Question

Identify the circumstances under which covenants were made in the traditional African society.

Answer 1

African traditional society was less concerned with doctrines and gave more importance to cultural practices, religion and rituals.In ethnic groups in Africa covenant keeping form the basis of person to person relationships. Covenants are the promises made among two or more individuals based on some conditions and rules.It is a relationship and includes promise and benefits. Man maintained covenant relationship with worship object.

There are many circumstances under which covenants were made in traditional African society ,they were

*When a woman was married to a man they were in covenant relationship.Husand and wife would enter in a covenant in order to retain their marriage agreement.These covenants were made secretly.

*In traditional African society man was in covenant relationship with his fellow man.The aim of this Covenant was to maintain wellbeing of  members in society by preventing them from engage in activities that harm one another.

*Afican society made a covenant with man and divinity.It is a agreement with God.If the person failed to keep the covenant it would result in offender's death.

* When two communities were in conflict covenants were made as a way to brought back peace among them.

*Covenants were made to follow cultural practices and taboos of society.

*When two persons were in arguments, covenant were made to reduce the conflict between them.

*Covenants were also made to form laws ,practices and rituals of ethnic community.

*African society mainly depended on agriculture and covenants were made for agricultural practices and vegetation.

Now the use of covenant can be seen in areas like employment contracts,trade treaties and land purchases compared to traditional African society. From above details we can understand that covenants were used in many settings in African traditional society.