Pornograghy in Postcolonial Nigeria: An Owan (Edo) Traditional Response

Abstract

Sexual morals vary across culture, religion and historical periods. This is evidenced in the various norms set by different societies, religions and ideological groups on what is perceived as permissible sexual behaviour.
This paper reviews the phenomenon of pornography in postcolonial Nigeria. It seeks to evaluate the ‘porn tradition’ of the modern world order vis-à-vis the traditional perception of sex and sexual morals in Owan (Edo) society. The expository cum evaluative approach was adopted. The paper came up with the findings that; (i) human sexual expression in Owan (Edo) traditional society is seen as a sacred activity that takes place within the domestic preserve of marriage for the basic purpose of promoting the vital force (life); (ii) the Owan (Edo) people consider the explicit/public portrayal and exhibition of sex and sexual organs for the sake of sexual arousal as not only dehumanizing, but also a taboo that invites calamity; (iii) pornography is not only addictive, it is a teacher/instigator of sexual crimes and other indecent sexual behaviours; (iv) pornography in Nigeria is a by-product of western intrusion into African culture. The paper thus suggests among other things that (a) positive African traditional values on sex and sexual morals should be inculcated on young people right from the home; (b) there should be strict enforcement of laws that censor or prohibit the indiscriminate production and/or sales of pornographic materials in postcolonial Nigeria. It is believed that these will help stem the tide of the wave of pornography in postcolonial Nigerian societies.

Keywords: Pornography; Postcolonial Nigeria; Human Sexuality; Owan tradition; Reawakening of Traditional Sexual Morals.