TOP 5 WEIRD CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS IN NIGERIA

Situated in West Africa, Nigeria, Africa's most populous country and popularly referred to as 'The Giant of Africa' earns this title for a couple of very obvious and relevant reasons.

IMPORTANCE OF CULTURE IN NIGERIA

Nigeria is a culturally rich country with more than 250 indigenous languages. Culture is very important in Nigeria because it is a way of life. It is what defines the people and their way of thinking. It is passed down from one generation to the next and helps to keep the traditions and customs of the people alive. Our focus will premise on 5 popular customs and traditions in Nigeria.

They are as follows:

1. Female Genital Mutilation:

Female genital mutilation (FGM) or Female circumcision a we will be referring to this act further on in this discussion - is the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is commonly performed on girls aged between 4 and 14, but may be carried out on babies and women of all ages.

Female circumcision isn't domiciled to any one tribe or peoples of Nigeria as it is a custom practiced widely across the country. Female circumcision is a traditional practice that is carried out on girls and young women for a variety of reasons, including to ensure their virginity, to preserve their purity, to ensure their marriageability, and to protect their family's honor.

Some women who have undergone female circumcision also report that they believe it enhances their sexual pleasure. Female circumcision is typically carried out by a traditional practitioner, often using a blade or knife, without anesthesia. The procedure can be extremely painful and can result in a number of long-term health consequences, including chronic pain, menstrual problems, urinary tract infections, infertility, and death.

2. Sharo:

Sharo is a very weird custom indeed - popular in the northern parts of Nigeria mainly amongst people of Fulani descent. It more or less a very extreme way a young man is made to prove his manliness to society by going through a gruelling and intense flogging session. The young man in question is beaten with a whip by an equally strong or in most cases stronger male member of the society who is usually referred to as a contender and to pass this arduous test he must show no sign of fear and pain.

Some say the sharo beating is a traditional form of discipline used to keep children in line, while others believe it is a way to deter them from engaging in criminal behavior. The punishment is typically administered with a whip or a cane, and can leave children with bruises, welts, and scars.

3. Magun:

Have it at the back of your mind that Africa has zero tolerance to acts of adultery (especially on the female side), and Nigeria isn't left out in this aspect - as a very popular practice among the Yoruba tribe who occupy the West of the country speaks volumes in this direction. Magun or Thunderbolt is pure black magic locally called - Juju - which is usually in the form of a thread or a very thin rope which the husband places on the ground without the knowledge of the wife, once she steps over it, the Magun black magic charm is activated and from that day henceforth if the wife commits adultery she gets stuck to her lover like glue and once the duo gets discovered and separated her lover will either crow or bark like a dog and then die on-the-spot.

While in some other Yoruba communities The Magun culture is a traditional belief system that is used to protect women from being raped or sexually assaulted. The culture is based on the belief that a woman who is raped or sexually assaulted has been cursed by a man, and the curse can be reversed by using a magun charm. If the woman is suspected of being cursed, she is isolated from the community and is not allowed to have any contact with men.

Equally A Magun charm is also popular in the Asian continent, especially in Korea. Magun (자극마귀) is a charm used in Korean marriages to protect the wife from the husband's adulterous affairs. If the wife suspects her husband of being unfaithful, she can use the magun to punish him. The magun is a small object that is hidden in the wife's clothing. When the husband tries to have sexual relations with her, the magun will activate, causing him to experience intense pain and possible death.

4. Osu (Caste System):

This practice is prominent among the Igbos who occupy the Eastern parts of Nigeria. The Osu Caste system refers to a group of peoples who are seen as second class citizens in any Igbo society. They literally are ostracized from society because their forebears were dedicated to deities, thus they and generations after them go through living as a detached and isolated body in any Igbo society which still hold on to its ancient beliefs.

The Osu caste system in Nigeria is a social hierarchy that places people into specific categories based on their birth. It is most commonly found in the Igbo community, although it is also used in other parts of Nigeria. The system is based on the belief that some people are born with a divine connection to the spiritual world, and they are therefore considered to be inferior to other people. The Osu caste system is used to control the social order and to ensure that people stay in their place.

5. Fattening Room:

A fattening room is a room where people, usually women, are kept so they can gain weight. This is often done before a marriage, as it is seen as being more attractive to have a larger person. They may be given food and drink that is high in calories, and may not be allowed to exercise. This can be dangerous, as it can lead to health problems.

The fattening room culture was frivolously prominent amongst tribes located in parts of Nigeria's Southern parts particularly especially in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States e.g Ibibio, Annang, Efik, Oron, Eket etc., although this custom has generally faded away pockets of families still practice it till this day. Because the fatter or chubbier a woman is, the more supple, elegant, prettier and homelier she was deemed to be more attractive, and more suitable as a wife. Priority was laid on locking young women away among older women who would groom these younger women and get them fat enough to be married out. The more chubbier the woman the more elaborate and expensive her bride price and marriage ceremony would cost.