ABSTRACT
The purpose of this research work is to examine the traditional practices in curbing infidelity in Nigeria. A study of “Aleku” and “Otta” in Alago Community of Nasarawa State. Marriage is a universal institution which is recognized and respected all over the world. Infidelity amongst the Alago people is not only frowned at but also considered a taboo and sacrilegious. The ancestray ensures spirit that women keep stick to their husbands by keeping their marital vows. In Alago land, the fear of “Aleku”, the traditional god of the people is the beginning of wisdom despite the fact that Christianity and Islamic religions exist in the land, Aleku chastises unfaithful women by bringing inexplicable circumstances to work against members of the offending family. The potency of “Otta” on the other hand is not in doubt. It is an oath taken when a woman’s husband dies to prove her level of faithfulness to her deceased husband when alive. The duo (Aleku and Otta) are still highly revered and their virtues greatly extolled. The researcher makes use of questionnaire and oral interview as a tool to conduct the research in this study and finally some recommendations were made in the study. It is hoped that this study will serve as a basis for further investigation.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Marriage has various definitions, to some it might be defined as socially acknowledged and approved union between a man and woman for the procreation of children and their subsequent protection. Some see it as social institution that endures family sustenance. It can also be defined as the approved social platform whereby two or more persons establish a family. From the foregoing, it is clear that marriage can be defined in many ways; each society has its own ethnocentric way of viewing marriage.
However, the idea of marriage is not a recent idea but since the time of creation, God created man and later created a helper for him. This shows that the marriage institution is as old as man himself.
Marriage is not isolation, there are certain tasks being carried out by man or woman respectively. The woman stays at home to carry out some menial’s jobs such as sweeping the house, washing plates, cooking food for the family etc while the man goes to the farm to cultivate food crops for the family sustenance.
From the secular stand point, one of the most essential ingredients of marriage is faithfulness to your spouse. Most marriages hit the rock due to unfaithfulness which could emanate from either party.
The Alago Community of Nasarawa State frowns seriously on couples who are not faithful to themselves. There are traditional practices in curbing infidelity among the Alago people. Notable among them are “Aleku” and “Otta”.
In traditional Alago Societies, infidelity which is an act of not being faithful to one’s spouse is a grave offence that if it is not carefully handled brings an end to the marriage relationship. A woman who is legally married, and peradventure caught with another man having sexual intercourse is completely barred from her husband’s clan until she confesses her sin and certain traditional rites are performed before she returns or else she would face the wrath of Aleku (ancestral spirits). If she doesn’t confess, she will definitely die within seven days and many calamities will befall her family lineage as well. Alago people believes that Aleku is not seen but highly revered and honoured by the entire community.
‘Otta’ on the other hand is an oath taken after a woman’s husband dies to prove the widow he left behind has never being involved in any illicit affairs with other men while the husband was alive. It should be noted that if a woman takes this oath on false pretence, she would be meted with all forms of misfortunes, ranging from ill health, miscarriages and severe pains all over her body that defies any medical attention.
However, this rule is only hard on woman strictly because the man according to Alago traditions can marry more than one wife. This explains the reason why Alago women are more faithful only to their husbands, for anything contrary amounts to severe punishments. Hence, the fear of Aleku and Otta signify the fear of the gods in Alago land.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The topic of this study is the traditional practices in curbing infidelity in Nigeria.
In this study, the researcher discussed the problems faced by couples involved in the act of adultery and also as they lead to unnecessary calamities like illness, divorce and death in the community.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The researcher is writing on this topic so as to proffer a solution to the problem of infidelity in marriage and also to document how best to check and restrict unfaithfulness amongst the married couples in Nigeria.
The researcher wants to bring to lime light some reasons why some couples are unfaithful to themselves. The researcher also wants to highlight challenges faced by some of these couples who engage themselves in this illicit behaviour. The researcher intends to highlight the importance or benefits accruing to couples that are being faithful to one another.
1.4 Aim of the Study
To access and bring to the barest minimum, effects of traditional practices in curbing infidelity among the married couples in Nigerian society.
