Manhood in African Societies and Family Structures in African Societies - Research Paper Example

Introduction The Africa tradition regarding conduct in leadership in the society can be traced back a long time ago. History of the past events in different societies indicates that there is a similarity in the way activities and responsibilities were shared. The man in an African society has responsibilities as the head of the family. Several literatures works such as Wole Soyinka "Death and the Kings Horseman", "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe, and "Song of Lawino" by Okot Pbitek is written on an African setting. It allows the reader an opportunity to understand well the African society on the topic of manhood and family. The responsibilities of a man in the African society is misinterpreted and abandoned by majority according to expectations in the African society African family structure Thinking about African family structure polygamy is what comes into the mind of many individuals. It is the aspect of several women being linked to a man as his wives. It is something that has been in existence in the African society in different regions for a long period and therefore accepted as a norm. In the African society, it is expected that at a certain age a woman should be married to a certain man and to have children. In the past, before colonization that influenced the culture of Africans, women were expected to stay at home at take care of the children and house chores. A woman in such a community is expected to be under the man and the responsibility the man is to provide and protect the family. the aspect of being led by a woman in any matter was not a matter of discussion. Women were not allowed to be present in elder meeting or where decisions that affect the community are made. The aspect of polygamy does exempt man from performing his responsibilities to expectations in the society. Several literature works written by different African authors depict a real African family, and the way activities are carried out by the relevant characters (Jing 33). The number of children in the African society was associated with wealth especially the male child. Several customary and traditional practices are performed in different communities. The practices have different meanings depending on the society. One of the common traditional practices is circumcision. Some communities perform this only on the male children while other circumcises the female child. Several teachings are given to the circumcised group regarding life and the responsibilities that come along with being a man. In the recent world, the term manhood is being misused especially in African societies where its true meaning is being neglected. Many individuals tend to use the word manhood in a very wrong context without the knowledge or care of the intensity associated with the word manhood. According to the history of the majority of the African society, manhood means being a man in more than just the physical appearance and organs (Curling, Chris, and Melissa 21). It is leadership quality in a man when it comes to family matters and the conduct of such a man around the society on aspects such as helping the society in times of crisis. Most of the men in the recent times in African society and others from the past misunderstand the concept of manhood with the male sexual organ. It has had several adverse effects in the society that is something happening until today (Wilder and Craig 52). The effects of this misunderstanding can be clearly seen in our society. The concept of fatherlessness is dominant in many African societies today with the clear presence of mother-headed families. The families are not headed by women due to death but because of the irresponsible nature if the nature of the men in the society. The understanding of manhood as an organ has driven men to great depths in the quest to show the society that they are real men not knowing they are actually causing problems in the society. A man intends to prove manhood to the society by ensuring one sleeps with as many women as possible leaving evidence of such action as children. The burden of care to such children is left on the hands of a woman (Eekelaar and Rob 15). The man moves on to the next woman without much care of how the children will be taken care of in terms of provision of basic needs. It is saddening to understand the sense of responsibility is being abandoned in the society today. The more the children one had, the wealthier the person was assumed to be in the society. Literatures work analysis Death and the Kings Horseman Several literature works explain this concept in clear and true African society. The literature works are written by African writers who have first-hand understanding of what happens in the African society as they are part of the society. Some of the writers are even victims of such circumstances. The piece of literature play by Wole Soyinka also portrays the aspect. It is set in Nigeria with the traditions and customs of the Yoruba community in Nigeria analyzed in details. Aspect of manhood is first seen in the play where the Horseman is supposed to commit suicide after the death of the chief. It is expected in the Yoruba community for this happens to ensure that the spirit of the chief moves peacefully to the next life without roaming around the society. It is carried out to ensure that peace among the people in the society is not disrupted by the roaming spirit of the departed chief. In the play, the horseman abandons the responsibility and does not commit suicide. Manhood or rather the sense of responsibility is clear in the context whereby Elesins son known as Olunde comes from Europe and assumes the responsibility (Soyinka 42). The son takes the position and kills himself for the purpose of saving the community. Another concept of manhood is seen in the play by the use of proverbs by the singer on Elsin after the leader decided to take on a new wife. The proverb by the singer on Elsin is ‘Ariyawo-ko-iyale which means ‘because a man approaches a new brand-new bride, he forgets the long faithful mother