Kenya: Culture No Longer Helpful In Averting Disasters

29 January 2001
African Church Information Service (Nairobi)

Nairobi — As the HIV/AIDS scourge takes toll in Kenya, coupled by a high rate of male mortality among some communities, and the consequent large number of orphans, the traditional support systems for such children has come under sharp scrutiny by researchers. The assumption that some African cultural institutions like the extended family, will provide assistance when disaster strikes is no longer in vogue.

This is because most of the African traditional societies have undergone drastic changes over the past century as the forces of modernity penetrate traditional structures. This is according to a two- month study conducted last year by an anthropologist, Eric Nyambedha of the University of Nairobi.

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