Effects of capitalism and mass culture on the diminution of African music practice among the Kenyan youth

Abstract

After independence, African countries, Kenya included, have since adopted a capitalistic lifestyle which s gradually eroding the African identity of communalism. Though capitalism has some considerable positives, its adoption as a sole replacement of the otherwise pre-colonial communal culture in Africa has brought along a mass culture whose negative effects continue to disintegrate and threaten cohesiveness and unity, the hallmarks of African society. The education system continues to play a big role in the promotion of capitalistic ideals while discreetly disavowing most African cultural practices concomitant with African music practice. This paper seeks to analyze the negative effects of capitalism and mass culture on the African youths. It also highlights the attributes of African music practice and the place of education in promoting and restoring abandoned cultural value systems. The method that has been adopted for this study is a mixed method approach. This study espouses that African music practice can be used as a tool for promoting and restoring cultural values through the school and the society. It is a call for introspection by elite Africans regarding their identity and value systems.