Despite the improvement in digitalization and civilization, there are still some unbelievable ethnic sexual practices that still exist in Africa. A few of such practices are as follows
SEXUAL CLEANSING
Sexual cleansing is an African tradition in which a girl or woman is expected to have sex as a cleansing ritual after her first menstruation, after becoming widowed, or after having an abortion. It is also locally referred to as “Kusasa Fumbi,”. A woman has unprotected sex with a man called a “hyena.” This could be a professional male sex worker, a selected suitor, a widow’s brother-in-law or someone paid by a woman’s family. This often happens in three different situations, it could be when a girl gets her first menstruation , or when a married woman loses her husband, or after an abortion. The practice is meant to help girls become good wives.
WIFE STEALING
This is an indigenous tradition, practiced by the Wodaabe tribe. The Wodaabe tribe is a Fulani tribe in Niger, West Africa. The males in the tribe are regarded as very vain because they believe that they are the most handsome set of men and they always carry mirrors. Here, women are allowed to have as many husbands/partners as they please. They are required to pick their preferred men from a group of men who put on a spectacular mating dance hoping to be selected. The tradition permits these Women to have sex with any mate of her choice, as many times as she pleases before finally settling on the right one.
Carried out by the Banyankole tribe in Uganda is a practice similar to a virginity test. Unlike the latter carried out women, this is done before marriage on the groom. It requires an aunt of the bride to confirm the potency of the husband to be, by actually having sex with him. The bride and groom are only allowed to consummate their marriage if he passes the test. The test sometimes include the aunts watching or listening as the newlyweds have sexual intercourse.
Locally known as Umhlanga, virginity testing is a popular tradition in South Africa, especially among the Zulu ethnic group who reside mainly in KwaZulu Natal province. The actual testing is done in an isolated room using bare hands. The girl, who is being tested, lays down on her back with her legs wide open. The tester then opens her vagina with both hands and looks inside, apparently to confirm that the girl’s hymen is intact. If all is well, the girl is granted a virginity certificate.
