Africa is one of the continents of the world. Just like every other people where laws and social order control the activities and behavior of humans especially against harmful or abnormal behavior. Africa was not an exception though her approach were different. Not quite long, Africa was free from Colonial rule, whereby through the colonial masters, laws and modern system of Government were established. Prior to then, Africa had her way of life whereby extreme unacceptable behaviors were tagged Taboos or abomination with serious capital punishment or pardon through deep spiritual cleansing. Here are the 10 taboos.
1) Food taboo for pregnant women
Generally, food is a good source of healthy living, as the saying goes; you are what you consume. Perhaps, it is advisable that one consumes nutritious foods to be able to develop body organs, tissues and cells against deformity or other consequences of malnutrition.
However, Pregnant women were excluded from consumption of highest-class source of iron, animal protein, carbohydrate, micro-nutrient. This is to prevent women giving birth to children with bad habit, diseases and too heavy to be delivered by the mother and also could cause complications. This was predominantly practiced in Gambia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Gabon, Democratic Republic of Congo. And that was one of the reasons Africa had many malnourished children.
2)Adultery
Adultery being sexual intercourse by a married man/woman with a different person. It is not a punishable crime in any government laws. Only religions frown at it. It was believed that It threatens the core of family life and the stability of the institution of marriage and potentially creates uncertainty about the paternity of the marital offspring.So, It was not merely a moral issue It was believed to be a taboo . Being how lopsided it was, women were more punished than men. Women became more submissive to their marriage while the men at times get out of such act.
The taboo was punishable my banishment, stoning to death. This was highly practiced in major parts of Africa.
3) lying before the gods
Prior to the introduction of religions like Christianity and Islam, Africans had their traditional religion (deity) they worshiped. They reverenced and held in high esteem the gods. Perhaps, in some places, such practice is still in existence but not as dominate as it was in the whole Africa.
Africans had their own form of worship and religion before the Europeans discovered the continent and felt it necessary to introduce Christianity, through which they claimed to show Africans the “one true God”. Through history, it has been discovered that Africans, before getting into contact with the Europeans knew about God. In what is now known as African traditional worship and practices, the name of God is translated into various words in many African languages. Not only did they have a name for him, but they believed in him and other lesser gods, many of which existed before Greek mythology and the introduction of Christianity into Africa.They already believed in spiritualism. This concept of spirit being is anthropomorphically conceived, since the spirits are both immaterial and incorporeal beings. These spirits live in rocks, mountains, rivers, trees, bushes, waterways, among other places. Another important dimension associated with this belief is the “born-to-die” idea, which is closely connected with reincarnation. This aspect of the belief claims wandering spirits specialize in finding their way into the wombs of pregnant women in order to be born and later to die
Lying was seen as a serious taboo with an immediate after effect which was usually instant death, or incurable illness that will take the life of the offender slowly.
4) Not burying the umbilical cord of a child in the ground.
The umbilical cord is the link between the mother and the fetus (baby in the womb). As the connections between female parent and the child. The cord is very essential to the life of the fetus and even after birth. It is with this perception that the place of disposal of the cord is significant.
As a belief, if not buried in the ground there is the tendency of the cord being used by unknown persons for ritual or diabolical purposes against the child which tends to affects whole life of the child up to adulthood. Burying the umbilical cord must be in a hidden place and secretly. In some Places, in South-Eastern Nigeria, once the cord is buried, a tree must be planted on the spot.
5) Homosexuality
Homosexuality being the sexual attraction or relationship between persons of same sex. Same-sex practice, homosexual lifestyles, or being gay, either as an imbued sexual orientation or choice, is widely resisted on the African continent. The resistance is based on the premise that such sexual orientation or consequent sexual behavior violates basic principles and beliefs of African reality
This was seen as a serious taboo in Africa. The entire Africa never practiced or condole such union. It was believed to be abnormal and perversion of god's intention and nature. As every act contrary to nature and the gods’ authority is vehemently rejected.The punishment is very severe as it will definitely lead to death or banishment to never return again and treated as a sub-human on earth.
6) Eating of snail during pregnancy by mothers makes the baby sluggish in Life.
As one of the taboos in olden days Africa. As Africans were vibrant in farming, hunting, fishing as their main occupation, it was widely resisted to give birth to child that seemed not strong for the activities that awaits him in the future. Based on this, snail was not encouraged to be consumed by pregnant women. It is believed that the consumption of snail by pregnant woman has direct negative effect on the life of the baby.
