For the cultural reporter project, I have decided to study Africans. Africa has long been a continent of high interest to me. I have never been there, but it is someplace I for sure want to visit. My roommate went there this past summer and is going back again next summer, so I may have the opportunity to go with her for a couple of weeks. Specifically, she went to Uganda, so that is the country I would like to focus on.
According to AboutUganda.com, “Uganda has a very strong culture heritage” (2010). From hearing my roommate’s stories, Uganda sounds like a place that is rich in culture and heritage. I hope from doing this project I can better grasp some of the elements that compose such a strong cultural tradition.
Ugandans are a part of a culture because they share learned patterns of behavior and attitudes. According to Dictonary.com, culture is “behaviors and beliefs of a particular social, ethnic, or age group” (2011). I am not too familiar with their culture at this point, but I'm sure they have different rituals and languages that also compose their culture. As stated by EveryCulture.com, “Lake Kyoga serves as a rough boundary between Bantu speakers in the south and Nilotic and Central Sudanic language speakers in the north” (2011). Different languages is just one of many elements of culture.
My primary plan for studying Ugandans is to speak with my roommate about her experience and also to gather some contacts from her, so I can e-mail a few Ugandans and talk to them directly. I also plan on using internet resources to gather some information. I don't think there is a large Uganda population in Lincoln, so I unfortunately probably won't be able to participate in face to face communication, but hopefully conversing over e-mail will be sufficient.
References
Unknown author. “Uganda Culture.” Aboutuganda.com. 2010. Web. September 25 2011.
Unknown author. “Culture.” Dictonary.com. Web. 2011. September 25 2011.
Unknown author. “Uganda.” Everyculture.com. Web. 2011. September 25 2011.
