food, animals, bows, arrows. So unhappy is the woman who fails to get children. - Single Women, Tradition, and the Bible in Zimbabwe (by Kudzai BIRI, with a foreword by Joachim Kgler), The loudness of the Unsaid: Proverbs in selected African drama, Not a boy, not a child": A qualitative study on young people's views on childbearing in Uganda, Isukha Traditional Marriage Processes and Rituals in Pre-Colonial Kenya. In an African customary marriage, there is an arrangement between families where lobolo (bride wealth) was seen as a token of gratitude for the upbringing of the daughter, as well as a step to. A man in South Africa may have more than one spouse but a South African woman may only have one spouse. You can download the paper by clicking the button above. After this is over, the brides father hands the bride a wooden cup filled with palm wine. In fact the survival of the family and the future of marriage depended a Every marital breach 4. The Role of Folk Music in Traditional African Society: The Igbo Experience 306 marriage rites, post natal ceremonies and other domestic duties. I pray African Christians to re-examine most European concept we give prime place while undermining our rich traditional culture. The slaves discouraged casual sexual relationships and placed a lot emphasis on marriage and stability. Explain how people in the Traditional African Community prevented calamities from befalling them. In related literature, this period is defined as the emergent adulthood stage and it is of critical importance to establish and maintain romantic relationships during this transition period (Arnett, 2000). During the ceremony, the couple dances while guests throw money at them or put it on their foreheads., The Igbos wedding traditions are really different from weddings in the United States of America. (b) Explain four reasons which made traditional African communities to offer sacrifices. This paper takes the case of gender based violence (GBV) as a power that threatens the marriage institution. THE ROLE OF AFRICAN TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE RITES ON MARITAL STABILITY: A CASE OF THE ABAGUSII PEOPLE, KENYA January 2022 Project: Post-doctoral Research Authors: Esther Kerebi Nyamache The. Although, I myself practice monogamy, as it is tradition in my culture and that of what is expected by me, my community, and my family., There are not original or principle ceremony since it all differs depending on the what clans and from community to community. However, they were successful in continuing the traditional African emphasis on the extended family. The Igbos people are located in the southeastern part of Nigeria. The union of marriage is so strong that two become one flesh. Rather than seeing marriage as the only possible option, we should embrace the various sorts of human relationships (e.g. Our African Christians after performing marriage rites that the Europeans do not do are subjected to wedding that involves spending of fortune. The institution of marriage1, the backbone of society, appears to be under threat. In Africa, especially in Igbo land, marriage is the only known India is one of the largest centers where child marriages take place. In traditional rural African societies, the contraction of marriage was dominated by arranged marriages whereby parents usually indulged in the selection of marriage partners for their children; this was mostly common for their daughters. A value is that quality of a thing thought of as being more or less desirable, useful, estimable and important. The marriage ceremony was based on the principle of male dominance and female obedience. If It's Your Money, I Will Pay and Go: Shifting and Contested Significance of Brideprice Payment among the Dagaaba of Northwest Ghana. Karen Tranberg Hansen, "Married Women and Work: Explorations from an Urban Case," African Social Research zo (1975), 777-799; Karen Tranberg Hansen, "Negotiating Sex and Gender in Urban Zambia," Journal of Southern African Studies 0o, z (1984), 219-238. What is interesting is that, even though Christianity is a religion that has been associated with equality and freedoms of every human soul, the status of women in relation to polygamy in the apostolic sects have topped the debate. Marriage takes many forms in Africa. The dowry and bride items include token money and various gifts. Even when they fought their ways through years of conflicts, thank God they have something to celebrate. Publisher of weekly, "Healing Words" and monthly, "Light the Way. No gain saying a relation of Mary Jesus mother was the host and Mary, Jesus and his disciples were duly invited. If one may ask, would a European [or an American] subject himself to African traditional marriage rites after he has wedded? Again neither the Jewish synagogues nor their temples had a place for wedding. Changes in family structures reflect the enduring tensions between traditional, Christian/religious and modern values and structures. GENDER OPPRESSION AND POSSIBILITIES OF EMPOWERMENT: IMAGES OF WOMEN IN AFRICAN LITERATURE WITH SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO MARIAMA BS SO LONG A LETTER, BUCHI EMECHETAS THE JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD