Raising Children In Nigerian Culture:

By: Brian DamacioApplesauce Inc.

Newborns:

Nigerian Culture:• Newborns are regarded with

pride. (1)• They represent a community’s

and families’ future (1)• Often the main reason for

marriage (1)

My Culture: • Newborns are the result of

a couples’ love• A the start of a new family• Make the marriage stronger

at times

Multiple Children:

Nigerian Culture:• Having Multiple children is a

representation of witchcraft. (2)

• The devil’s work at hand. (2)• Often left in the woods to die

(2)

My Culture:• A benison• More family members

mean less loneliness and more love to go around.

During Pregnancy:

Nigerian Culture:• Women works until 7 months

when women must reframe from working (3)

• Men undertake the performances of some of the domestic chores – fire wood, fetching water etc. (3)

• Women still cook(3)• Men reframe from hitting the

wife, endangering the child. (3)• A pregant women’s husband must

keep praying at local shrines for the safe delivery of the child. (3)

My Culture:• “Baby ShowersChild is given yellow (meaning good

luck) and white (unisex) clothing• Gathering of the family to

present the new family member• Red bow underneath clothing to

keep the Moon from deforming the child in any way.

During Pregnancy: (continued)

The Role of Men & Women:

Nigerian Culture:• Each wife is responsible for

feeding and caring for her own children, though the wives often help each other when needed (1)

• Husbands are the authority in the household, what their word goes. (1)

My Culture:• Women and Men both work

hand and hand to feed, clean, and nourish the child when young

• Compromises always occur when caring for the

Child

Roles of Women and Men:

Toys

Nigerian Culture:

• Children Play with homemade toys

*Wooden dolls*Wooden Trucks*Soccer is a common game

played in any Nigerian Village (1)

My Culture:• Homemade toys aren’t

used as much as store bought toys .

*plush toys*rattles*trucks, cars*dolls

Education

Nigerian Culture:• All Nigerian children are suppose

to go to local schools. (1 & 5)• The number of girls in class are

usually much lower then the number of boys (1)

• The family loses help of the children while they are at school, so not all the kids get to go. (1 & 5)

• Paying for new uniforms and supplies. (1)

• Boys get chosen to go to school more often then girls.(1)

My Culture:• No matter the gender, the

child is sent to school• Education is the key to

success – vital in our lives.• Streets are no place for

Kids to play at

Training - Laziness

Nigerian Culture:• When kids start getting to the age

of 5 or 4 they are EXPECTED to start house hold duties (1)

• Young men tend the fields and tend the livestock (1 & 4)

• Young women help with cooking, fetching water and washing laundry (1 & 4)

• As children, many Nigerians learn that laziness is not acceptable, everyone is EXPECTED to contribute. (1 & 4)

My Culture:• Kids don’t start cleaning

until they are about 8• There is no specific training

its just chores• In Mexico its different- Children help around the

farm

Bibliograpahy : • "Culture of Nigeria". Advameg, Inc. .

<http://www.everyculture.com/Ma-Ni/Nigeria.html>. (1)• "Witch Hunts and Penticostal Churches in Nigeria".

Culturekitchen. <http://www.culturekitchen.com/leo_igwe/blog/witch_hunts_and_penticostal_churches_in_nigeria>. (2)

• Women in Igbo life and thought by Joseph Therese Agbasiere, Shirley Ardener (3)

• Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart, 1959. (4)• Ojaide, Tanure. Great Boys: An African Childhood, 1948.

(5)