False
Feed
CareerHub
NEW
Earnings
Sessions
Spaces
Post insight
About
FAQs
Contact
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Login
Create account
Earnings
NEW
How to earn on TwoCents
Rankings
CareerHub
NEW
Feed
Sessions
Spaces
About
Contact
FAQs
Terms of Use
Login
Create account
510;
Score |
701
Ugochukwu Asiogu
I conduct research and provide critical analysis on human security, and development issues.
Uyo, Nigeria
468
24814
92
25
In
History and Culture
•
3 min read
•
Jan 14, 2023 04:54a.m.
Sharo Festival: The true test of African Masculinity?
Listen to this Insight
<span class="html-content"><p>I used to think that African men were moulded not with clay just like others, but with mineral resources like Zinc, Columbite, Coal or Gold. The reason behind this thought is based on the fact that African men are one of the toughest, strongest and courageous beings on the planet earth. They are strong-willed, highly traditional and goal-oriented. This equally explains why they prioritise their cultural heritage because while it projects their status symbol, it also gives them a sense of responsibility to protect and defend their society. In regard to protecting and defending whatever they deem dear to them at all cost, the calibre of African men that come to mind is the Fulanis. </p> <p>The term "Sharo" is of Fulani origin which literally means 'to flog..' Sharo is a renowned and highly revered tradition of the Fulanis whereby two suitors seek for a woman's hand in marriage and battle it out through flogging competition. Flogging competition? In this 21st century? Yes, you heard that right. It is a flogging competition that is usually carried out to ascertain If a young man is mature enough to go through the pains of becoming a man and withstanding the challenges that the responsibility of familyhood brings. The event also presents an intense situation where two men have to courageously plan to take out each other with the sole aim of marrying their wives. </p> <p>In the course of event, the competing men would be accompanied by friends and family who would be motivating them to to absorb as much pain as they could and not shed tears, nor shout during flogging. As the rules of the competition hold, if a man sheds tears during the process, he would be considered weak and consequently, would be rejected by the woman's the woman's family. </p> <p>In Northern Nigeria, the Sharo Festival begins with different kinds of skits from maiden dancers though the primary focus of the festival takes effect with the arrival of bare-chested single young men who are accompanied to the centre ring by pretty young maidens. During the display, spectators are expected to cheer the contenders whose families are engrossed with much expectations, wishes and prayers of not to be disgraced by their sons. Having been put to the know that the absorption of pains have its limits contenders are fond of making recitations of motivating mantras when the flogging begins. While the Sharo is going on, the youths acting as referees meticulously observe the exercise closely ensuring that strokes are adequately administered. </p> <p>Each of the contenders are expected to put his whip on the rival's body for at least ten times and at the end of the event, whoever that survives the brutal exercise is successfully incorporated into manhood and is expressly granted the right to marry the girl over which the competition took place. It is necessary to point out that a Fulani man can marry as many as four wives as long as they are fit and ready to withstand more pains.</p> <p>To these men, the scars they get in the course of the flogging remains a sign of respect and ego. They see it as the true test of maturity and adulthood in society. The Sharo Festival has remained one of the most interesting marriage ceremonies across the globe where instead of the groom rejoicing, he is either nursing his wounds or developing scars of brutal pains. </p> <p>What else can be better used to explain to the future generations how their ancestors 'wiped cord' on each other's bodies in order to pick their wives and how this truly proved their maturity?</p><p><br></p> </span>
Sharo Festival: The true test of African Masculinity?
By
Ugochukwu Asiogu
•
1 play
Your browser does not support the audio element.
Play
0:00
/
0:00
Send tip
2
690
0
Ugochukwu Asiogu
is the most viewed writer in
History and Culture,
Leadership.
follow
Other insights from Ugochukwu Asiogu
Ugochukwu Asiogu
Uyo, Nigeria
FOOD CULTURE IN NIGERIA: IJAW PEOPLE IN PERSPE...
History and Culture
I guess we all are very familiar with the popular sayin...
Ugochukwu Asiogu
Uyo, Nigeria
DO YOU KNOW THAT IN AFRICA, WIVES COULD BE STO...
History and Culture
I know you would be wondering what the heck i mean by wif...
Ugochukwu Asiogu
Uyo, Nigeria
The Famous Calabar Carnival
History and Culture
Africa is a home of cultures and traditions that are not ...
Ugochukwu Asiogu
Uyo, Nigeria
Do Not Kill That Elephant, It Could Be Your Kin...
History and Culture
Culture they say is man's sure bet to unlocking the keys ...
Ugochukwu Asiogu
Uyo, Nigeria
God is a God of all religions, including the A...
History and Culture
I have always believed that the beauty of religion lies...
Ugochukwu Asiogu
Uyo, Nigeria
OKRIKA HAS BEEN SAVING LIVES SINCE THE 1950s
History and Culture
Most times I do ask myself how Nigerians, including mysel...
Ugochukwu Asiogu
Uyo, Nigeria
Who is Nico Mbarga?
History and Culture
It would be very unsurprising that not everyone reading t...
Ugochukwu Asiogu
Uyo, Nigeria
The significance and interpretation of Kolanut ...
History and Culture
I am very much aware that most of my readers would be bot...
Ugochukwu Asiogu
Uyo, Nigeria
Ibibio Art Heritage: A Study of Nwonimo
History and Culture
Indeed, colonialism had tremendous effect on the cultural...
Ugochukwu Asiogu
Uyo, Nigeria
The Symbolic Representation of Ose Oji (Alligat...
