By Ogunleye Kolapo Olayemi
Most of us may have seen the trending video of a young lady, a trainee, addressing business mogul, Tony Elumelu by his first name, “Good morning, Tony.” Although she was rebuked on the spot by Mr Elumelu, the mini drama has since sparked conversation across social media about respect, culture and modernity.
Of course, there are people defending her. Their argument is that it was a corporate setting and this is how things are done. Fair enough. There is nothing inherently wrong with less hierarchical forms of communication in professional environments. However, even if we are to adopt some Western ways of doing things, it should not come at the expense of our core values as Africans. Respect, or what the Yorubas call the Ọmọlúàbí ethos, remains one of the defining characteristics of our society.
What is particularly concerning is the growing tendency among young people(Gen Zs) to equate Africanness with backwardness. The argument is often, “Who cares about respect?” or “Where has respect taken us?” Yet, the irony is that our social and economic challenges are not the result of having too much respect, but of lacking many of the values that once held our communities together. Africa, or our way of life, is not backward or primitive. Rather, it is the assumption that every traditional value is outdated that reflects poor reasoning.
Perhaps the West should not be the only model we look to. History itself shows us that modernisation does not necessarily require the abandonment of one’s cultural identity.
Japan provides perhaps one of the clearest examples of this. During the Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century, Japan embarked on an ambitious programme of modernisation. It adopted Western technology, education, military systems and industrial practices in an effort to catch up with the rapidly industrialising West. Yet Japan did not see modernisation as a reason to completely abandon its identity.
There was even a concept associated with this approach. It’s called “Wakon Yōsai,” loosely translated as “Japanese spirit, Western learning.” The idea was essentially that Japan could learn from the West while retaining its own cultural identity. In other words, Japan did not have to become Western to become modern.
This is perhaps a lesson Africa needs to consider. Why must embracing modernity necessarily mean discarding the values that have historically defined us? Why must respect, communal responsibility and our traditional understanding of good character suddenly become signs of backwardness simply because we are entering a modern corporate world?
Perhaps, therefore, the West should not be the only model we look to. We can also learn from countries in Asia. Countries such as China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore are highly advanced, boasting technological innovations, world-class infrastructure and thriving economies. Yet they continue to hold firmly to their cultural values, with respect remaining a central part of social life.
Many of us consume Korean dramas and admire aspects of Asian culture, but we somehow overlook one of their most important lessons, that modernisation does not require cultural abandonment. These societies have shown that it is possible to embrace innovation while preserving cultural identity. I mean, many of you cannot even do without K-drama series, yet it seems the only thing we have taken away from these movies are Lee Min-ho’s romantic fantasies.
My point exactly? These countries are as advanced as, and in some cases more advanced than, many Western nations, yet they have not discarded their cultural ethos in the pursuit of progress. So, if you are among those who ask, “Who has respect helped?”, perhaps you are asking the wrong question. The issue is not whether respect has helped anyone, but whether any society can thrive after completely abandoning the values that define it.
Perhaps it is time we began reconnecting with our roots. One way to do this is by incorporating Africanness into every sphere of our lives rather than demonising it. This includes the corporate world. Professionalism and respect are not mutually exclusive. We can be modern without becoming detached from our identity.
As a matter of fact, no civilisation has ever succeeded without its culture being at the forefront of its development. Culture provides a people with a sense of identity, continuity and purpose. The better we preserve and institutionalise our positive cultural values, the stronger our society becomes.
One major lesson from Japan and other Asian societies is that you can be highly advanced without ostracising your culture or way of life. In fact, culture is often what gives a civilisation its unique edge.
We do not have to become less African to become more modern. We simply need to learn how to take what is useful from the modern world without losing what makes us who we are.
