A Review of Human Rights Violation in African Cultural Practices

Abstract

Africa is enriched with diverse rich cultural heritage. Some of these cultural practices have been upheld over the decades despite westernization. However, civilization has enlightened Africans in some regions to realize that some of these cultural practices are barbaric, absurd and constitute a violation of their fundamental human right. These cultural practices that stramble on the human rights of Africans has in some regions impeded socio-economic and educational development. The purpose of this study shall be to examine these harmful cultural practices obtainable in selected West African communities which violate the fundamental human rights of her citizens including a few cultural practices that has been eradicated or left optional. Some of these harmful cultural practices to be reviewed here include female genital circumcision, child labour, tribal marking, virginity testing, son preference/ male dominance, removing of a girl’s teeth in preparation for marriage and so many others. The scope of this study shall be limited to Nigeria and a few West African States. The Research methodology to be adopted is the theoretical approach with a little touch of empirical method by way of conducting interviews on selected elders, other data shall be sourced through library and Internet sources. Thus the study recommends that some cultural practices should be abolished as same poses a threat to the exercise of the fundamental human rights of children and more especially females generally. Also strict adherences to some of these cultural practices impede socio-economic development of the region. Thus, any cultural practice that does not respect the human rights of the people especially females should be modified or eradicated.