CHAPTER
1----INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The advent and adoption of the
western culture due to the coming of the colonial masters in Nigeria brought
with it the introduction of a foreign culture which was embraced with open arms
due to the fact that the administration of the country was in the hands of the
colonial masters. Therefore western culture brought western civilization. Western
culture constitutes the social norms, belief, customs, ethical values
associated with countries and nations of Europe; J. Spiel Vogel, Jackson (2016). Apparently in Nigeria this were the
influence of the colonial master of the then British, America etc. Consequently
the development of the western culture was the introduction of Christian
influence in Nigeria over the Nigerian traditional cultural system. This
influence permeates various aspect of life including the marriage institution. Traditional culture is defined as the customs
and practices in a particular culture. The Nigerian traditional marriage culture
constitutes the traditional marriage customs of the Nigerian traditional society.
The contact of the western culture with the Nigerian traditional culture
brought with it many changes which have brought significant changes to the
traditional marriage system. Therefore many Nigerians have adopted church and
registry marriage over the traditional marriage institutions. Therefore
traditional marriages are only recognized when church and registry marriages
have been culminated. It is also believed that the many social vices of the
society is the result of the influence of western culture such as divorce,
single parenthood, child neglect due to work by working class parents, etc. The increasing consequences of
western culture over traditional beliefs and practices constitute a debate over
the validity of Nigerian traditional marriage system. The study seeks to
proffer an appraisal of the influence of western culture on the traditional
marriage system.
1.2
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The increasing rate and consequences
of divorce, social vices resulting from child neglect, women autonomy, and
single parenthood in our traditional society are pointers that the influence of
the western culture over traditional institutions requires a re-evaluation. Culture is the totality of a
system, knowledge, belief, arts, morals, customs, laws and other capabilities
of a society acquired through learning and transferred to others from one
generation to another. Therefore the re -assessment of societal values which
affect the promotion of good and ethical values in our traditional society is
imperative. Ajiboye et al (2012) observed that the neglect of child care by
many educated parents contradict the traditional methods of child care which
constitute a fundamental factor to social and cultural development in the society.
The problem confronting the study is to investigate the influence of western
culture on the Nigerian traditional society.
1.3
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main
study objective is to investigate the influence of western culture on the
Nigerian traditional society; While the specific objectives of the study
include;
1 To appraise the nature of the
western culture.
2 To determine the relevance of the
Nigerian traditional marriage system.
3 To determine the influence of
western culture on the Nigerian traditional society.
.
1.3
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1 What is the appraise the nature of
the western culture?
2 What is the relevance of the
Nigerian traditional marriage system?
3 What is the influence of western
culture on the Nigerian traditional society?
1.4
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study seeks to provide an
evaluative appraisal of western culture to determine the challenges and effects
on the Nigerian traditional marriage system
1.5
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study focuses on the appraisal
of the influence of western culture on Nigerian traditional marriage system.
1.6 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The study was confronted with logistic and
geographical constraint
1.7
DEFINITION OF TERMS
CULTURE DEFINED
Culture is the totality of a system,
knowledge, belief, arts, morals, customs, laws and other capabilities of a
society acquired through learning and transferred to others from one generation
to another.
WESTERN CULTURE DEFINED
Western culture constitutes the
social norms, belief, customs, ethical values associated with countries and
nations of Europe. Apparently in Nigeria this were the influence of the
colonial master of the then British, America etc. Consequently the development
of the western culture was the introduction of Christian influence in Nigeria
over the Nigerian traditional cultural system. This influence permeates various
aspect of life including the marriage institution.
TRADITIONAL CULTURE DEFINED
Traditional culture is defined as the customs
and practices in a particular culture. The Nigerian traditional marriage
culture constitute the traditional marriage customs of the Nigerian traditional
society
REFERENCES.
Ajiboye et al (2012) Traditional
marriage system in Nigeria.pg2
H. McNeill, William (2010). History
of Western Civilization: A Handbook (University of Chicago Press ed.).
p. 204.
J. Spiel Vogel, Jackson (2016).
Western Civilization: A Brief History, Volume I: To 1715 (Cengage Learning
ed.). p. 156.
Neill, Thomas Patrick (1957).
Readings in the History of Western Civilization, Volume 2 (Newman Press ed.).
p. 224.
O''Collins,
Gerald; Farrugia, Maria (2003).
Catholicism: The Story of Catholic Christianity (Oxford University Press ed.).
p. v (preface). ISBN
William H. Young
(2011) Marriage and Family in Western Civilization