Why would you say that he(Armah) is representative of the average "Afrikan"?

Also, how does one practice "traditional Afrikan thought" with out living amongst true "Afrikans" to see practical things?One can read a lot of theories and ideas about Afrika and even practice but since youre dealing with a culture I dont know how you can be part of it without being amongst it. Hindus who live in Amrika and have grown up here really shouldnt say that they are Indian Hindu and that they know or relate. So why should an Amrikan, albeit a well versed scholar on Afrikan thought, say that he is "Afrikan"? By the way, my questions here aren't meant to be incendiary in any way. I'm just interested.