7 MORAL INCLINATIONS YOU MUST KNOW WHEN VISITING AFRICAN COMMUNITIES

Every people, nation and race seek wisdom since it is a quest for knowledge which avails us of solutions to our problems. The Africans are not left out of this quest for knowledge in seeking solutions to her problems. Africans have their traditional moral inclinations which serve as a guide for moral behavior. Every African society has its specific norms of morality. These are virtues bequeathed unto her people centuries ago and are geared towards allowing for peace, cultural diversification, growth, enlightenment and so on. Below, we discuss the various moralities that are peculiar to a typical African community.

Morality 1: "The traveller has no enemy."

This has to do with hospitality towards strangers. Africans have a flare in welcoming strangers and catering for them by making them feel very comfortable. In spite of western influences, many African countries still welcome strangers and care for them in an extraordinary way. This has brought a lot of development and increased diversification in the region. Visitors who tend to have the place as a permanent home would either marry her people or carry out one investment or the other.

Morality 2: "Only a fool does not know that the brother is a guest."

This is to say that there should be hospitality towards kin and kith ( that is, friends and relatives). This is to say that when we are visited by a foreigner, friends or relatives, we should make them comfortable. It is a tradition in the Ibo speaking communities in Nigeria that a visitor be offered a drink (palm wine ), kola nut and garden egg with ground nut paste as a sign of hospitality. One does not need to book an appointment before visiting a fellow kinsman anytime. One is always welcomed at any time one visits.

Morality 3: "Enmity with a brother does not go beyond the skin."

In African traditional communities, there are no words for cousin, nephew, niece, uncle, aunt etc. Every one within the kindred is regarded as a brother or a father and mother. Even in the modern African society, those who hail from the same community or village or clan regard themselves as brothers. For these reasons, the African is always to love his brother and be his brother's keeper at all cost. He is to protect his interests and not to go against him. Whenever there is a point of disagreement, brotherly love should prevail by calling on the brother involved to express one's grievances and resolve such differences.

Morality 4: "Wealth not shared by brothers is poverty." 

Individualism is alien to the Traditional African Communities. Communalism, which is a system where things are owned on a communal basis, was the system practiced in Africa. There was solidarity and the spirit of sharing among the traditional Africans. When one person is healthy, such wealth is shared or enjoyed by the extended family. When this is is not the case, poverty is said to be. It means that no man can say 'I am rich' or 'I am wealthy' when the brothers or family members live in abject poverty.

Morality 5: "He who respects his elders prays for long life."

Elders are custodian of the cultural heritage of the African societies. They are regarded as 'wise' because of their wealth of experience acquired over the years. They are normally consulted on a wide variety of issues such as marriage customs, burial customs, inheritance etc. For these reasons, elders and our seniors are to be respected so that long life will be our portion. It is also believed that those who respect their elders will also be respected by their younger ones.

Morality 6: "The child belongs to all."

It is a proper saying in Africa that "When a child is born, it belongs to the parents, but when the child starts growing up, it belongs to everyone". This is true because there is collective responsibility in bringing up a child in Africa. It involves training by the parents, neighbors and even elders in the communities as. When a child performs an action, reward or punishment is given by any member of the community, not just by the parents.

Morality 7: "The good Wife is the Husband's honour." 

In traditional Africa, when a young girl is about 16 to 18 years old, the question on the lips of people is "whose child is that girl?"When the girl is more than 18 years old, the question changes to "whose wife is that girl?" when she grows older, the question changes to "who are her children?" A good wife is the pride of the husband. Her actions, wether good or bad will make others to ask after her husband. If she behaves well, the glory and praise goes to the husband, if not, she takes the reproach. The husband of a good wife is considered to be very lucky and blessed since such a husband will be held in high esteem anywhere he goes for the sake of the deeds of the wife. A good wife will not be unfaithful to the husband by commiting adultery with other men. This will certainly lead to the death of the children and eventually, that of the husband as well.