It was believed that, it has a direct impact on the physical behavior and lifestyle of the baby. Sluggishness is the behavioral trait associated with the belief. Meaning, the baby would be as sluggish as snail. It has a direct consequence to the child and could be seen as a self-afflicted misfortune unlike some taboos with capital punishment from the community deity or leaders.
7) A Taboo for a woman to inherit Land
This has been an ageless belief practiced in major parts of Africa which encroaches into religious practice as it was practiced in Israel according to the old testament of the bible. women’s human rights in Africa is the pervasive denial of a woman’s right to inherit land and other property. In many traditional societies in sub-Saharan Africa, land use, housing, and the transfer of land and housing between generations is regulated by customary law, which largely excludes women from property ownership and inheritance. Without secure land and property rights, widows and orphans are often left homeless and destitute after the death of their husband or father. Disinheritance seriously undermines women’s economic security and independence as well as their access to adequate food and housing. The denial of land rights to women also contributes to poverty and stunted economic development in countries where harmful inheritance practices are common. Schemes of inheritance and property allocation at death are deeply embedded in notions of culture and tradition in many sub-Saharan African societies. They are closely tied to other important rituals surrounding death, such as burials, funeral celebrations, mourning rites, and the transfer of traditional leadership positions within families and within larger ethnic groupings. These transfers of land, property, and power are always restricted to men
So, in some cultures in Africa, women were not meant to inherit Lands in their native homes or marriage places. It is believed that, it is the sole right of the men as women are not meant to have authority over men as land was a symbol of leadership. This belief was not disputed in the olden days and even up to date it Is still practiced in major parts of Africa.
8) Sexual intercourse in the Bush
Africans put emphasis on the importance of ancestry and descent, usually accompanied by a belief in ancestral spirit intervention in the affairs of the living; a related social system that is, in its most complex form places greater importance on inter-generational links than conjugal ones and that gives great respect and power to the old.
The Bush was seen in Africa as one of the helpers of humanity where farming and any other economic activities, like, timber work, hunting were carried on and as such must be respected and kept sacred. In addition, they could get mauled by wild cats, or even set off traps meant for game during their frolics in the woods. Aren’t these better reasons for avoiding sex in the bush than appealing to mysticism
9) Breaking of Earthen pot by Women
In the olden days in Africa, fetching of water and storage was with earthen pot made of clay. In some villages it is still in existence. It also serves as cooling facility just like refrigerator. In Africa, the making of clay pots and special objects, always had some superstition or magical ritual attached to it. In some tribes only the women are allowed to make pots, other the men and still in other tribes both genders. In some cultures there had to be a cleansing ritual before any work on pottery can begin, and in other a man wasn’t allowed to be with a woman the night before, or a woman menstruating wasn’t allowed near the pits. To make a pot a few things is needed, clay, a temper, the skill, and last but not least the fire. In the rain forest areas of West Africa, where streams and rivers run year round, clay is usually mined close to existing watercourses. Clay is dug from the banks of streams when the water is low. The clay is usually piled high on the banks, above the high-water mark, so that it can be later carried to the work area. Enough clay is dug while the pits are accessible to keep the potters supplied throughout the rainy season, when the pits are full of water.
Olden days in some part of Africa, it was a taboo for a woman to break an earthen pot deliberately or not. It is a bad omen and has implications. It was believed when a woman breaks a pot, she has destroyed her lineage as it is likened to a pregnancy which a woman has to be careful for the 9 months before delivery. Meaning, she should always be careful with the clay pot. It had also helped to keep the African arts and artifacts in shape and place.
10)Women are not to sit with men
With the current change of things, civilization being embraced. Women can comfortably sit alongside with their male counterpart and have a discussion they dim fit.
In the olden days, it was a taboo for women to sit with men (elderly). Elderly men usually have their sitting hut where they gathered and discussed. Men were highly placed to be respected by women and it was pleasing to the gods and as such a taboo when a woman tries to sit with men. The belief was that women have their stipulated role and it is totally different from that of men and based on that, discussions must be different. However, the men wouldn’t allow women come close with the intention of sitting with them. Perhaps, the punishment would require cleansing with sacrificial animal if there’s an offender.
