Influence of Western Culture on Teenagers in Nigeria: A Case Study of Nigeria
Chapter One
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
The aim of this study is to highlight and understand the influence that western culture have on the Nigerian youths, especially with regards to what they wear, how they greet, cook and find out reasons for the prevailing situation, more specially the objectives of this study include to;
- Find out and assess the impact of foreign culture on Nigeria youth’s culture.
- Assess the extent of impact of those media contents on the country’s youths especially in relation to what they wear.
- Find out if there are factors responsible for this influence.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Introduction
The emergence of globalization concept in the period between the latter half of the 19th Century and the initial years of the 20th Century (1850-1914) with its widespread entrenchment in most of the countries of the world with varied degrees and dimensions also learn credence to this study. Of course, films and mass media in general are not bye-products of globalization but the fact is, it gives another coloration and occasioned a paradigm shift in the media world in terms of conceptualization process and the general practice. Globalization also impacts greatly on the socio-economy, political, educational and cultural life of many countries of the world. Emphasizing this position, Bello (2010) submits …globalization principally and philosophically aims at globalizing the world in all thinkable ramifications-cultural, economic, political, educational etc. Importantly however, homogenization of cultural relations worldwide has been a key factor in the process of globalizing and this undoubtedly, has improved the lots of humanity since its birth but each nation of the world has had to face a great deal of challenges most especially the developing countries. Also, “unfortunately, the case of African countries and other third world nations of the world are quite nagging. The cultural fabrics of these countries have suffered a seemingly irreparable damage in the face of globalization. The mass media and the so-called new media – radio, television, computer, newspaper, magazines, books, bill-boards, cinema, recordings, films, internets etc, have all by content and production eroded the cultural values of Africans. The operations of Nigerian mass media are patterned on the western model which invariably erodes our cultures. ..” (Ibid) Defined as “the process of intensification of economic, political, social and cultural relations across international boundaries, globalization principally aims at the transcendental homogenization of political and socio-economic theory across the globe, it is equally aimed at making global being present worldwide at the world stage or global arena. It deals with the increasing breakdown of trade barriers and the increasing integration of world market” (Fafowora, 1998,p.5). Better still, globalization is also seen “as an evolution which is systematically restructuring interactive phase among nations by breaking down barriers in the arena of culture, commerce, communication and several other fields of endeavors” (Ohuabunwa, 1995, p. 20). Muyale (1998) rightly observes the overwhelming effects of globalization thus, “the effect of globalization has had on culture is immense and diverse. It has affected people’s cultural behaviors in different ways. People have had to change their living ways”, (Muyale 1998, 1). Barber (1992) and Parker (2005) also emphasize that a number of people who view globalization from the Universalist perspective criticize the growing erosion of traditional values aided by rapid development of information technology and transnational corporations (Cited by Mamman & Liu 2008, p.12). Mamman & Liu however note that at its extreme, proponents of this school appear to suggest that globalization is another form of cultural imperialism. In this context, it can be asserted that films are general instruments of globalized society expanding and sustaining the scope of cultural dominance and imperialism of the western world. Importantly, researchers have empirically proved that most films appeal to the emotions of its viewers and ultimately affect their worldview. Because of the developing emotions of adolescents as a result of the onset of puberty, films can have a huge effect. In a study of retention rate of film details between different age groups, Rosen (1979) found that “both children and adults remember best material that has a high emotional appeal, that is easily understood, and that is concerned with the movie’s plot.”
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to Influence of western culture on teenagers in Nigeria: A case study of Nigeria
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information on Influence of western culture on teenagers in Nigeria: A case study of Nigeria. 200 residents in Awka, Anambra state was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain Influence of western culture on teenagers in Nigeria: A case study of Nigeria. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of western culture on teenagers in Nigeria
Summary
This study was on Influence of western culture on teenagers in Nigeria: A case study of Nigeria. Three objectives were raised which included: Find out and assess the impact of foreign culture on Nigeria youth’s culture, assess the extent of impact of those media contents on the country’s youths especially in relation to what they wear and Find out if there are factors responsible for this influence. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 selected residents in Awka, Anambra state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up men, women, civil servant and businessmen were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
It has been established by scholars that no society can develop without proper integration of the culture of the land. Culture itself cannot develop the society except it is promoted by all segments and institutions of the society. In this regard, the role of the teenagers or the youth in general cannot be overemphasized. The teenagers are such a vibrant segment of the society who should rather live by the cultural norms of the society in order to promote and sustain the culture of the land. It is however nagging, that exposure to western films by the Nigerian teenagers has affected their attachment and affiliation to the Nigerian cultures and value system in general. The situation is so disheartening that it needs the most urgent attention in order to salvage the cultural fabric and make the teenagers vanguards of this cause. Therefore, the Nigerian Films and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) must wake up from its slumber and rise to the occasion. Of course, there are laws guiding the broadcast of foreign contents in general, but observation shows that there is no strict enforcement which led to laxity and the present state of affairs in relation to the importation or influx of western films in the country. In addition, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) needs to play a vital role in this regard.
Recommendation
It is also important to note that our Nollywood should play an essential role. It needs to encourage the production of localized contents whereby the cultural norms and values of the Nigerian society are emphasized and widely promoted as against what happens in the Nollywood nowadays whereby, their productions are patterned on the western culture the resultant effect of which is cultural distortion and erosion among Nigerian teenagers.
References
- Alexander V.D. (2003). The cultural diamond- the production of culture, Sociology of theArts: Exploring Time and Popular Forms, Wiley-Blackwell, Pp 162
- Bandura A. and Walters J.,(1980). Adolescent and aggressive behavior, New York, Weber and Row,
- Baranowski, D. and Greaves K. (2004). TV viewing and physical activity and diet, International Journal of Obesity, Sept. (2005), 557-65
- Bello S. (2010). Communication and cultural Promotion for sustainable Development: the challenges of globalization. In Wilson D. (ed) Perspectives on Communication andCulture, Nigeria, African Council for Communication Education
- Berkowitz E.(2001). Modeling human infant learning in embodied artificial entities toproduce grounded concepts, retrieved from www.lucs.lu.se
- Bernie, D. (1997). Media influence eating disorders, The University Record: Canada.
- Dalton, M. (2003). Effect of viewing smoking in movies on adolescent smoking initiation Lancet Books.
- Egbochuku, E.O. & Ekanem I.B. (2008).Attitudes of Nigerian secondary school adolescents toward sexual practices: implications for counseling practices, European Journal of Scientific Research, Vol.22, No. 2, pp. 177-183
- Evra V. (1990). Television and child development, Hilldate NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
- FafoworaO.O. (1998). Management imperatives of globalization, Management in Nigeria, Journal of Nigerian Institute of Management, 34 (2-4), Pp 5-9
