What my grandmother taught me about communication: perspectives from African cultural values

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Periodical article

Title:	What my grandmother taught me about communication: perspectives from African cultural values
Author:	Opubor, Alfred E.
Year:	2004
Periodical:	Africa Media Review
Volume:	12
Issue:	1
Pages:	43-57
Language:	English
Notes:	biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:	Nigeria Africa
Subjects:	communication values culture Truthfulness and falsehood
Abstract:	This article sketches an approach to discussing communication and media ethics by looking at the metalanguage of a few African cultures, notably the Igbo, Itsekiri and Yoruba of Nigeria. The aim is to see whether these African cultures distinguish different types of communication events and products, and how such differentiation provides unique perspectives on communication practice. Furthermore, the article aims to draw conclusions for the international discourse on media ethics, and especially for training of communicators and the development of communication policies that would help promote a culture of peace and social change in Africa. On the basis of work-in-progress, the author shows how concepts such as 'truth', 'news', and 'accuracy' are perceived in Nigerian ethnic communities. He outlines a communication strategy - a community festival - which he used in a project on communication strategies for family planning in the semi-urban community of Igbogbo in 1977-1982 and assesses the lessons from this experience. Bibliogr., sum. in English and French. [ASC Leiden abstract]