The Cultural Invasion of Kenya Essay -- American Culture Traditions Es

The Cultural Invasion of Kenya A screeching anticipate ripped through the house that Wednesday evening, Ahhhhh, were being invaded. My mother rushed into the living room. I pointed to the flickering television screen. Look, I whispered in disbelief. A few seconds of silence followed. There they were, the words I never thought would push through on our 29 inch Sony screen Sizzlin Hot Country. The manner of Ameri butt end country music on the Kenyan airwaves was the latest sign of the zodiac that American culture had penetrated the borders of my country. The airing of Garth Brooks and Dolly Parton on the local anaesthetic television station is not the only evidence of the rapid beam of American culture in Kenya. One look at a large portion of its youth and this cultural invasion will cash in ones chips apparent. Baggy pants, Nike, pop music and malls, symbols of American youth culture can now be associated with the Kenyan teenagers. The Nike phenomenon hit Kenya several yea rs ago. My classmates in primary school were obsessed with the American brand name that had rocked the globular shoe industry. Their school desks had the Nike name and logo painted on in every color imaginable. Not being able to afford approximately of the merchandise, many resorted to drawing the logo on bags, clothes, garb and other plain possessions. Turning up to a class party with the trademark chink appearing on ones footwear simply made one the center of attention of attention. My favorite pair of shoes, I have to admit, were a pair of discolor Nikes which raised many brows and turned just as many heads. unoriginal school had its fair share of examples of the cultural invasion. In most schools in Kenya, students dress in uniforms. For example, in my school it was compulsory to wear a white shirt, gra... ...ols of mastery. While hip hop and baggy pants may not epitomize American success, Kenyan youth adopt this reflection of American culture perhaps bec ause of the common roots and racial accentuate the majority share with African Americans. Wearing Nike shoes or flagging ones pants may seem to be meaningless gestures. However, wearing shoes that many popular, rich American sporting icons don or drop down pants like the famous hip hop artists makes one varied from the rest. It allows one to adopt an American identity, one defined by success and importance. While some would argue that such a spread of American culture would be beneficial because it would, in a sense, create a global village, I think this cultural invasion creates more trauma than good. It would result in the demise of local cultures and languages. And this is certainly not a good thing.