In Africa marriage has been viewed as the fundamental structure
needed to boost the good health of all societies and has in all cases
received an elevated paramount position in the scheme of things. Today
Africa makes its resilient stand against major encroachment into this
sacred institution which until date has remained free from unhealthy
"western influence." The view of marriage in the west is often that of a
mere cordial relationship between two consenting adults, but Africa
sees this as a flawed description of a most sacred institution.
In
Nigeria where I currently live, marriage is looked at as the only means
to rate all grown or mature men as regards to their social status
amongst their peers. All men are expected to prove them selves by their
ability to become members of this sacred and exclusive collection of
noble gentlemen. It should be noted here that money is not the issue but
rather one psychological readiness to take on more responsibilities as
is required of members of this elite club.
In Africa, cultural
motivations play a most significant part in the position of marriage
within the society. Cultural believes of many African nations makes it
imperative that marriage remains very important indeed. The culture of
many continental Africa societies has always been a conservative one
which has always viewed marriage as the sole responsibility of the
conservative ruling class where ever they may be found. African cultural
marriage considerations today face so much attack from various
anti-marriage establishments as can be seen in the multitude of well
sponsored anti-marriage campaigns, whether direct or indirect; which
ever may be the case African values are currently under serious attack
from every imaginable means.
It is a noticeable fact that any
African society which has retained a strong post-colonial link to its
former colonial masters has found it extremely difficult to maintain a
solid marriage foundation which has translated into a porous moral
setting ripe with good examples of every thing that social planning and
implementation seeks to do away with. Recently it has been noticed in my
opinion that many aid programs have sought to repeal African cultural
values and in so doing undermine the traditional institution of marriage
in Africa.
No society can in my own opinion survive without a
strong marriage background, many in the west today put off marriage as
an 'unnecessary evil' which only puts its participants in unjust
commitment to a goal that has no basis as they can possibly imagine. The
fact remains that we become what we have been taught in our families
and no society can grow beyond the level of its marriage institution for
it is impossible to give that which you do not have.
Looking at
the present state of the western society we a similar pattern that runs
across most if not all; a pattern laced with troubled individuals who
for no reasons immediately available just become violent, but of course
the reason are there to see: A society of little emphasis on marriage.
Africa has marriage as the last line of defense against falling prey to
the ills of a society void of a proper social frame work. The west may
be well advanced but I disagree with the opinion that they have it right
on the marriage front. Results speak for them selves and will not be
fooled by what ever English term that may be used to describe their
situation. Simply put a culture that promotes no marriage promotes no
stability.
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