Sex in Modern Africa-How it is passed on today

Many young people in modern Africa think they know more and a lot about sex than in traditional African but this is deceptive. They say so because of the following:-

They are exposed to Romantic love and sex which is below real sex and love experience and lack responsible parenthood.

Romantic songs today create curiosity among the young ones exposing them to theoretical part of it and later transformed into practical.

Influence of peer groups who instead encourage immorality as they discuss different play positions and styles etc.

Non governmental organisations (NGOs) in a bid to limit the spread of AIDS it ends up propagating the seed e.g. in their ABC strategy condoms are given a safer way and at times give out condoms so the youth use them for practical.

Sex education is part of the syllabus today which starts in primary, in guidance and counselling in secondary schools as well as CRE Paper 4 at Advanced level.

Church leaders facilitate the propagation of the education as they condemn sexual abuse, provide guidance and councelling to the married as well as using the bible to give suitable examples for example Mothers Union.

Entertainment centres like disco halls, some of which can be trans-night.

Leisure sources like programs on TV and radio or video shows expose sex films like blue movies.

The presence of traditional functions like birth of twins, circumcision exercise more young ones to sex e.g. Imbalu ceremonies make a number of girls raped at night.

The spread of the AIDS scourge has led to a lot of talk about safe sex by use of condoms e.g. "So smooth, so strong, feels good and the youth need to experience the ‘smoothness'

Through mass media such as ‘straight talk' man and women in Newspapers like the Redpepper in particular and magazines like Spice, Secret, Mirror etc all expose a lot about sex.

The environment worsened by poor housing conditions like slums where parents stay in one room with children. Adults play sex when children are listening or even watching. This exposes children to sex secrets.  

The environment also may have people who lack respect for others and can do sex even in the open while children are watching.

Presence of Prostitutes, gigolos, Sugar Daddies and Mummies portray sex as away solving ones economic problems.

The permissive society is coupled with dubious, immoral people who have gone on passing over sexual issues in form of obscene talk such as 'fuck you' and parents are no longer embarrassed.

Family planning technology which make it possible for one to have sex without getting pregnant. This is sometimes done through advertisements.

Pornography; displays pictures of naked women and men playing sex in tabloids like when Redpepper showed students having a bash.

However, there are some good aspects of sex knowledge today:

Sengas in Buganda still continue their roles.

Even straight talk has an element of responsible sex.

There are also youth counselling centres like Naguru and family planning centres. Religion also plays a role in modelling the young on issues of sex and marriage and responsible parenthood through a conference.

Seminars for youth are organised to help educate youth.

Nevertheless, there are African values that are discouraged:-

Intimacies practiced in some societies e.g. the Masai who use sex for unity.

Marrying a wife for an impotent person is abnormal and an abuse of a woman's rights. Testing/ proving sexual ability.

Inheriting widows.

Polygamy for extra sexual urge is sinful.

Use of sex for hospitality is sinful.

Mock sex on dead bodies is not acceptable.

Sex for religious purpose e.g. twin naming condemned

Inflicting pain on sexual organs for preparation of the young for sexual faithfulness unnecessary.

Though sexual offences are sinful, punishment should be referred to God. There is also need forgiveness.

The use of mass media in impacting sex education.

Mass media are various means / ways of imparting knowledge or delivering information to the masses and they include: TV, radio, Internet, Magazines, news papers can be useful in importing sex education because:-

It informs the general masses through using quick means. It has wide coverage and can cover large areas.

It can offer educative values to different age groups.

Acts as a warning on impending dangers about certain diseases such as AIDS and offers preventive measures like it has done on STDS through straight talk.

It is helpful to those who may not have access to formal institutional education.

Weaknesses

However, it has the following weaknesses:-

It is limited to the literate group who can read and are well to do.

Limited to urban centres where such are available e.g. newspapers and magazines. Televisions and videos used electricity or batteries which may be expensive and unavailable in some areas especially electricity in rural areas some people cannot afford.

Newspapers/ magazines are expensive to buy daily.

Languages of communication in case of illiterates or use vermicular which some people cannot understand.

Some programs contradict Christian teaching e.g. encouraging the use of condoms. It does not cater for age groups e.g. a youth program may not be pleasant to adults. In most cases it does not give chance for people to respond or ask questions.

Program are set particular time of the day e.g. when some people are at work, in class or very late at night when people are supposed to sleep and therefore many people miss.

It does not give chance to be rewound in case one has missed e.g. TV or radio. Unless one has a pen to write down as the program goes it is possible to forget. Some programs or writings can have bad effect on the youth exposing them to unrealistic sex.

Some people are too poor to afford.