For any boy in the African Traditional Society, his father was his hero. He was the perfect representation of a man and what manhood was.

One of the son's biggest privileges was when his father invited him to join him for the hunt. You would know that now he saw you as someone more. You would wake up before the first light struck the day, before the women woke up, opened the door, and set off to the wild.

There was a lot your father couldn't talk to you about, but you observed him and knew how he positioned himself after setting the trap for the hunt. All this would teach you, and you would know what was expected of a man, how a man should be treated, the responsibility you carried, and how you acted and reacted. Your father would be your best friend.

In our Manhood topic, we explore the whys, how’s, when’s, what’s, and different tales of how manhood was defined across different cultures and tribes in Africa.

If you want to contribute to this topic by sharing about “manhood” in your culture, please send us an email at igrawetales@gmail.com