VALENTINE'S DAY: A EUROCENTRIC DOGMA THAT DISPLACES THE INDIGENOUS AFRICAN CONCEPT OF LOVE.
Valentine’s Day, celebrated globally on February 14, is often portrayed as a day of love and affection. However, beneath the veneer of roses, chocolates, and romantic gestures lies a Eurocentric dogma that has subtly displaced the indigenous African concepts of love, community, and relationships. This article explores how Valentine’s Day became entrenched in African societies and the ways in which it has contributed to the erosion of traditional African perspectives on love. The Origins of Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day traces its roots to ancient Roman festivals and a Christian martyr named Valentine , and through later folk traditions it has also become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world. , eventually evolving into a commercialized celebration of romantic love in the West. This European tradition was exported to Africa through colonialism, globalization, and cultural imper...