Editor,

RE: "The salient role of culture in our development” (The New Times, October 13).

I have always said it that until we Africans realize that we need to build development models based on our culture, we won’t achieve sustainable development.

It hurts me to see especially young Rwandans whose lifestyle, the way they talk, dress and generally behave is purely western lifestyle. Those are the same young people whose dreams are solely going to Europe and the US.You will see them spending most of their time—a time that should have been productive—looking for money to apply for visas.

Eventually we will have nothing like Rwandan culture left and that is a major stumbling block towards social economic development.

You talked about Agaciro, Umuganura and the likes. Unfortunately, there are Rwandans who live in Rwanda who can’t even pronounce those words in Kinyarwanda. I have never seen an English person who doesn’t know how to speak English.

You may take this as a trivial issue however I consider it to be among top three challenges that hinder Africa progress.

Let’s not take our history as an excuse; it’s about commitment and patriotism. By the time we accept who we are, we won’t be able to define where we are heading

Eri