By Thomas Andreas (JSC)
Those in Africa, and unfortunately it’s the majority of Africans who prefer to follow the beliefs, traditions and customs of their ancestors, promote the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Those beliefs and customs surely served their purpose in the era of our ancestors. But in this modern world with its dangers, such as alcohol abuse and sexual promiscuity, those African beliefs and customs are fuel on the fire.
With a strong adherence to those relevant African beliefs and customs our attempt to fight the spreading of HIV/AIDS is doomed at the outset.
The AIDS scenario in Africa is not related to individuals only. It warns us that AIDS in Africa is becoming a community and systemic problem. The acuteness of the problem does not stem merely from the fact that communities are affected, or could even be wiped out by the end of this decade, but from the fact that AIDS will place incredible burdens and obligations upon medical services, health care and churches.
Figures make it clear that Africa is an exceptionally vulnerable continent. It is evident that in Africa AIDS will and is spreading like wildfire. The most common reasons are the following:
African males are traditionally polygamous, or have several sexual partners.
Also, despite the effect of modern life on tribal customs, polygamy and concubines are still tacitly accepted as normal cultural practices among Africans even linked to the threat of AIDS, therefore, sexual promiscuity is unlikely to carry a stigma of disapproval.
Many African males are adamant in their African beliefs and customs that women are “under” the man.
Many religious African men are also ignorant, or perhaps misunderstood the Bible where it states in 1Peter 3 verse 1: “In the same way your wives must submit to your husbands ….”
This quoted Bible verse and the African custom and beliefs that a woman is under the man leaves the women in Africa at the mercy of their polygamous husbands, thus women’s lack of status, in such an environment, gives them very little, if any, bargaining power in sexual relationships and very little chance of insisting that their husbands use condoms.
Many traditional and custom orientated Africans perceive condoms as a political manoeuvre supporting white engineered intentions.
It is also the African belief that the men are the provider and that African women should stay at home and raise the kids. This resulted that African women are economically in a vulnerable position.
Thus the African women’s lack of economic power contributes to increased prostitution, which again results in the spreading of HIV/AIDS.
In conclusion, do African beliefs and customs permit men to do and want what they want, and in the meantime promote the spread of HIV/AIDS? I say “NO!”