Sometimes ago I sit myself down, wondered why there are so much disorder and chaos in our land today. I realized many reasons for that one of which is the total abandonment of our culture and beliefs for the western culture. Those some of the western cultures are good but not all. Infact the disadvantages clearly outweigh the advantages. Our cultural beliefs have been neglected while we purse others cultures. In Yoruba land, Yoruba tribe is one of the most three major tribes we have in Nigeria. We have some beautiful cultures and beliefs we hold in great esteem some long time ago, unfortunately people don't see those as the way of life anymore. Infact people nowadays have a high disregard for it that they may even call you a slowpoke and old-fashioned individual if you still believe in the culture. We have great cultures and beliefs that I will be mentioning some of them here.
1. Boys showing respect to Elders through prostrating.
Many young men in this age simply lack respect and manners. Infact the mode of greetings of small boys nowadays leave a kind of question mark. Some people will just shake or bow little for their parents and elders when greeting them. This is not our culture. A child is always expected to prostrate for people who are clearly more aged than him. Prostrating will build humility and a heart of respect in the child, that's the significance. But nowadays people don't respect elders anymore. I was reading a post from Facebook some days back where it was being said that people don't prostrate to greet their parents again, they just remove their earpiece 😁 to greet. That's funny but it's also disheartening.
2. Girls are expected to kneel down to greet.
Nowadays how many women can kneel down to greet their husbands. No wonder some pompous women who have no regards for their husbands don't always stay long in marriage. Girls in the olden days are always been groomed right from their infancy. Girls are always expected to kneel down for their parents and elders to show their maximum respect. It's often believed that they will continue the act once they get to their husbands house. But nowadays girls will just be standing greeting their parents which should not be so.
3. Chastity as a gift and worth.
In Yoruba land, people always praise women who keeps their self till marriage. They considered marriage a sacred union which should be pure. Women who didn't not keep themselves pure till marriage are always disgraced and not valued after the wedding night. Such disgrace is not meant for the woman alone, her family will also share in the disgrace. That's why women are often protected with stringent laws against sexual harassment from bullies especially when they are not married. Rapist are always given severe punishment such as death. Because it's believed that a woman once raped has lost her honour. This culture is significant because it helps to prevent unwanted pregnancies, it can also prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases which has been rampant today.
All these cultures may be old fashioned but they surely have their significance. Yoruba has a wealth of cultures as well as other tribes in Nigeria such as the Igbos too. The listed culture in this article are just some out of our beautiful esteemed beliefs and cultures in Yoruba land. Hope you will find time to check more I them from the internet. Thanks
Yoruba culture is really wonderful. It's associated with deep respect