Issues and Challenges of African Traditional Moral Education

Abstract

The paper examines the methods of African traditional moral education. It is also an attempt to bring to light prohibitions and taboo that regulate the conduct of the individual members of the community. African traditional education took place almost entirely within the family and limited social grouping, such as peer age groups and the village gatherings. The paper points out that though, there were no systematized, formalized school – type methods of moral education, educators in traditional African society had at their disposal a variety of tools for effective moral education, for example, we have the method of emulation, repeat after me approach. We equally have other methods such as stories with fictitious character, proverbs, as well as caution and prohibition. Other factors that affect the moral training of children e.g. in Nigeria were customs, practices, and religious belief of parents. The paper concludes that since education is founded on human nature any education that is devoid of morality is incomplete and useless.

Keywords: Moral, Education, Proverbs, Taboos.