cultural liberation

Cabral views colonialism not only as physical occupation but as cultural occupation as well. According to him, in order for a colonial project to be successful there needs to be a cultural takeover. The cultural takeover is more important than the military takeover. The cultural takeover is aimed to destroy and distort the indigenous culture. Moreover, the colonial structures aim to socialise people in their culture. In most cases some segments are made to follow the colonial masters culturally through their state structures such as education. Those people then become the elite class and then the gap between the two classes starts to increase. According to Cabral, the cultural colonialism should be broken in order to be truly successful and in order to get out of the colonial influence. However, while he implies that, he denies having to accept the indigenous culture as it is, without having it analysed critically. He believes that one uniform culture does not exist throughout Africa, and there must exist several cultures which are somewhat different from each other. While he aims at quelling the influence of foreign culture, he also highlights the negative impact of accepting culturally evolved values as they are, undue praising, exaltation of virtues without any criticism of faults and so on. Cabral points out that there are negative and repressive aspects in the African culture as well, an issue which must be dealt with. He talks about critical analysis of African cultures as they are tasked with cultural liberation. Furthermore, the cultural values should be seen in universal context. That does not mean declaring a culture inferior or superior, but it is aimed to fulfil any pending needs to progress. the positive aspects, which favour progression must be upheld, however, the negative aspects which harm progress and flexibility must be dwindled and phased out. 

Sukarno in his speech focuses on the fact that after the 3^rdworld countries in Africa and Asia gained independence, they didn’t know what to do after. The ‘content and meaning’ was missing after the independence and there was an immediate need to give that content and meaning to the newly born countries. Just like Cabral, Sukarno was focused on quelling the colonial structures and thwarting colonialism at large, agreeing that colonial influence is not limited to physical occupation only, but economic and intellectual occupation as well. Sukarno was more focused on uniting countries in Africa and Asia. He saw colonialism as a global concept, which was devouring the 3^rdworld. According to Sukarno, political system should be based on highest degree of morality and ethics. Those morality and ethics shall unite the colonised nations in Asia and Africa which shall not only help these two continents but the world at large as well. Unity in desire trumps disunity caused due to differences, according to Sukarno. The common desire of thwarting colonial structures must unite every country. Sukarno focuses on the common desire of detesting colonialism, racialism and so on. While there may be cultural, religious and other kinds of differences among people and among different societies and countries, but the common desire of peace can lead to unity among the countries of Asia and Africa. He then goes on to say that every religion and in turn cultures of different societies have some core key concept which allow for everyone to live freely, independently and harmoniously regardless of their differences and issues. 

Cabral and Sukarno both highlight the fact that cultural hegemony and cultural aspects play a key role in colonial rule. In order to thwart colonial influence, intellectual and cultural articulation the colonial masters must be quelled. However, while Cabral offers a more parochial and cultural solution, Sukarno focuses on common elements among cultures and talks about a moral standard to be followed by everyone, which would blur the boundaries and lead to the betterment of the whole colonised world.