The Role of Creativity in Culture

The places we’ve been to and things we’ve experienced shape our personalities. The way we do things, the food we eat and the way we dress are quintessential representations of who we are and where we’re from.

All these little puzzle pieces of music, fashion, language and so on, come together to create a larger picture more complete picture of a people’s culture.

Culture can be defined as the ideas, customs and social behaviours of a particular people or society. In a way this definition ties into the arts and manifestations of human intellectual achievements regarded collectively (this definition is closer to pop culture though). Every generation has their markers and identifiers that single them out and act as a reminder of the times they lived in. A given era’s popular culture triggers untold nostalgia and like waters breaking through a dam wall, memories flood back. A given times culture is an accurate measure of what people thought, felt and thought.

Looking deeper into the culture, you begin to see that yes it’s are presentation what people thought but in many ways, it is a vital tool that shapes thinking. Culture is how we tell a new generation that ‘these are our values’. It has proved to be a more potent teaching tool than an actual classroom.

It’s close to impossible for culture to be expressed withoutcreativity.

Many people have tried to define creativity. Eric Jerome Dickey said “It is impossible to define creativity. It’s like asking a bird ‘how do you fly’. You just do!” Einstein tried to describe it and said: “Creativity is intelligence having fun!”

Creativity is the cornerstone of culture. The various expressions that colour a culture are born from creativity. How people create and what they create, be it music or film or paintings help people see the world differently and this is incredibly profound and powerful.

“Art, Freedom and creativity will change society faster than politics,” said Victor Pinchuk.

Creativity that shapes Culture

How people speak is telling a place culture. Everything from the language to the imprint of the accent left when speaking a foreign tongue points to a specific culture. What people talk about can highlight their most intimate ideas. Conversation facilitates the exchange of ideas and we try to share the best of ideas.

Every generation has their markers and identifiers that single them out and act as a reminder of the times they lived in

The stewards of creativity play a vital role in shaping culture. One of such stewards in Kenya is Nyacomba Githu, Founder at Free Minds Sessions where people from all walks of life come to exchange ideas and have tough conversations about, society now in contrast to what they think society should be.

Free Minds session Founder (center) and Management

“I have always felt that there is a need for people to be open and talk about the issues that really matter.” started Nyacomba, “There are so many blurred lines within society that people never really consider or question. And we are here to question.”

At Free Minds, they have a wide span of conversations covering everything from mental health to gender, sex and even politics. They cut through the uncomfortable in order to reveal what people really think. “We have an open forum at Free Minds and I’ve noticed that when people speak, it’s strictly from their perspective without them being willing to accept different person ideas. These are some of the things we try and work on.”

It is believed that in free speaking forums in Athens during the 5th Century is when the Idea of Democracy was formed. Progressive forums that foster uncomfortable conversations are how we achieve progress. And a key feature of these forums is the creation of a seemingly judgment-free zone. “We have tried to create an environment that is judgment-free at Free Minds, however with time we have begun to notice that it’s impossible to have zero judgment and that it’s really up to us to bravely rise above the fear of judgment and speak our minds,” stated Nyacomba.

The changing conversation of a people is one of the ways that people can create or shape a culture. Because with conversation and understanding they begin to refine values and define world views.

Creativity that preserves Culture

Time can erode even the most stubborn of materials, and when shaping culture we unearth values that we want to protect and pass on. The arts are what people turn to, as a medium to preserve and showcase culture. Everything from music to photographs works to capture the markers of a people’s culture and the evolution thereof.

Brian 'Graff' Matwana

Nairobi has one of the most vibrant arts and innovation scenes in Africa. Nairobi displays the cutting edge of pop culture through its vibrant public transport system (matatus/ matwana) buses.

Matatus are a quintessential feature in Nairobi and have received attention the world over. The graffiti art on these vehicles shares everything from bible quotes, African proverbs, puns to beautiful airbrush portraits of sportsmen and musicians.

The matatu art has received attention the world over and the self-proclaimed matwana ambassador Brian Wanyama, better known under his alias ‘Graff matwana’ is usually in the middle of this attention making attempts to explain matatus to the world, but a lot is clearly lost in translation. Footballer Thiery Henry said that ‘it was difficult to explain Kenya to an outsider’ because more times than not culture is something that has to experience and felt.

The matatu industry provides employment as an alternative to crime. And In an effort to express themselves, they play their music loud and dress in the flashiest clothes and speak the latest slang ‘sheng’. Their flair and rowdy attitude is their little protest against a system that they feel has let them down. They rebel against the clean-cut and orderly government provided transport system saying that they are the true face of Nairobi. Their following is unprecedented with Graff Matwana’s Matwana Culture having over 200 thousand followers on Social media. They really are the true face of Nairobi.

Quite recently rap sensation Cardi-B was painted on a matatu and she couldn’t contain her excitement when she saw the photos. She went on social media in a state of shock, gratitude and excitement. Basketball titan Steph Curry was also moved by his drawing on a Kenyan matatu and in response, he tweeted “So much love!!!”

The matatu industry makes it difficult for the government and citizens to look away from what the flaws in the Kenyan society. Artists like Pablo Picasso have used some of their paintings (for example Night Fishing at Antibes) to express the political tension in Europe before the war. In some ways, the matatus share that sentiment, and tell the government ‘You could do better’. ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