History and Culture
Alligator Pepper, Mbongo spice or Ose Oji as it is called...
Insights for you.
Ugochukwu Asiogu
I conduct research and provide c...
Uyo, Nigeria
History and Culture
The Symbolic Representation of Ose Oji (Al...
Alligator Pepper, Mbongo spice or Ose Oji as it is called by Igbo people of Southeastern Nigeria is a West African spice that is extracted from the...
1249 views
3 upvotes
0 comments
Ugochukwu Asiogu
I conduct research and provide c...
Uyo, Nigeria
History and Culture
The significance and interpretation of Kol...
I am very much aware that most of my readers would be bothered about why I have decided to write again on Kolanut. But you see, the truth remains t...
1211 views
4 upvotes
0 comments
Jefferson Nnadiekwe
Freelance scriptwriter and creat...
Lagos, Nigeria
History and Culture
THE OSU CASTE SYSTEM
You might have heard of the Osu caste system in Igbo land. In case you haven't, this is a system of ostracization of certain people who have been j...
770 views
1 upvote
0 comments
Ugochukwu Asiogu
I conduct research and provide c...
Uyo, Nigeria
History and Culture
FOOD CULTURE IN NIGERIA: IJAW PEOPLE IN P...
I guess we all are very familiar with the popular saying" Food is Life". Surprisingly, if you are not, then, this is a good opportunity for you t...
761 views
1 upvote
0 comments
Ugochukwu Asiogu
I conduct research and provide c...
Uyo, Nigeria
Politics
Nigerians and the 2023 Elections
Since the return to democracy on May 29, 1999, Nigeria's electoral system and processes have been featured by a great degree of voter apathy and by...
759 views
2 upvotes
0 comments
Ugochukwu Asiogu
I conduct research and provide c...
Uyo, Nigeria
History and Culture
Would Nigeria's Bola A. Tinubu earn himsel...
As we all know, before something is documented into the Guinness Book of Records, it must be either positively or negatively unusual. In fact, such...
734 views
2 upvotes
0 comments
Ugochukwu Asiogu
I conduct research and provide c...
Uyo, Nigeria
History and Culture
Imo Heritage: A Discourse on the "Jewel of...
Life can be well understood when it is likened to the rhythmic flow and pattern of a song. It is either the tone rises and falls or it falls and r...
717 views
4 upvotes
0 comments
Ugochukwu Asiogu
I conduct research and provide c...
Uyo, Nigeria
History and Culture
Opening the page of Nigeria's most educate...
Officially named Victor Efosa Uwaifo, he was born in Benin City, Edo State on March 1, 1941. As a young boy, he obtained his secondary school educa...
708 views
2 upvotes
1 comment
Esther Omemu
Content Specialist @ ICUC Social
Paris, France
History and Culture
Proudly Ijaw
The number of times I have had to tell people ‘I am Ijaw’, spell it, google it and sometimes even launch into geography lessons is the reason why I...
696 views
4 upvotes
0 comments
Ugochukwu Asiogu
I conduct research and provide c...
Uyo, Nigeria
History and Culture
OKRIKA HAS BEEN SAVING LIVES SINCE THE 1950s
Most times I do ask myself how Nigerians, including myself would have coped without okrika? How would have the common man in Nigeria managed to cov...
694 views
2 upvotes
1 comment
×
Comments
Share thread
Refresh
×
cancel
Home
Feed
Earnings
CareerHub
Menu
What is TwoCents?
×
×
Share this post in your online circle.
×
Copy link
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
Whatsapp
Share this post in your online circle.
×
Copy link
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
Whatsapp
×
Insights
Views
Upvotes
Comments
Contributor score
WELCOME
TwoCents is a knowledge marketplace for Africans around the globe.
TWOCENTS
TwoCents offers you a unique opportunity to write and earn from your content, in an AI-first world.
COMPLETE YOUR PROFILE
Add your City, Bio, Phone Number, Occupation etc.
BUILD YOUR CONTRIBUTOR SCORE
Write insights, share in your network, build your score.
GET VERIFIED
Get a 100+ score, complete a 5-week streak, become verified.
TIPS
Get tipped for your free insights/content
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Receive subscriptions from your most loyal readers.
AD REVENUE
Get a share of what brands pay to advertise on your insight pages.
HELP GROW TWOCENTS
Read, tip and subscribe to content you find informative or interesting.
Q&A SESSIONS
Check out some Q&A sessions, drop a question, comment, share etc.
WELCOME TO THE COMMUNITY
Write. Share. Earn
Previous
Next
Close
Share this post
×
Copy link
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
Whatsapp
Share this post
×
Copy link
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
Whatsapp
×
Hi there!
To share an insight on TwoCents, you need to have an account.
If you already have one, simply login/sign-in.
Incase you don't yet have an account, click the 'sign-up' button below.
Login
Create an account
×
Oops!
Looks like
isn't setup to receive tips.
Be sure to check back later!
Close
×
Oops!
Looks like you have not setup your account to send and receieve tips.
No worries!
Click here to add your card details
Be sure to contact us if you have any questions!
×
Let
know you love
their content by sending a tip!
Show support.
Support beyond an upvote, comment or share.
Help grow TwoCents.
Encouraging other writers ensures quality insights.
Send Online
Copy tip link
Close
×
Subscribe to
's
premium insights.
Go premium.
Choose between a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Help grow TwoCents.
Every subscription encourages the contributor and ensures quality insights.
Send Online
Copy sub link
Close
×
Oops!
Looks like
isn't setup to receive subscriptions.
Be sure to check back later!
Close
↑
+