The role of The African Court on human and peoples' rights in the protection and promotion of human rights in Africa

Abstract

Abstract provided by author

Culture is a universal concept that forms an innate part of every existent society in the world. It defines what people wear, eat and do for relaxation. It determines stature, etiquette and mannerisms and it sets out the nature of relationships that individuals within a society will have with each other. The reason at the core of all three World Wars was a clash in ideology. [1]Communism with capitalism, Fascism with Nazism and Capitalist countries also clashed with the Nazi state of Germany. Ideologies are doctrines of policy used by the powerful to rule, and at the helm of that is the ability to establish a common culture. The African continent is no stranger to the concept of culture. As the Mother continent, it is the originating continent of culture. Culture is rooted in a people's feeling of sameness, commonality and unity.[2] It subscribes to the notion that no man is an island, therefore community is an important conductor of culture, it derives its legitimacy from the community's willingness to engage it and live with it.[3] Many cultural practices developed as a result of daily life and the life cycle of people. Birth, life and death brings with it different ceremonies, whether this entails a stork party, a wedding or a funeral is determined by the community in which it happens. Over time however, some cultural practices have become distorted, by contemporary ideologies such as capitalism and the pursuit of individual interests. In some countries initiation schools have become breeding grounds for sexual exploitation, unhygienic circumcisions and cruel initiation rituals, even though the initial intention of these schools was to prepare children to become young adults that are ready for marriage or that are ready to take on the responsibilities that come with adult life. Polygamy has been identified as being inherently discriminatory against women, because of the fact that it only allows men to have more than one wife, whereas the same right is not afforded to women. These are but two African problems with culture, therefore the solution must be an African one