Domestic violence has been addressed in Africa for years now. Wife beating, Child abuse have been among the most critical problems tormenting our societies for a long time now. However, women of a lower social, economical and intellectual status have been the most affected victims, in comparison to those in good standing status. According to statistics Violence against women is a widespread problem in sub-Saharan Africa. Surveys conducted in sub-Saharan Africa reveal that 46 percent of Ugandan women, 60 percent of Tanzanian women, 42 percent of Kenyan women, and 40 percent of Zambian women report regular physical abuse. In a Nigerian survey, 81 percent of married women report being verbally or physically abused by their husbands. 46 percent report being abused in the presence of their children.
Worldwide, 40-47 percent of sexual assaults are perpetrated against girls age 15 or younger. In a study in a South African hospital of children under age 15 in whom a diagnosis of child abuse was considered, 45 percent of the children reported having been the target of sexual abuse. 31 percent reported being physically abused, and sexual abuse was suspected but not confirmed in another 14 percent of the children. A study in Uganda revealed that 49 percent of sexually active primary school girls say they had been forced to have sexual intercourse.
This is indeed a critical problem in our society. It affects not only the today’s generation, but the generations to come as well. It needs our attention. All of us have to come together in one accord to launch initiatives that will help to reduce if not finish domestic violence. Apparently it touches in other non-African countries, and among those are the super powers. In America for instance, Women and girls ages 12 and up annually reported about 500,000 rapes and sexual assaults. In 29% of all violence against women by a lone offender, the perpetrator was an intimate (husband,ex-husband, boyfriend or ex-boyfriend).
Women annually reported about 500,000 rapes and sexual assaults Friends or acquaintances of the victims committed over half of these rapes or sexual assaults. Strangers were responsible for about 1 in 5.
By more than 90 percent of these violences are done by men.The essence of Manhood have been violated and misinterpreted for violence, masculine, and mistreatments. We surely need to redefine manhood and invest in people’s mind; both men and women, what manhood is all about. The LIGHT team here in Tanzania, have therefore choose to be part of solving this chronic problem. We are going to share with you our knowledge on Manhood as predescribed above “MANHOOD IS FATHERHOOD”.
All that a man has to be is “to be a man”. “TO BE A MAN” goes further beyond biological traits; to the UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT OBLIGATIONS DOES THAT NATURE CARRIES. When a man understands that, he needs to BE A MAN, he will then condition his mind and heart to learn and become convicted of what manhood is all about. Manhood as to reduce or solve completely the problem of domestic violence is all about FATHERHOOD.
Being a father does not necessarily mean you have biological or rather adopted children! It simply mean you have a caring heart. A father understands that, it is his responsibility to make all that surrounds him SECURED, CARED, and GROWING WITH BEAUTY. A father takes proud of his hearty responsibility to see things around him displays CARED and LOVED. Beating your wife or/and children does not make you a Man! It does not make you respected! It makes you a failure. WHERE TOO MUCH ENERGY IS USED, LESS INTELLECT WAS APPLIED. If you are a man, then BE A MAN. Invest more intellect in yourself and then transmit it to your surroundings and all that surrounds you. This will automatically prove that you are a man. Violence will only disapprove you from being a man. Am sure we have come across this amazing quote saying “treat a woman like you’d like your daughter to be treated” There is so much to learn from this very short wise words.
Dear our friends and readers; the language we are using may not be understood to the most of our societies especially in Africa. This is because we learn English from schools but it’s only the minorities who then get lucky to learn and master this Language. Therefore, if you then do understand, you can be a very potential figure to transmit this knowledge to your community. Take some of paragraphs translate them to your native or national language then let the people be enlightened.
Its very important to know about MANHOOD. One of the most frequent question i meet with, in conversation with my friends especially girls is “how then will you know that a man truly loves you? and he won’t break your heart?”..... “Nowadays men are unpredictable, they pretend to be something good for you and after they get what they need, they now show up their beast nature”
I reply by telling them, You don’t have to know if a man truly loves you or not, and if or not, will he break your heart!! You just have to know WHO IS A MAN and WHO ISN'T! All other thing will be revealed to you and you will then get the answers you are looking for…. A father will not break your heart, not ever intentionally.
And About Men changing after they got something; Men don’t hide their true face! maybe you were too blind to see beyond his words, tangible gifts, and outings. You just have to see clear enough what is not directly displayed. Am very sure Men got nothing to hide, unless you didn't bother to figure it out in the first place.
“When i was just a boy, i used to ask “what does a woman need from a man?” Now that I'M A MAN I naturally came to figure it out that, ALL A WOMAN NEEDS FROM A MAN IS FATHERHOOD, AND ALL A MAN NEEDS FROM A WOMAN IS MOTHERHOOD.” -frazier
Domestic violence especially to women, disproves manhood of a man. It all begins with you, initially in your mind and heart, and then it spreads to the whole society. Let’s make misconception about Manhood something outdated.