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COVID-19 Research

Endemic African cultures under threat: The disruptions of COVID-19 and Ebola viruses

Authors

  1. Beatrice Njeru, (First and corresponding author), Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya.
    Email: bnjeru@strathmore.edu
  2. David Chiawo, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya.
    Email: dchiawo@strathmore.edu
  3. Fred Odhiambo, Strathmore University, Kenya.
    Email: fodhiambo@strathmore.edu

Abstract

Few threats exist to endemic cultures in Africa, not even globalisation or modernization have significantly affected them. These cultures include the value for the dead, mourning and burial practices and rituals, and physical contact with little social distance. These expressions of culture are deep-rooted, meaningful and common across Africa. In the recent past, the emergence of highly contagious viruses like the unprecedented Common Virus Disease-2019
(COVID19) and Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has threatened these cultures, causing cultural disruptions and dynamics. The objective of this paper is to examine the disruptions of COVID19 and Ebola viruses to endemic African cultures and explore the emerging trends in cultural adaptation. We review 50 empirical studies for the period 2014 to 2020, covering the period of the first outbreak of Ebola (2014) to the recent outbreak of COVID-19 to establish the sociocultural disruptions. We further analyse media reports and recent publications to establish the cultural dynamics among Africa communities to combat the transmission of COVID-19. Understanding these ethno-social dynamics is significant in informing policymakers in the formulation of culturally tolerated prevention approaches to the outbreak of infectious viral diseases and to highlight a framework for social-cultural preparedness in case of future attacks in the African context.

Keywords: COVID-19, Endemic African culture, Cultural adaptation, Cultural disruption

Endemic African cultures under threat: The disruptions of COVID-19 and Ebola viruses

Authors

  1. Beatrice Njeru, (First and corresponding author), Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya.
    Email: bnjeru@strathmore.edu
  2. David Chiawo, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya.
    Email: dchiawo@strathmore.edu
  3. Fred Odhiambo, Strathmore University, Kenya.
    Email: fodhiambo@strathmore.edu

Abstract

Few threats exist to endemic cultures in Africa, not even globalisation or modernization have significantly affected them. These cultures include the value for the dead, mourning and burial practices and rituals, and physical contact with little social distance. These expressions of culture are deep-rooted, meaningful and common across Africa. In the recent past, the emergence of highly contagious viruses like the unprecedented Common Virus Disease-2019
(COVID19) and Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has threatened these cultures, causing cultural disruptions and dynamics. The objective of this paper is to examine the disruptions of COVID19 and Ebola viruses to endemic African cultures and explore the emerging trends in cultural adaptation. We review 50 empirical studies for the period 2014 to 2020, covering the period of the first outbreak of Ebola (2014) to the recent outbreak of COVID-19 to establish the sociocultural disruptions. We further analyse media reports and recent publications to establish the cultural dynamics among Africa communities to combat the transmission of COVID-19. Understanding these ethno-social dynamics is significant in informing policymakers in the formulation of culturally tolerated prevention approaches to the outbreak of infectious viral diseases and to highlight a framework for social-cultural preparedness in case of future attacks in the African context.

Keywords: COVID-19, Endemic African culture, Cultural adaptation, Cultural disruption