AND TSITSI DANGAREMBGAS NERVOUS CONDITIONS, PARENT-INVOLVED APPROACH TO MARRIAGE: AN EFFECTIVE WAY AGAINST WIFE MALTREATMENT AND DIVORCE IN SELECTED AFRICAN FICTION 1Written by ALLAGBE Akinola Monday INTRODUC TION, Still I Rise: Tracing Womanhood In World Cultures, Critical Examination of the Legal Implications Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2013 on Customary "Female Husband Marriage" or "Woman-to-Woman" in Nigeria, The Barren Woman: Sociocultural Attitudes Toward Infertility, activities to promote teaching speaking skill, Kalabari Marriage System and the Rights of Women in the Family1, Nigerian widows on screen reflections on a changing landscape, Walking With Shadows and the Critique of the Evolutionary Characterof Nigerian Narratives, Religion, Psychology, and Globalization Process: Attitudinal Appraisal, Traditionalism vs. Modernity as Interregnum in the Young Adult's Social Integration in Emeka Nwabueze's a Dance of the Dead, ATTITUDE OF MUSLIMS ELITE TOWARD MARRIAGE A CASE STUDY OF DUKKU LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF GOMBE STATE, Portrayal of African Women in Folklore: A case Study of Proverbs among the Lunda in the Northwestern Part of Zambia, Journal of International Women's Studies Unbending Gender Narratives in African Literature, THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH TOWARDS AMELIORATION OF SOCIO-CULTURAL PRACTICES INIMICAL TO WOMEN LIBERATION IN IGBOLAND, Slavery and Foklore in the plays of Ama Ata Aidoo.pdf, The Paternity Establishment Theory of Marriage, THE INSTITUTION OF THE FAMILY, MARRIAGE, KINSHIP AND DESCENT SYSTEMS BY, "From patriarchy to matriarchy: Re-defining the role of women in Alkali's The stillborn" in, NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA SCHOOL OF EDUCATION COURSE CODE: PED320 COURSE TITLE: Family Education, Birifor Women Leaders in Christian Mission: A Case Study of the Impact of Two Women on the Growth of the Apostolic Church of Ghana and the Eglise Protestante Evanglique Du Burkina Faso, RELIGION, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY VALUES IN AFRICA: ISSUES, CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS, Marriage and family life in Zimbabwean culture. south african law commission project 90 the harmonisation of the common law and the indigenous law report on customary marriages august 1998 Traditional counselling is a growing area of interest in African contemporary society, especially amongst members of the counselling profession. Ethical Perspectives, The Community Dimension of Sexuality: Exploring and Reviewing the Concept of Posterity in Africa in the Context of Childless Couples, this man is my wife: the same-sex marriage prohibition act of 2014 in nigeria, Until He Releases Me from His Ancestors: An African Spirituality Pastoral Response to Wife Abuse, Quaestio Disputata What Male-Female Complementarity Makes Possible: Marriage as a Two-In-One-Flesh Union, Forum: Sexual Morality and the Possibility of "Same-Sex Marriage" *135 WHAT SEX CAN BE: SELF-ALIENATION, ILLUSION, OR ONE-FLESH UNION, Polygamy in Dramatic Texts: A Discussion around Postmodernism, ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE SYNDROME AS A ROOT OF INCAPACITY TO ASSUME THE ESSENTIAL OBLIGATIONS OF MARRIAGE (CAN.1095, 3), The attitude of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe to homosexuality: towards a socio-sexological theological investigation, The Unethical Nature of Abuse of Childless Women in African Traditional Thought/Practice, Beyond biology: Bases for a child-centered and functional account of parenthood, Understanding Human Sexuality in John Paul II's Theology of the Body, Understanding Physical Activity Behavior of Type 2 Diabetics Using the Theory of Planned Behavior and Structural Equation Modeling, The changing philosophy of African marriage: The relevance of the Shona customary marriage practice of Kukumbira, What Sex Can Be: Self-Alienation, Illusion, or One-Flesh Union, Christian Perception on Widows Sexuality among Abanylole of Emuhaya , Western Kenya, A Critical Analysis of Marital Instability among Yoruba Christian Couples in the North West of England, A qualitative exploration of the experience and the impact of HIV/STIs among polygamous women in Muslim society of Nigeria, A Theological Appraisal of Marriage in Tiv Culture, Cohabitation in Akan Culture of Ghana : An Ethical Challenge to Gatekeepers of Indigenous Knowledge System in the Akan Culture, The nature and causes of marital breakdown amongst a selected group of South African Indian Muslims in the Durban Metropolitan Area and its consequences for family life. It takes faith that requires belief in miracle to pledge ones life to another. In India among tribes of Tiyan, Toda, Kota, Khasa . When a woman gets married the entire community rejoices with African society has been undergoing tremendous changes in every aspect of life including family structure and marriage. However, the paper focuses on GBV against women. Greiner, C. & W. Kokot. As a matter of fact, before any Church wedding commences in African or of African descent the clergy would ascertain that traditional rites had been fulfilled. these traditional