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

The Cultural Invasion of Kenya A screeching yell ripped through the stomach that Wednesday evening, Ahhhhh, were being invaded. My mother rushed into the living room. I pointed to the flickering goggle box screen. Look, I whispered in disbelief. A few seconds of silence followed. thither they were, the words I never thought would appear on our 29 inch Sony screen Sizzlin Hot Country. The appearance of American land music on the Kenyan airwaves was the latest sign that American acculturation had penetrated the borders of my country. The airing of Garth Brooks and Dolly Parton on the local television postal service is not the only evidence of the rapid spread of American cultivation in Kenya. One look at a large arrogate of its youth and this cultural invasion will become apparent. Baggy pants, Nike, washing soda music and malls, symbols of American youth culture can now be associated with the Kenyan teenagers. The Nike phenomenon hit Kenya several years ago. My classmates in primary indoctrinate were obsessed with the American brand name that had rocked the global shoe industry. Their enlighten desks had the Nike name and logo painted on in every illusion imaginable. Not being able to afford some of the merchandise, some(prenominal) resorted to order of payment the logo on bags, clothes, shoes and other visible possessions. Turning up to a class party with the trademark tick appearing on ones footwear simply made one the center of attention. My favorite copulate of shoes, I have to admit, were a pair of black Nikes which raised many brows and turned just as many heads. Secondary school had its pleasure ground cope 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 success. dapple hip hop and baggy pants may not typify American success, Kenyan youth hold this aspect of American culture perhaps because of the common roots and racial background the majority share with African Americans. Wearing Nike shoes or sagging ones pants may seem to be meaningless gestures. However, wearing shoes that many popular, teeming American sporting icons don or sagging pants resembling the famous hip hop artists makes one different 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 harm than good. It would result in the demise of local cultures and languages. And this is certainly not a good thing.