In many African cultures, aunts play important roles. Some of these roles vary from advising young nieces as they get through life stages including adolescence and marriage to being extremely annoying and quick to pick on young Cousins, Nephews, and Nieces. It is expedient to state that not all aunts are cut from the same clothes. For example, in the Bayankole tribe, Southwestern Uganda, things go a bit extra although, the aunts still play crucial roles. When they are not picking on the young or acting as life advisers, aunts in the Bayankole also have a peculiar task on their to-do list. They have a unique “Test Administrator ” thing going on.
In an attempt to fully understand the “test” role aunts play, an analogy is required. A groom prepares for a marriage like others. As he prepares, he is not worried about forgetting his vows or about the bride running away but concerned about the all- important “test” he has to undergo. This test aims to prove his “potency”, a measure of his bedroom prowess and his ability to impregnate his soon to become wife.
To prove his sexual prowess and potency, the groom will have to first prove himself to his bride’s aunt. He must be intimate with his brides aunt as the Bayankole tribe believes this act will secure the couple’s future happiness and fertility. After the intimate act, the groom then waits nervously for the aunt’s approval as it the golden ticket that finalises his marriage.
The Bayankole aunts also play the duty of a purity detective. Before the intending couples can officially celebrate their union, the aunt goes into full investigative mode. She makes sure the bride is pure and to also ensure that she is also still wearing her “Virgin” badge. This isn’t just about the bride, but her family’s honor as well.
With modernization, education, and outside influences, the Bayankole people have new perspectives. The once-infamous “Potency Test” is now a thing of the past, with traditional values duking it out with modern sensibilities in a cultural showdown. This isn’t to suggest that the tradition has been eroded. The test is still being practiced in nooks and crannies of Southwestern Uganda. Instead of the full-blown intimacy exam, it’s more like a subtle “Aunt watch”. During the couple’s first night together, the aunt listens or peeks through metaphorical curtains to make sure the groom is properly performing his sexual obligations.
In the remote corners of southwestern Uganda, remnants of this tradition still linger, reminding us of the fascinating mix of old and new in African cultures. The Bayankole Potency Test showcases the intricate roles aunts have played through the ages, as mentors, guides, and, even the guardians of marital purity and readiness.
IBRAHIM OLAJUMOKE
