Michael Moser

Globalization describes the changing and blending of cultures as societies that interact
together are impacted by, and have to adapt to, the developing relationship. It can be seen all
throughout the world and also throughout history. There are many examples including the
American Indians and the Europeans, the Aborigines and the British, and of course as we read in
Of Water and the Spirit, the Dagara (and surrounding villages) and the French Jesuits. The
interaction that occurs between the Dagara and the French stood out to because I was able to see
it from a first-person perspective, through Malidoma Somes (the author and main character)
experiences.
The Dagara are different from the French Jesuits in that their spiritual beliefs culminate in
nature, ancestral spirits, ritual, reaching supernatural realms, and reincarnation. The Jesuits on
the other hand, believe in Christianity. They believe in sin, repentance, and salvation. Another
important part of the French Jesuit culture is mission; this means that converting others to
Christianity in order to save them spiritually. Because of their mission heavy culture, the
Jesuits create opportunity for globalization.
In Of Water and the Spirit, the French Jesuit preacher befriends Malidomas father. As
this relationship continues, Malidomas father questions his beliefs and becomes scared that his
Dagara faith will not save him in the afterlife. This relationship opens the door for further
interaction between the two groups. Eventually Malidoma is taken by the Jesuits and forced to
attend seminary. He becomes a less spiritual thinker and more logical thinker due to the
experience. When he returns, what he sees is a globalized society.
Many of the children, including his younger sister, now understood both French and
Dagara language. The children now bore Christian names and a new culture had been born
among the younger generations in the Dagara village, as well as surrounding villages. When
Dagara men who were familiar with the white mans culture became old enough to work, they
would go to work in urban cities and return with money for their families. That being said, the
core values and beliefs of the Dagara held strong. The older generations and the elders of the
tribe still valued reincarnation and ancestral spirits, but, with the changing culture among the
younger generations, they came to recognize the importance of having Malidoma as a peaceful
link between the two cultures. Although it is not mentioned as much in the book the French
Jesuits also changed due to this interaction. Most of the preachers had the mindset that their

Michael Moser
religion was the only religion worth believing in, and they, therefore forced it upon Malidoma
and the other African students. Overtime, however, a couple of the preachers came to realize that
the students have the right to believe their traditional cultural beliefs and they shouldnt be forced
to change them. They disobeyed the more conventional preachers by listening to what the kids
had to say and becoming more lenient with the students.
The Dagara (and surrounding villages) were living independent of the French Jesuits.
Overtime, however, the two cultures began to interact, and they slowly became globalized
societies. Although the societies changed and adapted large parts of their culture due to the
interaction, neither society gave up their core spiritual beliefs.