasure to offer the world: community culture.

“Fighting problems such as HIV/AIDS and sharing knowledge can strengthen Afro-Indian cultural trajectories,” he said.

He noted that some African rulers should embrace modern ideas and abolish outmoded customs.

“If they do not do so, many regions of Africa will continue to be backward and underdeveloped. Some inhuman cultural practices directed at women, including genital mutilation, widowhood rites and dowry, needs to be addressed. On the other hand, there are women’s movements and groups with a highly focussed political mission or cultural identity.”

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