VIRGINITY IN THE PRECOLONIAL IGBOLAND

VIRGINITY IN THE PRECOLONIAL IGBOLAND

“Virginity, which implies chastity, is the noblest of feminine possessions. It is most scrupulously guarded and protected by the mother. Before and after great dances, all unmarried girls have to undergo strict biological examination by a board of old women whose sole interest is not to embarrass the girls but to insure that the virginity of the future breeders of posterity is not being tampered with. Infidelity is severely punished, while chastity is lavishly rewarded. If after her wedding a girl is found to be a virgin, her husband gives her mother a special gift.” Culled from Mbonu Ojike, My Africa (London: Blandford Press, 1955), 136-137.

This is one of the cultural values we need to restore. This will be the real going back to our roots. Of course, what we are talking about here us the value not the practice because such practice has overtaken by time. Again, it has to be something for both boys and girls. If we would restore our lost sexual morality, so many other lost values will come back with it.

Fr Angelo Chidi Unegbu