However, the paper focuses on GBV against women. The Igbo tribes seem to be very traditional, and it feels to be rather an odd thing to see in America, but very normal in other parts of the world such as Nigeria., perception that they want to sell their girls, however this is not the case. Experience from the drama shows that the family and community play a fundamental role in the success and stabilization of the marriage. This is to show how crucial it is! 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. Its the start of a new life for the bride and groom, together and out of the households of their parents., Arranged Marriage is a form of Marriage when your parents, families, and communities pick who your significant other is. In fact the survival of the family and the future of marriage depended a This portrayal of men and women does not end in the public sphere but is also found in the private sphere where men decide what is good for their partners in relation to safe sex. Thera Rasing Traditional modern and christian teachings in The dowry and bride items include token money and various gifts. My parents were together for 15 years before they divorced but before the split I was able to witness the idea of a family. Today, we not only speak of marriage as a union of love but also as one whose space is contested by various external forces. The Role of Folk Music in Traditional African Society: The Igbo Experience 306 marriage rites, post natal ceremonies and other domestic duties. 2 pages, 557 words. Blessed be the God of all creation for being in the business of creating marriages as well as rebuilding and amending them. An Election Year Guide to Mitt Romneys Religion, Woman in Islam by Dr. Sherif Abdel Azeem, Ph.D. Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Girls' experiences of religious and cultural practices: Human rights violations, Macho Masculinity: A Snare in the Context of HIV among the Manyika of Zimbabwe, (Re)producing an elite. Whether the bride and groom fall in love or someone makes the match, meeting involves In April 1862 he visited a slave market in Gallabat on what today is the border between Sudan and Ethiopia, where he saw a large number of 'lovely captives . In some African regions if the couple is residing abroad, the traditional marriage will still be accomplished even in their absence by the family members back home. The focus is on the collective more than the individual. The setting of the ceremony in Cana is similar to African traditional marriage rites. The purpose of this research is to show that until and unless there is a paradigm shift on the beliefs, teachings and practices of apostolic sects in terms of a deeper HIV and AIDS awareness programmes targeting these sects, the Zimbabwean women will continue to suffer. When being married in the United states the man proposes or whatever the case is in the relationship, but in the Igbos relationship it is the family that plays part in the proposal. Political philosophers have taken the organization of sex and reproduction to be essential to the health of the state, and moral philosophers have debated whether marriage has a special moral status and relation to the human good. After the grooms family hands over the money and other prerequisites to the brides family, the wedding day is planned. Box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272 The Daily Bread devotional booklet of October 6, 2005 said, Marriage not wedding was the real miracle. Christianity takes a lions share in the Zimbabwean religious market particularly when compared to other non-indigenous religions like Islam, Buddhism and Judaism. The bride and the groom marry for further lineage of the groom's family. Although different societies in Africa celebrate marriage differently given the diversity of belief systems, it can be generally stated that marriage manifests a union of love, joy and great intimacy. So, modern couples are usually raised in traditional society, but with a lot of influences from modern, often western, education, television, radio, and so on. In this way, African culture and values can be revaluated, their relevance established and sustained in order to give credence to authentic African identity. Journal of Nigerian Association for the Study of Religions (NASR), Icheke Journal of the Faculty of Humanities, UCLA Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies, Oracle of Wisdom Journal of Philosophy and Public Affairs, African Studies Quarterly, Vol. Several studies have confirmed that. I paid my toll more than twenty years ago. Woman-to-woman marriage involves the following persons: 1) the female husband herself; 2) if the female husband is already married, her own husband (the female husband's husband); 3) the woman who is married by the female husband - the wife; and 4) the lover (s) of the wife who may father her children. in traditional Africa from a holistic perspective, with emphasis on how culture has impacted negatively on their well-being, although there are benefits derive from their status in society. 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. Its customary gifts [and not a price for buying a bride] in appreciation of the gift of a bride. The African marriage is full of deep-rooted culture that cannot be wished away. The good news is theres always the benefit for RSVP Rice and Stew Very plenty and social interaction. You can download the paper by clicking the button above. This means that GBV is not exclusive to any gender. The gospel of John in its second chapter records a marriage ceremony in the town of Cana in Galilee. Ochieng, E. (2019). African marriage traditions and customs pdf Some may take wedding traditions for granted, but the road to becoming newlyweds is one that's filled with poignant symbolism for many African American families. India is one of the largest centers where child marriages take place. Greiner, C. & W. Kokot. Helping another person experiencing psychosocial or emotional distress and mentoring someone to achieve a life goal can be one of the most enabling human services. Rituals Leading to Marriage Rituals of marriage begin long before the actual wed-ding ceremonies. families, and misses the many meanings and practices of marriage that coexist in our society. In India among tribes of Tiyan, Toda, Kota, Khasa . "West Africa family systems were severely repressed throughout the New World (Guttmann, 1976)". Enjoy!Marriage is something that is highly valued in the Xhosa culture. Central to these customs is the institution of roora, the payment of bridewealth. In a landmark ruling, the high court last year recognised that, in accordance with Nandi customary law on woman-to-woman marriages, Monica Jesang Katam