of his children. It is crystal clear from the proverb that abandonment of wives and having new women is a common phenomenon in the African society. Creation of proverbs and sayings is after a long-term observation of a certain type of behavior that has a negative influence in the society (Shorter and Aylward 12). The existence if such a proverb clearly indicates the existence of such behavior in that society. Another concept of responsibility comes in where it is being directed to Elsin who is a leader. A leader is supposed to act responsibly and be a good example in the society that is not the case in the Yoruba community during the reign of Elsin. Literature by Chinua Achebe Another piece of literature that clearly brings out the concept of manhood in the African society is the work by Chinua Achebe ‘Things Fall Apart. A lot of information regarding the African society can be deduced for the literature, but the major concern in this case is about manhood and the African society. It is about a man named Okonkwo whose act of heroism made him popular in the society. The man is known for his nature of quick temper and hate for failures despite the fact that his father was a failure. Okonkwo does not allow this to affect his fate and works hard to be a successful man in the society. Aspect of manhood is first seen where Okonkwo works hard can provide for his three wives and children by practicing agriculture and the planting of yams to feed his family. The man does not let his family perish in poverty or lack food. He assumes his added responsibility considering he is married to three wives whom he has to feed and satisfy sexually (Achebe 70). In the literature, a chance for comparison is seen where the author has included another character whose traits are opposite that of Okonkwo. Unoka is well known around the community for his laziness and being wasteful on the little resources he gets. Aspect of manhood and responsibility is depicted whereby Unoka is unable to take care of his family. In the African society, the man is the head of the family and the role of provision of the basic needs in the family. Unoka does not honor these responsibilities and makes the situation worse by borrowing money and spoiling or rather wasting the borrowed money in drinking palm-wine. The sense of irresponsibility is also found where Unoka is supposed to pay the debts. He laughs at one of the men who come to collect his debts and indicates that customary, the larger debts should be paid first before the small debts are paid. Keen analysis of this scenario shows that Unoka is irresponsible and selfish towards other members of the community. There is lack of respect in such situation as other members think of Unoka as lazy and irresponsible. The song of Lawino by Okot pBitek Another piece of literature that proves important in the context is a piece of work by a Uganda-based writer or rather poet Okot pBitek. The writer has produced different pieces of literature work that give various cultural details about manhood and families of the African societies. One of his long poems known as ‘The song of Lawino’ gives some information that can be associated with manhood and families in the African society. The lady known as Lawino is crying to the husband who has left her for another woman for several reasons. The husband has acquired the western education and was seeing the wife as stupid and irresponsible, and marries another woman who the man thinks is fit for him. The man is throwing insults on his wife and says she is stupid to have got westernized woman who does and dresses in the western ways (PBitek 6). Lawino claims the husband known as Ocol has lost his manhood. In the context, an aspect of manhood in the African society can be clearly seen when Ocol abandons the wife for another woman. The man in an African society is expected to be responsible even more than one is brought into the picture. The woman lays claim that the manhood of the people is destroyed by reading books that in other words means it is destroyed by education. Conclusion The African society is popular for the conservation of culture and particular norms. There are minor differences in the culture if various communities but keen analysis of the practices one can easily pinpoint the similarities between this practices. A man is considered a very important person in the society. Undertaking the expected responsibility is mandatory, and those that abandon the responsibilities are considered outcasts or irrelevant people in the society. As the head of the family major decision making in the family is the responsibility of a man. Sexual satisfaction is also an important aspect in the African society. Several rituals are performed on African men and women when they attain a certain age. One of the important cultural practices among the African communities is circumcision. The maintenance of the cultural values in an African society is all about inheritance. The forefathers in the African society pass on the knowledge and custom to the next generation. That generation is also expected to do the same thus making sure the culture is maintained in the society. Works Cited Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Knopf, 1992. Print. Curling, Chris, and Melissa Llewelyn-Davies. Masai Manhood. Chicago, Ill: Films Inc, 1991. Eekelaar, John, and Rob George. Routledge Handbook of Family Law and Policy. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis, 2014. Print. Heald, Suzette. Manhood and Morality: Sex, Violence, and Ritual in Gisu Society. London: Routledge, 1999. Internet resource. Jing, Thomas. Tale of an African Woman. Bamenda, Cameroon: Langaa Research & Pub. CIG, 2007. Internet resource. PBitek, Okot. Song of Lawino: &, Song of Ocol. London: Heinemann, 1984. Print. Shorter, Aylward. East African Societies. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis, 2013. Print. Soyinka, Wole. Death and the Kings Horseman. New York: Norton, 1975. Print. Wilder, Craig S. In the Company of Black Men: The African Influence on African American Culture in New York City. New York: New York University Press, 2001. Print. Read More