The African bachelor's guide and lady's guide : to be read before marriage and after it

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Title

The African bachelor's guide and lady's guide : to be read before marriage and after it

Subject

Chapbooks, Nigerian
Marriage
Nigerian literature (English)

Description

This guide offers general advice for unmarried men and women as well as married couples in eighteen short chapters. The forward notes that the theme of the pamphlet is "look before you leap," (pg.4). An entertaining chapter 13 lists "The Ten Commandments of Love for Boys and Girls." Several of the commandments reveal a feminist viewpoint, including the following--No. 2: "Treat your partner as an equal counseled with, and work together in solving mutual problems" and No. 5: "Preserve self respect." Two others deal explicitly with sexuality--No. 8: "Have confidence in sex relations. Perfect love casteth out fear" and No. 9: "Control your sex life. Do not be a slave."The last commandment serves as a summation of Diala's message--No. 10:"Respect love for its worth. It can be of the biggest factors in your happiness and success, (pg.35).

Some of the chapters cover lighter issues such as wedding toasts and skincare, but Diala is not afraid to tackle heavy subjects such as "Bride price:Is it right or wrong?" (pg.38). At the end, however, the author closes with a cautionary tale about "siren spinsters" who harbor a destructive preference for married men as lovers, (pg.44-48). Thus, the "modern" outlook expressed throughout much of the pamphlet remains overshadowed by an uneasiness with liberated women.

Creator

Diala, Cy

Publisher

Onitsha, [Nigeria] : Njoku & Sons Bookshop

Date

1963?

Rights

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. However, for this Item, either (a) no rights-holder(s) have been identified or (b) one or more rights-holder(s) have been identified but none have been located. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use.

Language

English

Type

Onitsha market literature

Identifier

ksrl.c3273

Collection

Citation

Diala, Cy, “The African bachelor's guide and lady's guide : to be read before marriage and after it,” KU Libraries Exhibits, accessed March 28, 2024, https://exhibits.lib.ku.edu/items/show/6864.