Page 66 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 24
P. 66
Community
The True Essence of Love -
BEYOND COMMERCIALIZATION
f you have ever worked read somewhere that if you love is best expressed through
in media or sales, you are not paying for something, purchased gifts or luxurious
Iknow that many marketing you are the product. Think holidays. But is this truly the
campaigns revolve around about it; we often join social essence of love, or have we
holidays. There is always a media platforms for free, but allowed external pressures to
plan to push products centered in reality, our data is being redefine it?
around the different holiday collected and used to target
seasons. After Christmas is advertisements. The origin of Valentine’s Day
over, and even before the is not clear. A quick scout
Christmas trees and décor have Valentine’s Day, set on through the internet shows that
been put away, the new push February 14th, has evolved into it is associated with various
for sales and advertisements a day marked by the exchange legends. One popular theory
focuses on back-to-school of cards, flowers, and gifts. It’s involves a Christian martyr
products, followed by a time when social media feeds named Saint Valentine, who
Valentine’s Day products, and flood with images of grand defied a Roman emperor’s
the list continues. gestures of love. However, decree against marriages
Everything has become behind the glossy veneer lies a for young men. Valentine
commercialized, and there is thriving season for businesses continued to perform marriages
often nothing for free. I once that propagate the notion that in secret and was eventually
66 | we tell the true afrikan story
