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VIRTUOUS LIVING - Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

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There is also a possibility that most artists are driven by the need to survive, ratherthan by an exclusive love of art alone, which is reminiscent of the Italian Renaissance(cf Hymans 1971:xiii, 3-5; Hull 1972:81-82). Traditional dance and music fromAfrica have found welcoming audiences in the West, with slight alterations of theirmaterial to adapt to the time and space requirements of European and Americanaudiences. African authentic movements and sounds are carefully preserved as uniquecharacteristics of Africanicity (cf Maquet 1972:130). Maquet’s observations are dated1972. Since then, more forms of art have been developed and accepted. Thedevelopment of an African Renaissance has accelerated the gains in this regard.1.3.4 Political reorganisationWe have discussed above how the Italian states, Florence and Venetia, wereforerunners of models of constitutional governments. The size and population of thesestates were much smaller than present African states. There was homogeneity ofinterests which made it easy for people to sign up as members a city-state in order tohave their interests protected. African countries are more heterogeneous in interests,calling for a genius to manage a people of different languages and cultures exposed toexternal influences and economic disparities, all in one country. Whereas Italian statesand Europe created Italy for Italians, Germany for Germans, and Britain for theEnglish largely on the dominant basis of a common language, African countries wereconstructed by dividing people of the same language and culture. This led to theAfrican “nations” being made up of different people, which is a contradiction interms.President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has given an explanation of the terms“country”, “nation” and “state”. His presentation is revealing, and may set the focusof African Renaissance in the event of political reorganisation. He explains that a“country” is a sovereign political unit recognised by the international community,under one national government. A “nation” is “a people who are homogeneous,culturally, linguistically, or historically, whether they are organised in one country ornot” (Museveni 2003:13-14). He gives examples such as the Slav nation, Arab nationor Jewish nation, who are nations of people though dispersed in many countries. With117

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