Artifacts in Cultural Identity and Spiritual Practice. Disjointedness of Traditional and Modern Artifacts, Symbols and Signs with Living Examples from Africa

Abstract: Animals adapt to nature for survival. Man, instead, makes nature adapt to him. Animals change identity. Man changes skills and environment. In this process, man makes artifacts. Artifact is a derivative of Latin arte (skill) and factum (made) and means what is created through skill and not merely given by nature. Artifacts, therefore, reflect human success and pride. Indigenous people with familial heritage from their ethnic groups hand down the heritage from old to new generations. So, any people is identified with the heritage. In this heritage, artifacts identify both their producers and the environment. As such, artifacts are typical of certain peoples and places. They cover whatever is man-made. In changing environment, man creates a cultural order and superimposes the cultural on the natural order. Like artifacts, the cultural order mirrors both human ingenuity and natural reality. Cultural order suits human needs in the specific environment and so identifies both creative people and nature. Man and nature are not merely observable physical phenomena. Humanity combines physical, mental or intellectual and spiritual nature. This tripartite phenomenon is reflected in cultures. Nature, too, is not inanimate clay from which cultural objects are modelled – a typical mistake of naturalism and scientism. Man and nature are different entities but complement each other. There is a supra-natural reality beyond them. Thus, artifacts are made in reference to personal needs, natural dictates and spiritual roles. Artifacts also reflect human relations. Human contacts initiate a cross-fertilisation of ideas, concepts, perspectives, aspirations, practices, artifacts and other aspects of life. Globalisation through traditional migrations led to ancient civilisations. These are later destroyed by marauding gangs that culminate into imperialism, colonialism and modern globalization. Due to capitalism, the new forces undermine skills and usage of traditional artifacts. Economically, the artifacts are avoided to open markets for factory products. Mental colonisation turns victims against their artifacts as inferior, immoral and irreligious. Administrative colonisation uses force to ban cultural objects and traditions. Science and technology make local industrialisation produce foreign artifacts that hardly satisfy human, environmental and spiritual needs. Demand is addition of value to people´s raw materials, make money, and develop in all aspects of life, particularly jealously guarding Ubuntu. Knowledge and artifacts transfer serve foregn interests. Independence balances cultures and avoids domination.

Keywords: Artifact; Culture; Symbol; Ethnic indigenous; Identity.