22 Feb African Societies and Covenants

‘An agreement is a kind of debt’ states a Moroccan proverb. This belief holds sway in many other African societies. Culturally, Africans are not supposed to take their commitments lightly and are expected to keep their word. Keeping the terms of any covenant is a basic component of the socio-cultural architecture of any African society – ancient or modern.

Africans who imbibe this aspect of culture hold their allegiance to traditional institutions dearly. It is a vital component of their sense of value – as people compare their values against certain yardsticks.

A good example would be their respect for traditional institutions and one of such institutions is marriage, where the marriage covenant is not taken lightly. Today however, this has been played down leading to the dearth of proper marriages and an increase in infidelity across the African landscape.

Perhaps, we could learn lessons from the use of the oath of fidelity – used among the Benin people of Nigeria. When there is some awe attached to marriage, we would have greater chances of happier marriages.