AFRICAN MORAL VALUES

African communities were regulated by a strict code of laws and moral values. In this lesson we shall study moral values, which regulated individual members of society as well as the community itself. 

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What is a cultural value?

​These are community practices and beliefs. Each community has cultural values that it accepts and upholds. These cultural values are laws, customs, and forms of behavior, regulations, rules, observances and taboos.
The cultural values form a moral code, which regulates the community. For example, if the culture, values private property, it will have laws that forbid theft of property. These laws are cultural values. Cultural values influence the social order and peace. God gives peace and harmony. God is seen as the giver and guardian of the law. Disobedience was and still is regarded as evil, wrong and was and still is punishable by law. 

​What are Moral Values?

Moral values are acts/deeds that are acceptable or good in the society.

​Moral values are standards of behavior towards others. They are based on what is valued by the community. Moral values are also positive attitudes. Each community decided what is important to it and what is desirable for its members to practice and uphold. 

Examples of moral values

Hospitality​

• This refers to generosity and kindness to guests and strangers in homes.
• Africans welcomed visitors at any time.  They were treated to plenty of food, drink and entertainment.
• Today there is a tendency towards individualism especially in the case of those living in urban centers.

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Honesty

• ​Means being truthful.
• It was taught to children as they grow up to ensure they become dependable people who always tell the truth.

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Courtesy

• Refers to politeness and good manners.
• In A.T.S there were rules that guided the behavior of individuals towards others based on age, gender and status of a person.

Tolerance and perseverance

• Tolerance means to endure somebody/something without complaining.
• Perseverance is a steady effort to achieve a goal without giving up.
•  People in A.T.S valued these qualities as they aided one to go through hardships courageously.
• These values were reinforced during initiation.

Loyalty

• Being true and faithful in supporting somebody or a particular cause.
• Children are taught values of the community which they are expected to keep and protect.
• They are taught not to betray the family and friends and always stick together.

Chastity

• ​This is having good sexual morals.
• Unmarried people were expected to keep their chastity or virginity until marriage while adultery was forbidden for the married.

Respect

• Polite behavior to oneself and others where one recognizes other’s rights and status.
• Children are taught to recognize the status of their parents, elders and leaders.

Responsibility

• Caring attitude towards others that leads one to help them.
• Africans helped one another.

Love

• A strong feeling of affection towards somebody or something which was expressed in actions in A.T.S.
• Love is equated with protection, loyalty, co-operation, generosity and hospitality which were important in T.A.S.

Co-operation

• This is working together for a common purpose.
• In T.A.S people worked together in all circumstances which made work and life easier for them.
• In T.A.S, people co-operated to accomplish tasks for the good of all.

Integrity

• It is the quality of having strong moral values.
• People of integrity do not give up on their beliefs and values even in the face of intense pressure.
• People of integrity are respected and will often be given positions of leadership.

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Unity solidarity

• This is to join together.
• Africans united in all aspects

Related Searches ...

• African moral and cultural values
• role of initiation in inculcating moral values
• reasons why initiation rites were important in traditional African communities (TAC)
• reasons why taboos are important in traditional African communities
• reasons why marriage in TAC is regarded as a covenant

Questions that you will most likely meet in examinations

Give five reasons why virginity is encouraged in both traditional African communities and Christianity. (5 mks)

1. ​It ensures purity/ chastity before marriage
2. Uphold moral values of the community
3. Protect gift of sex from misuse
4. Protect youth from unwanted pregnancies/ diseases
5. Uphold dignity/ respect/ reputation of individuals
6. It is a source of joy/ prestige to the couple.

Identify the moral values acquired during initiation  (6 mks)

1. Courage
2. Tolerance/Perseverance
3. Honesty
4. Loyalty
5. Chastity
6. Respect
7. Responsibility
8. Love
9. Co-operation
10. Integrity
11. Hospitality 

Identify eight moral values acquired during marriage in traditional African communities. (8 mks)

1. ​Love
2. Respect/courtesy
3. Obedience/Loyalty/Faithfulness
4. Responsibility
5. Tolerance/endurance/patience/perseverance
6. Co-operation/unity
7. Courage
8. Humility
9. Honesty
10. Integrity
11. Hospitality/kindness

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