Keywords: education, culture, East Africa, communities, national development Africa is rich in terms of its young human and other natural resources like oil, gas, gold, uranium, diamond, forests and fertile soils. The continent is currently putting together developmental strategies that include: regional economic communities, infrastructure that include Information, Communication, Technology (ICT), roads, bridges, electrical grids, telecommunication, strengthening health and education capacities, security etc. However, for the purpose of this article the authors have concentrated on the East African region and on two components culture and education the double bind for development. CONCEPTUALIZING EDUCATION, CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT Education and Culture are inseparable twins and they both contribute to general development. The aim of education is to develop the mind, the attitude of reason, that spirit of democracy that makes us responsible citizens. Culture paves way for education while education flavours the cultural values in life. Education rooted in culture serves as the engine of development and extracts the best values tested over time in the face of adversities. Cultures keep adjusting to the times without losing much of the original. Emphasizing culture means giving members of a community an active role in directing their own destinies. It is also evident that cultural resources of a community can be converted into an economic wealth by promoting the unique identity, tradition, cultural products and services. Education is defined as the act or process of importing or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for skills, profession. Education is judged to be a social or public affair as the learner is initiated into social life through education1. Education always occurs within a given historical and social cultural context, it acquires thereby contextual meaning2. ... Читать далее