Sure, great feedback on my piece on African culture and how some of the norms emerged as a way to preserve communities. Of course, the ancient African culture had some unfortunate components, due to lack of knowledge, just as European and American cultures also did. As twins were killed in Africa, European culture enslaved humans and treasured on genocides. So, across human history, many bad things happened. But as knowledge systems deepen, the liberation of the mind marches.

As many noted in the comments, someone has to explain some of the norms so as to help the new generation to understand better. In other words, when they say “do not fish in that stream”, it may not be connected to any belief system or deity. I can give you cases, using streams in Ovim, my village.

In Ovim, while the Tantuta Ugwunta stream has an ordinance of not to fish therein, the Iyinta Obayi banned both fishing and using large buckets to scoop water. Examining the two streams, Tantuta flows from a higher level to a lower one which means there was no need to restrict on the scooping method since if you stir the lower level, it would not affect the source of the freshwater. But when you go to Ide (a bigger water body), all those rules vanish, allowing you to fish and do whatever you want!

The implication? The fishes of smaller streams are protected while the larger ones are not. But in reality, examining the structures of the streams, you can draw one conclusion: the elders do not want you to fish them so as not to mess up a shallow, slow-flowing freshwater for the community. But in the big water bodies like the Ide and Nne-ochia, you can do whatever you want because they flow fast and are big!

(Ask yourself, why are the protected fishes for the gods always in the small streams and not in the big ones?)

Check that big tree which everyone is tasked not to harm. Look at the geography and you will notice that it is pivotal in controlling gully erosion. If you destroy that tree, you can wipe out another community because of gully erosion. In Ovim again, the Akpurachi tree in Ugwunta village square protects the community from erosion from Agbo-ngele which is a small valley.

Of course today, there are alternatives to build concrete defenses but when you go deeper, the villagers put some rules on that small valley: you are only allowed to plant trees, harvest oranges, grapes, etc for personal benefits, but NEVER to sell anything from this small valley. In other words, the village did not want any commercialization of anything in that place in order to avoid any risk of chopping down trees and over-harvesting things which could trigger destruction via gully erosion. Till today, you do not take anything home from Agbo-ngele even if you planted the fruit, but you are fine to harvest and enjoy right there.

This goes across communities in Africa. Some trees have medical/ herbal value and you are not to destroy them. Some served as moats during ancient wars and gathering “halls”. As you look deeper, there is one conclusion: Most African Habitat Norms Emerged from Deep Understanding of Natural Philosophy. Yes, they understood physics, geography and our world! Of course, nothing was documented because they failed to invent writing, triggering confusions and distortions.

This is very true. There are laws that govern Nature and this world and most African cultures came to realization and embedded this convictions in their culture, so do not be took quick throw away your culture for others

— Erhuvwurhire (@justcallmeEru) November 16, 2023

It was a major news story on BBC Newshour on Monday. Yes, someone had chopped down a famous 300-year-old kola tree in Ghana. Many Ghananians especially in the town of Feyiase were outraged because this tree was like a deity with mystical and healing powers. You cannot write the history of the legendary Ashanti Kingdom without mentioning this tree, indicating the treasured nature of this tree.

Who might have chopped it? And for what?

If you lived in the village as I did, you might have encountered young men who wanted to test their new belief by challenging and demonstrating that the gods are not indeed capable of defending themselves. Yes, they will go to the village stream to harvest fishes (abominations!) or draw water from streams with basins violently, when you are expected to gently scoop the water with small native bowls.

I was a member of my secondary school Scripture Union and we were part of the “anointed ones”, baptized and protected by the Blood. But going into a shallow freshwater village stream to kill fishes made no sense. I felt there was a Physics in the ordinance passed by the elders, despite anything the gods or norms or beliefs might have held.

In Ovim, while the Tantuta Ugwunta stream has an ordinance of not to fish therein, the Iyinta Obayi banned both fishing and using large buckets to scoop water. Examining the two streams, Tantuta flows from a higher level to a lower one which means there was no need to restrict on the scooping method since if you stir the lower level, it would not affect the source of the freshwater. But when you go to Ide (a bigger water body), all those rules vanish, allowing you to fish and do whatever you want!

Indeed, if you fish in shallow village streams, you will distort a source of drinking water, causing problems for the whole village. If you use a large bucket to scoop the water, you will distort its flow and it will take time to settle in slow flowing streams. So, to stop people from doing those things, norms are invented, scaring people. And most times, it was a tradition which has emerged as a means for people to preserve a way of living, and not necessarily connected to any absolute deity. So, when you kill those fishes, you may not be annoying any god; you are simply a stupid person who does not want people to have clean water!

People, do not chop native trees. Some of those trees may be the only survival herbs which have medicinal value. When people boil their leaves, they get better, and due to that villagers will come together to protect them. That tradition is passed from generation to generation. You do not need to destroy them just to prove your new faith because doing that is stupidity since most of the time, there is really nothing religious about them! 

It is all part of the physics of African culture; if they had invented a way of writing to chronicle them, you may be studying for a PhD to master them.

(Sure, some trees, fishes, etc have powers. Do not try)

It was a major news story on BBC Newshour on Monday. Yes, someone had chopped down a famous 300-year-old kola tree in Ghana. Many Ghananians were outraged because this tree was like a deity with mystical and healing powers. Who might have chopped it? And for what?

If you lived… pic.twitter.com/qLWmCjQ0O4

— Ndubuisi Ekekwe (@ndekekwe) November 16, 2023