African Journal of Philosophy and Religious Studies

African Journal of Philosophy and Religious Studies ISSN 1621-4587 Vol. 6 (7), pp. 001-004, July, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Cultural theory and cultural dialogue in the 21st century

Ameh Dennis Akoh

English Unit, Department of Languages and Linguistics, College of Humanities and Culture Osun State University, Ikire Campus, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]. Tel: +2348035992490, +2348050293410, +2347081485254.

Accepted 08 April, 2020

Abstract

Art is necessarily a cultural system, and culture in its mutation moves in the direction of societal becoming in the same manner as it dictates the direction of artistic creations and recreations. However, as the world, especially Africa, is being dragged along in the imperialist project of globalization, this paper interrogates the fate of cultural theory again, as it especially affects literary criticism of African texts. In the midst of what has been termed ‘nationality’s malady’, some would opt for cultural dialogue rather than effacing non-dominant ‘cultures’. There is therefore a call for an ambitious rethinking of cultural theory in order to make sense out of the grand narratives in which it is presently enmeshed, while it seeks this dialogue.

Keywords: Cultural theory, cultural dialogue, literature, Africa.

African Journal of Philosophy and Religious Studies ISSN 1621-4587 Vol. 6 (7), pp. 001-016, July, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Perceptions on cultural significance and heritage conservation: A case study of Sussan Wenger’s building, Osogbo, Nigeria

Adedeji Joseph Adeniran¹* and Fadamiro Joseph Akinlabi²

¹Department of Architecture, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B. 4000 Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

²Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

Accepted 06 April, 2020

Abstract

The built environment is the history of man. The undying stones of monuments are the tables from which this history can be read. Thus, the life of man in the past, its values in the present and directions for the future are embellished on these stones. Historic cultural heritages cannot be expressed in any other better form than in buildings. Sussan Wenger’s building located in Osogbo, Nigeria is one of such buildings. The fabric of the building is synonymous to the history of this Austrian woman who indigenized and became a priestess of the Osun goddess in the course of which she was named “Adunni Olorisa”. The study was carried out to determine people’s perceptions on the cultural significance and heritage conservation of the building because of the present non-identification of the building with Osun Grove World Heritage Site despite their obvious relationships. The building has history, features and associations with the Osun Sacred Grove which has earned recognition as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. 203 respondents who are residents of Osogbo were randomly sampled to determine their perceptions on this historic building. The data obtained were subjected to multivariate statistical analysis of means (x) and chi squares (χ²) based on three hypotheses to find a correlation between respondents and sex, place of origin and rate of observation of the building. Result shows that attitudes towards the building favour the option of conversion of the building to a Museum of Art and Culture. Recommendations were made for the heritage promotions of the building through UNESCO.

Key words: Conservation, Osun Grove, Sussan Wenger, cultural heritage, Osogbo, building, history.

African Journal of Philosophy and Religious Studies ISSN 1621-4587 Vol. 6 (6), pp. 001-009, June, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Culture and curriculum development in Nigerian schools

E. D. Nakpodia

Department of Educational Administration and Policy Studies, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. E-mail:[email protected]. Tel: 08033862036.

Accepted 21 December, 2019

Abstract

This paper was concerned with cultural bases of curriculum. It examined the influence of culture on curriculum development in Nigerian Schools since education is regarded as the transmission of culture in a process known as enculturation. It is a process of initiating the growing and inexperienced persons into the way of life in his society based on factors of culture which bring about changes in school curriculum. The school does not work in a vacuum, but has to operate in co- operation with the home, church and all other agencies of society that influence the development of the child. One of the primary tasks of the teacher is to use the culture and school curriculum in helping pupils to make satisfactory adjustments as regards curriculum components and programs designed. Hence this paper was concerned with the question whether curriculum in the school is in any way based on culture. Has curriculum any connection with culture of the society? This task is impossible unless the school employee understands well the phenomena of family, church, peer groups, and community life. The paper therefore dealt with the meaning and classification of culture; the diagnosis of curriculum development; influence of culture on children’s learning; the context of curriculum development; and agencies in the educative process and curriculum development.

Key words: Influence, culture, education, curriculum development, Nigerian.

African Journal of Philosophy and Religious Studies ISSN 1621-4587 Vol. 6 (6), pp. 001-009, June, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Minoan culture and tourism

Snezana Besermenji¹*, Tatjana Pivac¹, Miroslav Vujicic¹ and Athanasios P. Stamos²

¹University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, Novi Sad, Serbia.

²Principal of the Advanced School of Tourism Education of Rhodes, Greece.

Accepted 24 September, 2019

Abstract

The Greek culture was enormously influenced by the Minoan culture, as was its foundation stone. It had been developing in Crete from the 3^rd millennium to 2^nd millennium BC and being an ode to joy and life. The frescoes representing noble dresses and jewelry of Cretan females, pleasure in sports activities and nature, as well as serene and happy people are genuine masterpieces. A substantial number of sites with remains of Minoan culture have been discovered on the island of Crete. Pendlebury, a renowned British archaeologist, listed nearly sixty sites of that type in the first phase, above twenty in the second and above sixty in the last phase of Minoan age. The well-known and most significant sites of Minoan culture are Knossos, Festos, Malia, Zakros and Agia Hagia Triada. The most interesting archaeological site is the Palace of Knossos reconstructed with its surroundings, including the cereal storerooms, porches and gardens. The Palace of Knossos, with its Grand Staircase with columns, numerous rooms and the throne room, was the palace of the oldest kingdom in Europe. The elegant throne with its high back, carved in stone has been standing in the same place, flanked by the Griffin (mythological creature half lion, half eagle) fresco. Today, the Minoan culture might be observed at archaeological sites and museums, which have been successfully valorized for tourism purposes. H. du Cros model for tourism valorization will be used to highlight what makes a successful tourism valorization of archaeological sites and museums representing the Minoan culture from the aspect of tourism. Moreover, subindicators in tourism sector analyzing market attractiveness and importance factors in tourism product design as well as management sector analyzing cultural significance and robustness will be applied.

Key words: Minoan culture, archaeological sites, museums, management.

African Journal of Philosophy and Religious Studies ISSN 1621-4587 Vol. 6 (5), pp. 001-011, May, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Interplay between philosophy and history: Additional justification for course enrollments across disciplines

Chukwugozie Maduka¹* and Leo Otoide²

¹Department of Philosophy and Religions, University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria.

²Department of History and International Studies University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria.

Accepted 17 February, 2020

Abstract

This paper seeks to revisit the bonds between history and philosophy and to unravel not just the enormously fertile ground lying fallow for so long between them, but also the inevitability of one to the other. In the main body of the study, it was discovered that any serious claim to explore what the term ‘history’ stands for must strive, first of all, to surmount some inherent epistemological, semantical, syntactical, interpretative, metaphysical and valuation (that is philosophical) problems. On the other hand, from the definitions of philosophy we are quick to realize that since historical events are contingent, they necessarily provide the veritable raw materials on which universalizable philosophical truths can be built. The study went on to show, for example, how the cyclic, progressionist, perfectibility and other theories of history are conveniently explicated in philosophical terms. The last portion of the paper dwelt on the contribution of history to philosophy from the viewpoints of the contributions of Russell, Darwin, Chardin, Huxley and Kuhn.

Key words: History, philosophy, temporality, interpretation, empathic understanding, values, cyclic theory, progressionist theory, moral progress, perfectibility, Darwinism.

Key words: Security, nation building, Aro expedition.