BY: FARUNA ANTHONY MARY
INTRODUCTION
Prior
to the advent of colonialism, the African peoples have enjoyed a world of
happiness, togetherness and love, amidst a rich culture, furnished with a well
preserved heritage and colored by traditional ethics so wonderful to behold.
They lived a communal life, in which they work for the common good of all, and
share all their properties together in a direct fulfillment of the true image
of a community as defined by Alfred Kohn “a community is a
group of people who share the same culture” the then peoples of Africans,
eat from the same plate, thus Senghor states “I am because you are”.
Morality was highly extolled, respect for elders was done in an atmosphere of
joy and amusement, Virginity was a symbol of pride cherished by all, generosity
was seen not only as a virtue, but a hobby, hard work was not negotiable as
everyone was up and doing, they were united heart and soul, and whatever
affects one affects all. The children were given proper training beginning from
the family and extending to the community at large; every one played his/her
part in the upbringing of the little ones.
With the emergence of the colonial
Master came a new era of the so-called civilization, a new dawn of life style
directly in contrast with the African life style. Individualism was extolled
above communalism, which broke every single cord binding the African people,
from the top which is the community, down to the root (the family). A drastic
change was introduced into the African community, and every one had to concur,
because even the refusal not to concur was in itself a change from communalism
to individualism as you will need to stand on your own in opposition to those
brothers and sisters of yours who have accepted the new culture.
In this paper however, we will look
at the family in particular, and examine those effects of colonialism imposed
on her, with particular reference to the culture of individualism.
INDIVIDUALISM: INFLUENCE ON THE AFRICAN FAMILY
God as the source and founder of
the marital vocation which results in the formulation of the family, had a
special purpose for its invention when He created them male and female, and
commanded them to multiply (Gen 1:27-28). It is the desire of God that there
should exist within the family a high level of love, which bears the fruit of
children. This was of utmost importance in the life of the Africans prior to
the arrival of the colonial Masters, which brought about the emergence of a new
style of life, demoralizing the African cultural heritage, and opening us up to
a new dawn of civilization which encompasses in itself some alienated elements
harmful to the already established family life style of the Africans, that is,
introducing individualism as opposed to communalism.
The family is the original cell of
social life; it is the natural society in which husband and wife are called to
give themselves wholly in love and in the gift of life. The family life is an
initiation into the life in society (CCC 2207). The African family in time past
was known for its high level of love which breeds a strong unity in the family
and the community at large. People were concerned mainly with activities that
befit the interest and common goal of the family, and indeed the community at
large. Cultural entertainments like the Moon light play, folks and story telling
such as the familiar stories of the tortoise we came to know, were used to
promote a good sense of belonging among members, and also used as a binding
element of the family, as well as a necessary activity in the proper training
of children, in which historical events and, cultural heritage and traditions
of the family and community were conveyed to them in a manner they will
appreciate, value, and never forget. Every one in the family has his/her roles
to play in ensuring the well being of the family, while the men work on the
farm, the women go to the market and ensure the men are well fed on their
arrival after a tedious work on the farm. There was a high level of mutual
trust, love, understanding, and the integrity of the family was well protected.
But like a double edged sword,
colonialism broke this cherished cord of love and unity binding the African
families and the community in general, chattering the cultural heritage, values
and norms. This they did, first, by enticing our leaders with the so-called
wonder items like the mirror, gun and the likes. They made a wonderful
displayed of their culture, ranking it as superior to ours which was seen to be
archaic and barbaric in nature. Indeed, they had very enticing items, and our
people swayed by this turned back on our priceless, beautiful and lovely
cultural heritage, stabbing it in the heart and termed it outdated and
primitive. That love binding the African family like a wave was gone with the
development of slave trade; Africans who were protective of each were now
hunting themselves and selling themselves to the White men, and this I see as
the real barbaric and primitive man. Therefore I dare to say that the barbaric
tendencies and attributes we were accused of were introduced into the Africans
by the Americans. This became the birthday of the different vises we celebrate
today in Africa, in Nigeria and even in our families and communities. Vices
such as the social and political instability we experience today, bribery and corruption,
human trafficking and litanies of others.
Our African women who were very good
at breast feeding their children now find it embarrassing, and so they
subscribe to artificial methods, and as a result, most children who fell
victims of this are derailed of proper mentality and a good sense of thinking.
Many children lacks proper knowledge of their parents as the get to see them
occasionally on Saturdays due to the busy work schedule of their parents, and
as a result, the parents fail to discharge their responsibilities in the
upbringing of their children, which was not so in the then African family where
the man goes to the farm with his sons, and the mother goes to the market with
the girls. Owing to this, many Marriages suffer problems, and some have even
divorced. In such cases, the children, having no proper care and training takes
into prostitution, arm robbery, kidnapping, cultism and other vises threatening
our societies today, thereby bringing to question, God’s purpose and aim of
establishing the family.
CONCLUSION
The Creator of all made the
marital vocation the beginning and foundation of human society; by His grace,
He has made of it too a great mystery in Christ and in the Church (Eph 5:32).
Holding to this, parents should by imitating the Holy Family, shape their
existence in the essence of God’s purpose for the family, appreciating our
African cultural heritage, and extracting from it those wonderful elements that
built up and maintain a healthy family. Bearing in mind that Marriage is a life
that calls for unending love without reservations, just like Jesus who for love
of us died on the Cross, individualism and all its offshoots such as self-centeredness,
greediness, selfishness and the likes should be shun and denied, while
communalism should be embraced.
Communalism is not restricted to the
parents alone, therefore the children under the parental guidance of the
parents must endeavor to obey and honor their parents, elders and other relations and friends, because
filial respect is shown by true docility and obedience; A wise son hears his
father’s instructions, but a scoffer does not(Proverbs 13:1). Communalism is
the defining factor of any group, association, family, and community that yeans
for growth, it is our African heritage………. Let’s embrace it.
