Why many Basoga of this generation take recourse to abusive language and rude ways: A rudimentary explanation. ------------------------------------------------------------- Bakagwa muliyo mutya? I have often wondered about the root cause of this tendency by many people here to use abusive language. Now, what is ‘abusive’ may be subjective as there is no well-defined understanding around it, you might agree. However, there are things that are generally accepted as appropriate in any culture. Things that are rooted in the understanding of good behaviour, manners and healthy interpersonal relationships. My observation, imperfect as it maybe, is that Busoga has in the past two decades or so experienced a serious deterioration in standards of what goes as healthy public discourse and manners. As I tried to do some soul-searching to explain this situation to myself, I seem to have settled on three negatively catalytic events. Firstly, the turbulence in Busoga Diocese in the 90s in my view caused more harm than we might want to believe. The open rebellion to an otherwise highly respected institution and the failure of church leaders at the time to quickly resolve issues amicably sunk very deep in the conscience of the region. This being the biggest religious institution in the region, with a lot of history in setting precedence on what is good and what is bad, there naturally emerged some serious confusion. The church has since resolved its issues, but the cost was very high and I claim the healing process is not yet complete. There were very many hard words that were exchanged during that dark period in Busoga’s history, words which still ring in many people’s ears. As we were beginning to recover from this sad episode, we got thrown into the Kyabanzinga succession saga. Arguably, this has had an even worse negative impact not only on our self-belief, our pride and our respect for what culture otherwise teaches, but it has also hugely influenced how others see us. Some of us had grown up in the unshakeable and perhaps blind belief that our elders could never get it wrong and that they would always find a solution in the best interests of their children and grandchildren. It has therefore been a very humbling and devastating experience in the past six long years as our elders have hurled insult after insult on each other and sunk ever deeper in feuds! They have fought in public, they have used abusive language and they have gone as dirty as anyone can imagine. The word ‘shame’ has ceased to have meaning in Busoga and you may find yourself out of place in many circles when you talk of respect, decency and culture. The concept of cultural leaders and elders who are full of wisdom and can make binding decisions for the good of the region is in tatters in Busoga of today. We cannot tell how long it will take to recover such an important instrument in any society, especially when there appears to be no immediate end in sight to the wrangles. The repercussions however are being felt, not least as we see young people joining in the competition to abuse most and use the most denigrating and disrespectful language against an opposing side in the feud. Finally, the situation has not been helped by a crop of political leaders in Busoga who have not managed to fill in the void and really lead the region to a lasting solution. Instead they have allowed themselves to become party to the feud and to fuel even more disarray. We have hardly had political leaders capable of standing above the fray and commanding the overwhelming respect that is otherwise badly needed at such a time. What has emerged are leaders who themselves use such foul and abusive language against their enemies, perceived or real, and who are more intent to protect their short-term interests rather than fight for Busoga’s bigger good. This generation of youth in the region has hardly enjoyed the benefit of resounding and impeccable role models to look upto, perhaps with the rare exception. Matters have been exacerbated by an apparent culture of recourse to abusive lingua franca even at the highest political level in the country. All this has predictably translated into a damaging effect on morale, morals and what in the German language is called Mut (courage). A siphon for this effect is frustration, anger and recklessness evident in public behaviour and discourse. One other quiet, but equally devastating effect of this is that Busoga’s intellectual elite and those who are highly educated are increasingly shunning involvement in debates about the region. There is such a level of disgruntlement in their circles that some have opted to take an observatory role rather than become a party to the mud. Yet these might be the very people who hold the key to important elements of revival and renewal. So there we stand….. Over to the sociologists and behavioural psychologists
Posted on: Mon, 26 May 2014 14:20:18 +0000
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