Summary of Cultural, Tradition and Ritual Practices in African Society - Essay Example

Tradition is an inherited pattern of behaviors or beliefs that are passed from one generation to another. Custom also refer to the common practices or habitual behaviors that regulate the social life of a certain group in society. Rituals are well-established form of cultural practices or ceremonies that mark a certain social rite in society. Although modernity or globalization has contributed to some changes in African societies, many African societies are still attached to cultural practices, traditions and customary issues.

Cultural, traditional and ritual practices are widespread in African societies. The Ndebele people are well known for being artistic people because of the artistic creativity and decorations of their homestead. Their historical perspective focuses on the ritualistic practices especially male and female initiation and marriage as well as religious practices or beliefs (Sian Tiley-Nel par.1). The Ndebele people are famous because of their creativity in art, traditional practices and religious beliefs. They practice male and female initiation ceremonies known as ingoma or wela and iqhude or ukuthombisa respectively. The marriage ceremony is significant to them, and their ancestors influence their daily practices.

The African coming–of–age rituals are viewed as consisting of three main stages, which includes separation from the society, transcription period and reincorporation into the community (Hipple par.3). The first phase involves taking boys and girls into the forest, which is notable for ritual activities. The second phase of transition involves initiating learning activities and training boys and girls on significant skills that will help them to participate in society. For instance, the Krobo of Ghana trains girls for three weeks on various issues such as ways of dancing and art of seduction, female behaviors in the society and the domestic core skills. However, the initial process for girls in the Senufo of Ivory Coast takes a period of seven or eight years. The third phase reincorporation into society, which is the last phase for African coming of age rituals. This stage involves varied ordeals and tests that are usually painful. The rituals may involve various physical markings on the body such as circumcisions or body scarification. Although, these rituals vary from one ethnic group to another and the ritual practices symbolize the stage of maturity, thus becoming an adult.

Circumcision is a widely ritual practice, which is common in many African societies. It is widely practiced frequently even in contemporary society because it is an initiation process through which one moves from childhood to adulthood. The World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that many million girls undergo female genital cutting (FGC) in African society (Hipple. The FGC is classified into three various types including clitoridectomy, which involves the removal of the clitoris, excision and infibulations. The clitoridectomy is one of the FGC types, which are commonly practiced in many African societies including South Africa, Sudan, Kenya, Somalia and many other African countries. However, these ritual practices pose health risks such as sexual problems, diseases infections, haemorrhage, childbearing difficulties, physical pain and psychological disturbances and many others. These practices have led to campaigning programs in order to change the practices because of the impact they have on the girl child or women in society.