By Jaafar Jaafar
I have made this argument about a year ago when the rumor of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi’s marriage to a “minor” raised some dusts. The age of consent varies according to culture and religion, I had argued.
I don’t know why one would combust energy criticizing cultural practices that are contrary to his religion, culture or warped intuition. Nigeria has two major religions which don’t prohibit marriage at the age of 18. The constitution doesn’t also prohibit it.
Writing about age of consent, Professors Richard Wortley and Stephen Smallbone said girls married very young in European society prior to19th century
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“In Medieval and early modern European societies, the age of marriage remained low, with documented cases of brides as young as seven years, although marriages were typically not consummated until the girl reached puberty (Bullough 2004). Shakespeare’s Juliet was just 13, and there is no hint in the play that this was considered to be exceptional. The situation was similar on the other side of the Atlantic; Bullough reports the case in 1689 of a nine-year-old bride in Virginia. At the start of the nineteenth century in England, it was legal to have sex with a 10 year-old girl.”
That was the Western society, which guides our sense of reasoning. If you think you are copying the Western society by criticizing the marriage of an 18-year-old, then you are wrong.
I know you will say what I quoted above is an old practice. You should know that currently, in England and Wales, the minimum legal age for marriage is 16, that is with the consent of parents. At 18, both the male and female are free to marry even WITHOUT parental consent.
Ever wondered why the Westerners still celebrate Sweet 16 party? The Western society that is characterized by debauchery and all manner of secular practices, 16 year birthday party is marked because it is considered a bridge between young age and adulthood.
In view of Muslim religious practices and tradition, I know Muslims won’t whine over someone’s marriage to 18-year-old. In our village, hardly can you spot an 18-year-old that is not married. In a typical Hausa household, you can’t claim not to have a grandma, a mother, an aunt or a sister who was married off before 18.
As I noted last year, in Christianity, canon law previously provided that the minimum age for marriage was 12, yes 12 years. The law was later repealed in 1917 and increased the age from 12 to 14 for girls and 16 for boys. But why would a true Christian condemn a practice allowed by his religion?
Even if you are adherent of Buddhism, the founder of the religion, Gautama Buddha, married his wife at age of 16.
Of course there are certain cultural practices that are universally condemned like caste system, slavery and incest. But despite the near-universality of incest taboo, among the Polahi nomadic tribe of the Gorontalo province of Indonesia, incest is not a taboo. It is permitted for father to marry daughter or mother to marry son, and so on. In the Polynasian societies/languages, there is nothing called “incest” because it is just a normal practice. You have to respect their culture since they perhaps see the exogamy you consider a morally right practice as a bad practice.
What I still do not know is the basis on which the argument is specifically hinged. Is it because of religion or culture? Sense of cultural relativism is poor in this country.
I see criticism to Emir Sanusi as an affront and insult against my religion and culture. When 72-year-old publisher of the Champion newspapers, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu impregnated and later married a 26-year-old, I didn’t talk because I have respect for people’s choice.
I was also mum when 82-year-old Chief Tony Anenih married a damsel in her early 20s. When Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu married Bianca, I didn’t raise alarm over their wide age difference. We see it as a triumph of love.
When 76-year-old Alaafin of Oyo married 16-year-old, I didn’t whimper. When 74-year-old Italian fashion designer, Roberto Cavalli, frolics on the beach with a girl in her early 20s, hell didn’t break loose. When King Mswati of Swaziland picked 18-year-old as his 14th wife, the Swazis saw nothing wrong with it because it is part of their culture.
A Hausa proverb observes that if you are hated, you will be criticized for raising dust when you fall into water.
I think we deserve some respect from our brothers from different religious and cultural backgrounds in order to live in harmony.
*Jaafar is an Abuja-based journalist
ref: http://www.peoplesdailyng.com/emir-sanusi-raising-dust-in-water/
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