could inherit her late wife's property . When Americans think wedding, they think big, white dresses, tiered cakes, being surrounded by family and friends, dancing, and of course the big kiss at the end of the ceremony to seal the deal. Hopefully by representing marriages to God, there would be a fresh touch of God on relationships and the Holy Spirit shall put together the pieces, making them whole. From oral tradition, literary records and observation, the article, through the lens of ethical relativism, mirrors morality as a timeless definition of humanity influenced by locality. The African marriage is full of deep-rooted culture that cannot be wished away. RITES OF PASSAGE AFRICAN TRADITIONAL REGION 1Dr. Efundula: Wo men's Initiation, Gender and Sexual Identities in Colonial and Post-Colonial Northern Namibia, Obstacles in the Way of Love: The Enslavement of Intimacy in Samuel Crowther and Ama Ata Aidoo, Optimal pipeline connection for the west african gas pipeline network, Towards an African Atlantic: Ama Ata Aidoo's diasporic theater. Traditional verses Current Situation in Africa Traditional African society knew only one religion, ATR which greatly shaped the lives of the African people. In 2009, Home Affairs wanted to change the law so that it would be a legal . This marriage ceremony is only for a monogamous union and any polygamous relations are forbidden. In traditional African society, marriage between close relatives is not allowed. Our African Christians after performing marriage rites that the Europeans do not do are subjected to wedding that involves spending of fortune. The Igbos wedding traditions might be different from the United States wedding traditions, but some of their traditions should take and put them into our wedding traditions., Marriage is a personal accomplishment for me. In African tradition, marriage was done after someone had gone through the adolescent stage where different compulsion for marriage in the context of an African slave girl Ojebeta Ogbanje: Every woman, whether slave or free, must marry. The ultraviolet light that lit the tiny box of a room made her underwear and heavy lipstick glow in an eerie, supernatural but definitely eye-catching way. Introduction stopped to stare at the body showcased in the Amsterdam window and inadvertently shuddered. According to Malinowski, " marriage is a contract for the production and maintenance of children." . Kavulavu, L & Mukhwana, D. (2021). Gender-role change is one aspect of a general Westernizing effect of formal models of Western education on indigenous cultures. This has become a great problem that many igbo men choose to cohabitate with a woman than marry her because of the resultant shame., In a traditional Igbo wedding, the man asks the woman to marry him. People in the traditional African society holds positive views about older people. Every country has their own way of marrying two people that want to spend the rest of their life together. contemporary society but maintain that these values be critically assessed, and those found to be inimical to the well-being and holistic development of the society, be discarded. [3] Weefree Ministries - Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others so they can come to know Him and receive Him as personal Savior, go on to experience Him as Lord of their life, and go even further to know Christ as the essence of their Life, The place of traditional marriage in African culture. Polygyny is that of which is practiced in the Maasai culture, as an ideal that is achieved only by that of the elder men of the tribe. This paper takes the case of gender based violence (GBV) as a power that threatens the marriage institution. The Role of the African Traditional Religion in the Promotion of Justice, Reconciliation and Peace in Africa in the Twenty-first Century: A Kenyan Experience . The Bahama of Africa and tribes of Samoa. Each covenant has a senior partner and God appointed the man. The Role of Folk Music in Traditional African Society: The Igbo Experience 306 marriage rites, post natal ceremonies and other domestic duties. Get ideas to incorporate into yours. single-parent families, gay couples, etc.) (NICATD, Crystalrlombardo) There can be many pros and cons to arranged marriages. Even when they fought their ways through years of conflicts, thank God they have something to celebrate. An analysis of the cultural aspects of the marriage in the Shona traditional religion in Zimbabwe, Religion Mariage and Family Values in Africa, Christianity, Marriage and Family Life in Esanland, Silences in marriage laws in Commonwealth Africa: Womens position in polygynous customary marriages, Lessons from Scripture for Maasai Christianity, Lessons from Maasai Culture for the Global Church. 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). It is trite to note that even where regulations exist to excuse or better still legalise this form of marriage, it is still not acceptable in major cultures and civilisation across the world and particularly in many African countries like Malawi, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Nigeria. It analyzes gender-role changes or perceptions of change based on students reported interactions in formal education settings. ."); Talking Points on Traditional Marriage, CONCERNED WOMEN In the extended family, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents played important roles. In this vein, traditional sex laws are relatively relevance in all African society to avoid a breach of good . Feminist philosophers have seen marriage as playing a crucial role in women's oppression and thus a central topic of justice. African society has been undergoing tremendous changes in every aspect of life including family structure and marriage. Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. Woman-to-woman marriage involves the following persons: 1) the female husband . When looking at marriage as an institution, as opposed to a free-standing concept, marriage represents socially sanctioned behaviour. 