CHALLENGES OF FIRST SON IN BENIN TRADITION AND THE FAMILY

ABSTRACT

The thesis is a study of the challenges of the first son in Benin Tradition and the family. It is generally believed that the coming of the first son always brings joy. Incidentally these first sons suddenly become the greatest anxiety for most families in Edo Land. The overall aim of this study is to undertake a study of the challenges of the first son in Benin Tradition and the family with a view to proffering solutions to the challenges confronting the former. To achieve the set objectives of the thesis, the historical and analytical methods was employed. The theoretical framework of this research was based on Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers’ Theory of Humanism. At the end of this study, the following are the findings: that it is generally believed that all children are gifts from the Almighty God the Supreme Being including the first son, that the first son is usually given a place of prominence in Benin tradition and in the family, that most first son face challenges in destiny fulfilment in Benin tradition and the family, that the x first son becomes target of the evil forces because he is the first offspring of the parents and representative of the ancestors and that the total eradication of the challenges of the first son may not be feasible. The thesis made recommendations that will help in reducing the stress or challenges that the first son, parents, other siblings and the society have been experiencing over a long time,