Aspects and Elements of Culture

1. Culture is the totality of people's way of life, and it is compatible with human life.
2. It is argued historically that culture started simultaneously with the creation of man and the formation of communities of people.
3. As people adapted to their environment and struggled to sustain their livelihoods, culture began.
4. As human beings struggled for basic needs in their environment, they used different tools, ranging from stone to iron tools such as axes, arrows, pots, and knives.

1. Material culture: this is the extent of materials or wealth produced or used in a society. It includes the achievements to which one has mastered; level of instrument and technical skills, the scientific organization of labor, the availability of individual material and everyday needs. Instruments of labor are the tools individuals use to carry out material production.
2. Intellectual culture: This is societal knowledge, skill and technical ability to organize and produce things as well as how one relates with others. This includes the achievements reached in science, education, ethics, literature and art. It is also reflected in the political ideas, civic education, legal relations, language, speech and behavior.

1. Customs and Norms: Customs refer to short-lived patterns of behavior shared by members of a group and can be directly observed. For instance, people who know each other greet by shaking hands whenever they meet while others hug each other. However, customs differ from one society to another. The set of customs form one of the indicators of culture.
2. Norms are accumulated experiences proven acceptable and appropriate in a given society, and they have a tendency to exist for long periods before they change or disappear. This forms the main difference between norms and customs as norms have a tendency to exist for long periods before they change or disappear. Whereas customs on the other hand are passing and vulnerable to change. Take for instance, the wearing of clothes, shoes or hats in a certain fashion usually changes with time.
3. Language: This is another important element or indicator of culture. Language is a learned, shared and arbitrary system of vocals and symbols through which human beings communicate. It is a system of conventional symbols that convey meaning and is a useful instrument in all economic, social, political, psychological and ideological aspects of society. Language is not only a communicative instrument but also is a product of work.
4. Art: This is an element or indicator of culture. Art as part of culture is an expression, which reflects the feelings, attitudes and level of development of a society. Arts denote man made things displayed to be enjoyed. Any art, which originates from a given society, has roles to perform for that society. The carvings, the painting, the songs, and drama represent certain actual struggles or practical life these people have experienced before.
5. Forms of Art
   • Using sound such as in singing or pronouncing a speech.
   • When someone combines language and instruments like when doing some things like singing, drumming and dramatizing.
   • Visual aids like pictures, maps, paints and cinema.
   • Demonstration of cultural troupes, sport, and games. Art reflects the feelings of patriotism in the struggle for the development of a national economy. This situation drives people to the extent of musicians coming up with songs calling for change in national institutions, whereas some defend, support and praise national institutions.
6. Rules: In their collective form, rules or patterns form another indicator of culture for behavior, known as Norms. These rules are those that members of a group, community or society agree to follow. The rules determine what is right or wrong in a given society. Norms are connected with ranks as well as situations and are recognized into roles. The pattern of behavior expected of people differs from ranks, such as husbands, fathers, citizens, employees, and children.
7. Recreation: Another important element of culture is recreation. The word recreation means relaxing and amusement. In any society where work is done recreation is quite necessary. Work tires the body, mind so it is vital to rest, and experience entertainment. Good entertainment is that which refreshes person e.g. voluntary hobbies, sports, games, music and even dancing.
8. Ideology: Ideology combines the beliefs of people and is this element of culture that lays down principles and conditions to be followed by a given society. Ideology forms the foundation for all other elements of culture. The mode of production is one, which explains the way people own property and how they share what they produce.
9. Laws: Laws form another indicator of culture; there is no culture without laws. We can define laws as deliberately formulated rules of behavior that are enforced by a special authority. Laws serve several purposes; they enforce the mores accepted by the dominant cultural group in the society, regulate new situations not covered by customs and bring about the real cultural and ideal patterns of a society.
10. Cooperation: this implies interacting with others in the community. It helps not only the members in getting insight into what goes on in the community but also gives a chance to members to learn and benefit from the community groups in this context include the family, schools, organized clubs, or villages where members know each other. Secondary groups include large societies and nations.
11. Tradition: these experiences of the past are inherited by a society and are unchangeable. They include marriage, food, local brews, funeral ceremonies, family care and home economics. Other aspects include initiation, worshiping system, sports and games. Every society has its own tradition.
12. Crafts and tools: Tools are instruments of labor used by people for production and they differ from one society to another depending on the nature and level of technology of the society. For example, tools used in the Stone Age were poor compared to the tools used during the Iron Age. These tools included iron hoes and axes.

