A world of words and music
I read a quote from a revered author that asked the question “Who is the Tolstoy of the Zulus?”. He was trying to insinuate that some cultures are superior to others. Due to the preoccupations of thought leaders in some parts of the world, many of us have been conditioned to believe that there are only a few pathways for human beings to transcend routine activities and achievements.
Sticking to the riff about Tolstoy and his body of work, he found a way of telling stories which he documented in a format which is available to anyone who is interested. He didn’t invent writing, the printing press or language. He was basically a raconteur with a heightened ability to stir emotions and thoughts. It goes without saying that the Zulus have their own great storytellers. The terms of reference and format for documenting their tales might be different from those of Russia in the 19th Century.
In the realms of science and technology, some cultures have gone further than others. Hopefully, the individuals and groups responsible for those developments are not motivated by crude notions of competition and are willing to share with others.
Is the internet helping to move the human race towards a new era of global urbanity? Perhaps the jury is still out in this regard.
I remember the New Seekers singing “I’d like to teach the world to sing” – which was used by a fizzy drinks company in adverts many years ago. Wouldn’t it be nice if the “perfect harmony” referred to in the song could be created from everyone bringing something authentic from their own localities?
