Socio-Cultural Archetypes: Interrogating African Virginity Discourse in Tunde Kelani’s Films

Abstract

In African culture generally, virginity is associated with innocence from sexuality; it is ascribed the position of the pride of every woman and for the Yorubas’, one who has not “spoiled” herself. Public and empirical discourses on the influences of westernisation on cultural values like virginity in Nigeria-Africa have been significantly negative as a paradigm shift from the indigenous concept of communal honour and personal/ public morality and modesty to representations of westernisation and modernisation. This study examines four films by Tunde Kelani (Narrow Path, Magun, Campus Queen, and Arugba) to explain the unevolved socio-cultural importance attached to virginity before and after the embrace of westernization.