NewStats: 3,261,627 , 8,174,547 topics. Date: Thursday, 29 May 2025 at 07:58 PM h4r3y

Africa is a predominately a traditional society that has evolved over the years. It is interesting that there are still many taboos which have refused to go away despite advancement of many countries in the region.

Some actions that are categorized as taboos have a social or religious explanation which restricts people from engaging in them. As a result, some of these taboos still influence how many African communities handle certain issues.

Here are 5 African taboos that people have refused to let go.

1. Consummating with relatives

Having sex with one’s relative is a taboo considered as the worst form of sin in most African communities. As such, people that were known to have engaged in this act are usually outcast. The level of modernization in many communities have not stopped this practice.

In Africa, it is believed that engaging in such act attracts many tragedies to the family and the community. Poverty, epilepsy, stunted progress and occurrence of epidemics were cited as consequences.
For some communities, both individuals found culprits are killed to conciliate the gods or ancestors.

2. Disrespecting the elderly

One of the core fabrics of African customs is ‘Respect’. Hence, disrespecting an elder is considered misgivings to the young person.

It also is a common practice that young people are not allowed to shake hands with an elderly person, or for opposite sex (either married or single) to hold hands or display any romantic display in the presence of an elderly person.

3. Family and staying In-laws

In many communities in Africa, there are taboos as regards relating to one’s in-laws or marriage relatives. For instance, it is unacceptable for a father-in-law to visit while the husband is not around.

Also, some communities disallowed not naming a first child after the groom’s father or mother – based on the sex of the new baby.

4. Pot breaking – Accidental or intentional

Pot breaking is still considered a great taboo in many parts of Africa, including Southern Nigeria. This object made of clay is generally considered the uterus of women which have to be handled with care.

Among the Gikuyu tribe (the largest ethnic group in Kenya) and Igbo tribe of Nigeria, a special ritual is performed to appease the god and cleanse a woman who broke a cooking or water pot.

5[b]. Food taboo[/b]

Food taboo is also one practice that modernism has failed to take away from many communities in Africa. For instance, consumption of some fruits is strongly discouraged for women during pregnancy.
In some Central African countries, eating of eggs is forbidden for children.

http://pulse.ng/bi/lifestyle/5-taboos-across-africa-that-modernism-failed-to-take-away-id7701450.html

Abegi

So I am second to comment, not bad anyway. Sign of good thing to come

There is nothing like respect again oo
See as Nigerians dey disrespect baba buhari anyhow

That number 3 no follow

Northerners we dey marry their cousins nko? Abi that one no follow for taboo?

remove disrespect pls. Even many kids disrespect their parents now adays, and parent wil just laugh off it and say, naughty girl.

SMH @ No 4. Pot breaking. WTF?! How's breaking a damned clay contraption a taboo? Give me a break! A very long one. Primitive. Weird. Ludicrous!

number one is a lie. hausa/fulani marry there 1st cousins.

[quote author=13ShadesOfMay post=63263280]


Here are 5 African taboos that people have refused to let go.

1. Consummating with relatives

Having sex with one’s relative is a taboo considered as the worst form of sin in most African communities. As such, people that were known to have engaged in this act are usually outcast. The level of modernization in many communities have not stopped this practice. [/quote/]
This is NOT a purely African affair,if you ask me. Incest is also taboo/crime in many other parts of the world. Even in America that prides its self as the "melting pot of civilization" and the reservoire of modernization,incest is somewhat frowned upon and viewed as a crime and taboo somewhat. There are states in America that have legislations meant to checkmate incest,incestuous alliances and copulations. I hear it is also the same in parts of Asia,S. America and Europe[especially the Eastern 1/2]. So,it ain't exactly a question of race or modernization.

Not way i was expecting when i opened the thread,.... In a wah this post reminds me of the 10 Things Our Nigerian Parents Were Actually Right About

9japrof:
Northerners we dey marry their cousins nko? Abi that one no follow for taboo?

Unto every rule,there is an exception,prof. You see the Op is had to "hastily" generalize. Africa is one large continent with thousands of cultures,norms and traditions. Whilst some cultures frown upon incest,others[perhaps a tiny microcosm] permit it. Op shouldn't have fallen into the trap of hasty generalization-taking a part to judge the whole,so to speak. Incest was practised in ancient Egypt by the ruling dynasties. What does that tell us all? It must have been part of African history.

6.Snake thead It is impossible to take away since it is Lalasticlala favorite

Learnstuffs:
6.Snake thead It is impossible to take away since it is Lalasticlala favorite

Abeg Where you carry this one Comot from

If you re pregnant, don't go out @ night �

OK

Op that number one no be africa alone. Na general taboo all ova the world,

Wetin

Its a Taboo to vote for BUHARI in 2019.

90% of africas problem is respect. Respectvfor elders, institutions and norm even when dey are wrong

LOVEGINO:
If you re pregnant, don't go out @ night �

lol

X

it is well

A major taboo is - Giving an item to an older person with the left hand

This news no go Me well oo

consummating with relatives has always been frowned upon, its not only an African thing, no civilization deems it okay

Apparently most Nigerians don't have regards for all these anymore.......we don cast !!!!

Culture, tradition, beliefs

The cause and the curse for the black man's backwardness and retrogression


We have all the culture in Africa yet, wer the most hungry, negative and wicked people.


Whites have no culture, but their exploits have taken them to other planets and back.

Keep culturing....it only taking unborn generations backward

13ShadesOfMay:

In some Central African countries, eating of eggs is forbidden for children

Some of these countries need to be recolonized . How hilarious...

Egg Ke

And when a woman toast man,this is also a taboo in Africa especially Naija