African societies girls bodies were also heavily decorated by women themselves in their societys signs and symbols. Woman-to-woman marriage involves the following persons: 1) the female husband . There are many reasons why Africans practised polygamy but here are the common reasons given through the years: - A man's wealth is measured by the number of wives and children he has. Essay on MARRIAGE IN TRADITIONAL AFRICAN SOCIETY AND ITS, The Practice of Lobola in Contemporary South African Society, African Traditional Family Hunger For Culture, African wedding traditions TraditionsCustoms.com It's an honor due to them that recycles to the couple when they become parent. Woman-to-woman marriage can also be beneficial to persons other than the female husband. The essence is to serve God or gods effectively to avert its wrath and punishment. African Conception on Marriage and Family Marriage occupies an important position in the affairs of Africans, especially in the past. God then enacted a rule, for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife and they become one. This rule was for the man whom God through this event satisfied his loneliness. Having a wife then to create a family with her and providing for them, is a rite a passage for most African American males. It includes norms and values of a society: their religion, politics, economics, technology, food habits, medicine, rules of marriage, the performing arts, law and so on. The point is that this Yet they failed to comprehend the spectacular miracle that held two people together to become one. The emergence of clusters of traditions and cultural civilization of the wider Igbo society and the influence of the Western culture necessitated the need to review the traditional Igbo marriage and customs. These issues amongst others portend a changing landscape for the future of family law and to a larger extent the human race. Marriage As A Conjugal Reality ~ From the Frontlines to the Sublime: Why Man & Woman? All Rights Reserved. Your email address will not be published. the family, in most traditional and modern African societies, there was (is) a strict hierarchy of authority, according to which the males ruled and held responsibility for the females (Sofola 1977). Marriage and Enslavement in Africa: Connections and Comparisons. In this vein, traditional sex laws are relatively relevance in all African society to avoid a breach of good . It was a white bodyEastern European-looking like the stereotypewith a white bra and G-string. A clan is made up of a family who either are related by blood and marriage. We should be reminded that we have it as our responsibility not only to uphold our tradition but also pass it to future generation. Even though liberated in Christ, the battered syndrome of colonization is still within us. [3] In some African Churches, couples that had performed their traditional marriage rites and live together without wedding are misconstrued fornicators. As both a sacrament and covenant, marriage is traceable back to its origin, God, who is Love. Its an honor due to them that recycles to the couple when they become parent. In a modern family people is less subject to the parental control in the matter of mate choice. Marriage is the basis of family. Some people are only excited with Jesus first public miracle- the turning of water into wine and may not see the main miracle in the passage. Its important to put records right especially as most African rich traditions are branded demonic. Isukha Traditional Marriage Processes and Rituals in Pre-Colonial Kenya. Each has their own unique ritual of how they go about a wedding ceremony. Most couples these days appear in wedding gowns and suits rather than put on our rich traditional costumes. Marriage ceremonies throughout Africa vary greatly depending on the faith of the individuals. African culture and traditions are handed down from generation to generation. Today, the assumption is that all people, men and women, understand the urgent need to openly discuss and negotiate the need for safe sex, whichever way necessary, for the preservation of life and the integrity of families. Among the Igbo marriage serves many different purposes other than unity between individuals and social status. The family of the bride and groom are deeply influential in traditional Shona marriages and are involved through the life cycle of a union. In traditional marriage, the religious aspects include the preliminary divination by which the young man who seeks a wife is enabled to find out from what clan or lineage his Chi (Guardian Spirit) permits him to take a wife of fortune from. Central to these customs is the institution of roora, the payment of bridewealth. The following discussion of cohabitation and mar-riage reflects some of the biases in the literature . This paper examines union patterns of young women (aged 15-29) in more than two dozen countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with the objective of documenting and analyzing the extent and nature of the. My parents were together for 15 years before they divorced but before the split I was able to witness the idea of a family. 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