Page 10 - Exposition of Dagara Morality FNAL

The young boy, when capable of wielding a hoe, is given a small hoe to hoe with *: It is more dignifying and moral to beg for something that to make way
the father and observes him on the farm. He learns to gather the goats, fetch with the thing. Stealing should be discouraged.
termite, build and play all the masculine duties of a father a farmer and a
husband. Also a girl grows up in expectation of playing her role s a woman, a 1. STUBBORNNESS
mother and a wife. She learns etiquette hospitality, service, reception of visitors, 2.a. Bibi-ku-won-wullu o mi wulli o menga seng gana puo. A child who does
household and marital chores from her mother predominantly so as not to be not pay heed to pieces of advice teaches himself on his sleeping mat
useless woman (pog kyaalo sob). If one wants to be a true person (nir menga) in
the traditional Dagara society, he or she must adhere to these cultural norms * There are some dry-headed people who turn deaf ears to any piece of
mentioned above. advice given to them. They only learn their lesson later when they are in trouble
and try to reflect about it in the course of their sleep.
The education of children in life is done in diverse ways. Proverbs are used among
the Dagara to show how good values are cherished in the society. For instance, * A stubborn child or person learns a very big lesson when his in grave
there is a Dagaare proverb which says, “bibile na pegr o nuru a yire a n langne ni danger.
nibere bondiri”. This literally means, “A child washes his hands well eats with the
elders”. Also, through proverbs children are taught to avoid certain bad 2.b. Bibile bang zoba o bang ne ungfo? A child who knows how to run, does
behaviour or things which society disapproves of. For instance, there is a Dagaare he know how to hide?
adage which says, “bebe tiere guba wulle ma-yir e”, which literally means, “you do
not use your left hand to point to your mother's (maternal uncle's) house”. This * When it comes to escaping from the pursuit of wild animals, a child may
means that you should be proud of our mother's place of origin. be able to run fast but does not know how to hide and so, the wild animal will
catch him. However, an experienced adult who cannot run fast but can hide will
All these processes of traditional Dagara education or socialisation start at an save his life. Thus, the child should learn this from the experienced adult.
early age. For there is a proverb in Dagaare which says “ke bebe guore da-kong e”,
which literally means, “They do not bend a dry stick”. The child is taught many * The youth may have the knowledge and enthusiasm or energy but lack
things such as trade (yeru), not to refuse to run errands respect of elders, not to wisdom or the skills for a particular task. Thus, he should learn by patiently
appropriate what is not one's own. The child learns appropriate skills as he observing his elders or diligently seeking their wise counsel. Also, this proverb
develops, “deb bee pog tome” – masculine or feminine roles. The child is also can be used on a stubborn child or person who knows how to cause commotion
taught religious sense' the recalcitrant or unteachable child is threatened with but cannot solve it.
ancestral punishment, “kpime na nyog o na”. The child is also taught the socio-
cultural values such as courtship, marriage, the clabn's taboos (a yir yelkyiire). 2.c. Bom ne na pub'a, ole nu wo me. What has flowered you, that has fruited
Other values include love and knowledge of one's clansman (o nibe bangfo) or me.
lineage (bellu) as well as the clanic praises or eulogies. One of the important
aspects in this education is that of teaching the children the clan's origin as well as * A tree normally flowers before it bears fruits and the fruits are more
the tribe's origin. matured than the flowers. So, to tell somebody this means you are more

stubborn than that person the way the person thinks he is.
In short, the traditional Dagara are very scrupulous as regards the observance of
moral norms and courtesies in general because of the fact tat heavy punishments * This proverb can be used on somebody who wants to show that he is
stubborn that you are more stubborn than he is.
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