When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like
a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up my childish
ways. -- Corinthians 13:11 (ISV)
A life stage is obviously amiss in the
Biblical verse above: - Adolescence.
The conversation on early marriage as
relates to Africa cannot be gainfully completed without taking an educative look
at the psychological - cultural - historical features of the appearance of this
social quandary. There was a stage where Africans in trust, accepted dictated
policies from the United Nations, World Health Organization and other colonial
constructs, without serious review and tailoring to fit with the African and
national cultural situation. I believe such times have passed.
In Africa as with the entire world,
adolescence never existed till the beginning of the twentieth century. Really
and truly, adolescence was invented recently in the western world as families
became smaller and as the government became more interested in the utilization
of and fostering of the young adult as well as controlling commercial
enterprises targeted at this age group. Adolescence is closely knit with
industrialization and urbanization, and its invention and predominance in
society was precipitated right after the European industrial revolution.
Adolescence brought on the movement of young adults from the work place to the
school as big industry in addition to supporting life, became the reason for
life.
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