Globalization: The Publication of African Traditions and the Hidden Sword of ICT

Abstract

There is abundance evidence that African Traditional Religion has disparate space unlike Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism among others, hence, important gaps are created as a result of neglect accorded to such indigenous religious perspectives. This has hitherto, seems to have undermining potentials on these indigenous traditions, African traditions in particular. African Traditional Religion for instance predominates cultures in Africa and has its unique philosophical interpretations of religious traditions. Fascinatingly, the outburst of globalization has given ways for the publication and internationalization of such seemingly relegated traditions. Thus, Information Communication Technology (ICT) which is a major wing of globalization is reaching even the most socially remote and traditional places of the world.  The captivating nature of ICTs and their potential to influence social change remains evident in literature. Interestingly, an African tradition which had been originally in oral form and had been profoundly misinterpreted and misrepresented is now on the web and thus, have the potentials for internationalization. However, there are some interesting observations that merit further attention herein capped the hidden sword of ICT. This paper therefore, using documented evidence, discusses the manifold potentials of the ITC for the publication of African traditions and further argues that besides these potentials, lies a great deal of the dangers of the "hidden sword of ICT” which is not consistent with African values and traditions. The paper further calls for strategic choices for curbing this observed anomaly.