The major aim of this study is to strongly discourage our married women from engaging themselves in any form of extra marital affairs because it spells doom for both them and their entire families. And also to create awareness of the traditional practices in curbing infidelity in Alago land of Nasarawa State (Nigeria) and the various consequences thereof.
1.5 Objectives of the Study
1. To examine and document the effect of traditional practices in curbing infidelity amongst the married couples of Alago community in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. And secondly
2. To emphasize the importance of faithfulness amongst the married couples in the Nigerian society as a whole.
1.6 Significance of the Study
This study is focused on highlighting the traditional practices in curbing infidelity in Nigeria, using “Aleku” and “Otta” in Alago Community of Nasarawa State as a case study. Hopefully, this study would provide a platform for the researcher to discuss the causes of infidelity amongst the married couples across Nigeria. It would provide written document for the present and future generations who are intending going into marriage to be faithful to their spouses. It will also provide a convenient reference booklet for those who have no knowledge on the implications associated with unfaithfulness amongst the married couples in Nigerian Society.
This study will also examine the various ways in which infidelity affects the socio-cultural life of Nigerians.
1.7 Research Questions
In an attempt to eradicate or bring to the barest minimum the act of adultery and infidelity among the married couples in the Nigerian society which is a norm for socio-cultural development of all societies, this study seeks to answer the following questions:-
1. What is the importance of traditional practices in curbing infidelity to an average Nigerian?
2. What are the strategies employed to discourage infidelity among the married couples in the Alago community of Nasarawa State.
3. What are the consequences faced by the couples who are not being faithful to one another?
1.8 Scope of the Study
The study is confined to the traditional practices in curbing infidelity in Nigeria, and due to financial constraints, the researcher could only cover five districts namely: Obi, Agwatashi, Assakio, Doma and Keana.
Nevertheless, it is hoped that the recommendations and conclusion of this study will be of immense benefits & value to Alago people in particular and indeed the people of Nasarawa State in general.
1.9 Limitation of Study
During the course of this study, there was financial constraints and time was one the greatest problems, as such, a smaller population was reached; though it may not be representative enough, but it is hoped that the little effort would yield much results as both research and academic work were going on simultaneously.
1.10 Definition of Terms
1. Traditional: A belief, custom or a way of doing something that has existed for a long time among a particular group of people.
2. Marriage: The legal relationship between a husband and wife.
3. Society: A long standing group of people sharing cultural aspects such as language, dress, food, artifact, norms of behaviour and artistic form.
4. Aleku: In Alago parlance, this means “ancestral spirits”. The believe in Aleku is just like to believe in gods. Alago peoples believe that Aleku is not seen but felt and are highly revered among the people of Alago community.
5. Monogamy: The fact or custom of being married to only one person at a particular time or having a sexual relationship with only one partner. A form of sexual bonding involving a permanent pair bond between two beings.
6. Polygamy: The having of multiple socially bounded sexual partners at the same time or marriage of a man to more than one wife, or the practice of having several wives at the same time. The state or habit of having more than one sexual mate.
7. Otta: In Alago parlance, is an oath taken after a woman’s husband dies to prove the widow he left behind has never been involved in any illicit behaviour of extra marital affairs with other men when her husband was alive. If she takes this oath on false pretence, she would face different calamities and would eventually die within seven days.
8. Culture: The belief, values behaviour and material objects that constitute a people’s way of life. The arts, customs, and habits that characterize a particular society or nation
9. Divorce: The legal dissolution of marriage
1.11 Summary
Right from inception, marriage was ordained by God Himself and meant to be a sacred relationship between man and wife but from time immemorial adultery has been identified as one of the major reasons why marriages don’t last.
In fact it has become a major cancer worm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of some married couples in the society and that is why emphasis has been laid on the traditional practice of curbing the menace in our society (case study of the Alago community of Nasarawa State, Nigeria).
The study explains the reasons why some couples are not committed or faithful to their spouses and also looked at the various causes of infidelity in marriage and examine the eminent consequences of such grievous act in the Alago community of the State (Nasarawa).
In conclusion however, the study also delved into suggesting various possible ways by which the act of adultery can be curtailed or out-rightly expunged in the society.
Format: MS-Word
Pages: 55
Chapters: 1-5