1. The values of culture help future generations to know how to escape from bad practices and evils in the society such as drug and child abuse, stealing and any other kind of bad behavior, which is not proper in society.
2. Language: is used to convey messages and is part of the identity of a nation. For example, Kiswahili in Tanzania distinguishes the nation of Tanzania from other nations in the world who use different languages such as English, French and German. Language can be used to unite, educate and inculcate a sense of awareness to youth.
3. Sports and games: promote unity, cooperation and friendship among social members. This is because sport and games collect people together to share different ideas and build a better society.
4. Crafts: provide households with necessary materials such as furniture, pots and baskets, which are used daily. Some of them can be sold to provide money for people, hence a source of income.
5. Traditions are also worthwhile. For example, initiation ceremonies prepare young boys and girls for their responsibilities to society as adults.
6. They promote people from childhood to adulthood. Some traditions and customs such as marriage and burial ceremonies bring people together at times of problems and/or pleasure.
7. Customs: help societies adopt certain cultural values like dressing style, eating habits, hairstyles etc. which are sometimes worthwhile for acceptable in certain occasions - e.g. in wedding ceremonies.
8. Art Helps us express our feelings, attitudes and events in a very enjoyable way – e.g. through songs, drama and pictures.
9. Recreation: It helps people relax and gather energy before they engage in production again. Hence, recreation is important to man. Ideology is another important cultural element because it lays down principles and conditions to be followed by a given society. Thus, it provides a guideline to how people should live in a given place and time.
10. Ideology, rules and laws: are very crucial cultural elements as they defend social norms and determine what is right or wrong in the society. Thus, they shape the behavior of people.
11. Co-operation: It promotes interaction of people in a given society. Through interaction, people are able to perform collective and important activities like burials or pastoral activities, which a single person cannot do.

1. Traditional ceremonies, such as "ngoma" contribute a lot to the spread of STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections) and diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Initiation ceremonies, which involve circumcision of birth female and male, can also cause problems such as the transmission of HIV/AIDS, especially when they are not done properly. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) can cause high bleeding and difficulties during childbirth.
2. Through visual arts such as video and television, indigenous culture can be destructed by imposition of foreign culture. Foreign culture is imposed through the media such as radio and television. People learn different practices such as inappropriate dress styles, and other things like gay lifestyles.
3. Social institutions and religious beliefs can transmit negative attitudes to the people about the culture of a certain society. For example, colonial education and religion imparted ideas of despising Africa culture and glorifying western culture. Christian missionaries said Africa culture was "barbaric". There are some traditional ways of life, which prohibit certain groups of people from eating certain kinds of food, which are nutritious. For example, there are taboos in some societies that prohibit women from eating eggs when they are pregnant.
4. There are some traditional ways of life, which prohibit certain groups of people to eat some kind of food, which is nutritious. For example, there are taboos in some societies, which prohibit women from eating eggs when they are pregnant.
5. Polygamist tradition may also be a cause of poverty and spread of HIV /AIDS. Patriarchy system as cultural practices limits women rights and hence retards development in the society.
6. Traditional ceremonies, such as "ngoma" contribute much to the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections). Initiation ceremonies, which involve circumcision of birth female and male, can also cause problems such as transmission of HIV/AIDS especially when they are unsafely done. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) can cause high bleeding and difficulties during childbirth.
7. Through visual arts such as video and television, indigenous culture can be destructed by imposition of foreign culture. Foreign culture is imposed through the media such as the radio, video and television. People learn different practices such as bad wearing styles, and other things like gay marriages.
8. Social institutions and religious beliefs can transmit negative attitudes to the people about the culture of a certain society. For example, colonial education and religion imparted ideas of despising Africa culture and glorifying western culture. Christian missionaries said Africa culture was "barbaric".

1. It gives knowledge to people (young ones) on social transformation of different societies.
2. It helps people to know their past social settings and laws that have been governing nature in different societies.
3. It exposes youngsters to tasks that are similar to those of elders.
4. It is a medium for bringing up youth in order to cope in a society.
5. It enables people to transmit their skills, knowledge and wisdom from one generation to another.
6. It equips learners with insightful knowledge on bad and good cultural practices and therefore chooses the positive ones.

Beside the elements of culture, we also have products of culture. Culture is now a commodity to be sold in the form of made products:

1. Clothes, accessories,
2. Leisure opportunities,
3. Sportswear and other consumer goods.