Windhoek
Triumpant College Rector Professor Geoffrey Kiangi is deeply concerned over cultural festivals hosted by higher educational institutions that have lately turned into alcohol galas, defeating the intended purpose of celebrating and unifying students through cultural diversity.
Many institutions of higher learning in Namibia host cultural festivals once a year with the idea of promoting cultural diversity, but such platforms have been misused by both students and their parents selling alcoholic beverages, such as beer, to make a quick buck.
The rowdy drinking culture has led to students being stabbed, or robbed of their hard-earned cash and cellphones on campuses during such events. Kiangi said people have embraced foreign cultures, at the expense of their own African culture.
“On many occasions cultural festivals are characterised by drinking alcohol and engaging in many activities that may not challenge the mind to excel. Even though we have been looked down upon by the world for too long, it is not too late to change. We can infuse hard work, excellence, integrity and perseverance into our cultural norms,” he remarked.
Kiangi urged students to rather engage in different cultural activities and learn to appreciate the culture of others. “Let us consider how we can make our cultures excel. Many of us are not putting the best into what we do,” he said.
According to him, for cultures to be appreciated and valued by others, there is a need to infuse “hard work, commitment and responsibility into our culture.”
He said if Africans are to polish their cultures, there is a need to translate their good intentions into actions. He thus urged students to remain focused and take responsibility for their lives, saying many students blame everybody except themselves when they fail.
“The teacher was not good, the exam was difficult. Time was not enough. Textbooks were not available, and the list goes on. This is avoiding responsibility. If you are to succeed, you have to take responsibility for your own life.
“Be responsible for who you are. You cannot be great without taking responsibility. When you do so you will check every action you do, and see whether you have done it to the best of your ability,” he asserted.