6. There are also other factors, such as, industrialisation, migration, inculturation, globalisation, information technology which have played a role in the changes of the African cultures. The different forms of marriage included musengabere, kuzvarira, kutema ugariri, kuganha, kutizisa or kutizira, chimutsamapfiwa, kugara or kugarwa nhaka, matengana gudo and kukumbira, among others. When it comes to marriage, South Africa has various tribes and cultures which have very colourful traditional ceremonies. Despite this manifestation, marriage has been very often exposed to incidences of violence. The history of marriage customs in Africa are, interestingly, based on practices that other cultures around the world have historically practiced. Society has moved on; the traditional idea of marriage is outdated. The point is that this Women in Africa: Tradition and Change. Traditional African Society. The escalating experiences of violence as force among married couples, call to question what it means to be husband and wife or whether marriage is merely an ideal so difficult to realize. They tend to forget the traditional teachings for the marriage, or think they are Cambridge Development Initiative. During this event, relations and the community witness the dowry and bride items given to the womans parent. Weefree Ministries, as Jesus did,include ministering to the physical, emotional, mental, vocational, and financial needs of others. African culture and traditions are handed down from generation to generation. Contra Bamikole, the paper argues that the capacity of the agba (elder) to manage conflict shrewdly in traditional Yoruba society was a combined function of the elders personality, proverbial After this is over, the brides father hands the bride a wooden cup filled with palm wine. If It's Your Money, I Will Pay and Go: Shifting and Contested Significance of Brideprice Payment among the Dagaaba of Northwest Ghana. The union of marriage is so strong that two become one flesh. In Africa. 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. The problem is our refusal to be who God created us to be and not proud of whom we are. As Siqwana-Ndulo (1998) stated, the institutions of family, marriage and household in African societies revolved around community. Religion informs everything in traditional African society, including political art, marriage, health, diet, dress, economics, and death. Some Church parents of the brides stipulate the three, as if that guaranteed the success of the relationship. Academia.edu uses cookies to personalize content, tailor ads and improve the user experience. Before this ceremony, the couple get acquainted with each other and agreed to marry. Marriage in african traditional society pdf Fewer said having their relationship recognized in a religious ceremony (30%), financial stability (28%) or legal rights and benefits (23% . Marriage ceremonies throughout Africa vary greatly depending on the faith of the individuals. Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. The underline contribution is that there is value especially in the traditional marriage system this value is underscored in life. It summarizes gender issues under students perceptions of gender roles, norms, and practices in relation to themselves, their peer group, and their perceptions of generational change compared with those of their parents and grandparents. Most couples these days appear in wedding gowns and suits rather than put on our rich traditional costumes. Email: weefreeministries@yahoo.com, CONFLICTS AFRICAN MARRAIGES FACE IN WESTERN CULTURE, CONFLICTS AFRICAN MARRIAGES FACE IN WESTERN CULTURE. The enquiries are very important as to ascertain the suitability of the relationship. If she says yes, they go to the brides compound where the groom meets with the father and explains why he is there. In some communities, the dead are buried with their belonging e.g. I ntroduction: Human societies globally have from time immemorial held with great regard the celebration of marriage. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Hg. In Zimbabwe, the "family" traditionally refers to an expansive. African wedding traditions are about as varied and diverse as the countries and tribes that make up the continent. - Agriculturally is easier to have a big family to cultivate the land. It is what it means to be male or female in a certain society that shapes the opportunities one is offered in life, the roles one may play, and the kinds of relationships one may have. kinship. Marriage is sacred in Africa and beyond; because it solidifies relationships that enrich communities and nations by bringing forth new life and new hope. In the traditional African society, older people were highly esteemed because of the important roles they played by helping to integrate the society, preserve its cultural values, transmit knowledge and skills, settle disputes and educate the young. Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. According to Mbiti (1969 . traditional African society. The family occupies a pivotal place in every society and in the Africa continent at large. Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer. 3. Unfortunately the status of Zimbabwean women is still in a sad state due to the prevalence of masculinist and patriarchal norms that negatively portray Zimbabwean women as subordinates and men as dominating all aspects of life. Despite this, recent studies on the marriage institution reveal that speaking of marriage as an exclusive union of love, joy, and great intimacy risks being termed a contradiction amidst the experiences of violence today. About nine-in-ten Americans (88%) cited love as a very important reason to get married, ahead of making a lifelong commitment (81%) and companionship (76%), according to a 2013 Pew Research Center survey. This paper focuses on gender based violence to argue that not only does gender based violence in marriages risk the health and wellbeing of the couple, children and the society, but also threatens the realization of the essential properties of marriage. It is foundational. south african law commission project 90 the harmonisation of the common law and the indigenous law report on customary marriages august 1998 The Process of Marriage in African Societies: A Multiple Indicator Approach Created Date: 20160811045033Z As an example, there is no such thing as a "cousin" in Zimbabwean culture. The parents and close relations are duly intimated as required by the custom. Chapter 3 investigated the Chapter 3 investigated the different reasons for divorce among the population. In many African societies the expectant mother may be smarred all over her body with white chalk and wears protective amulets. Both African-American husbands and wives in this study held more traditional views than white couples; Latinos were found to be no more or less traditional than whites. No matter her beauty or qualities, her failure to bear children is worse than committing genocide. - 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. For example, if the culture, values private property, it will have laws that forbid theft of property. Having a wife then to create a family with her and providing for them, is a rite a passage for most African American males. Anyone can have a wedding but only God can create a marriage. A value is that quality of a thing thought of as being more or less desirable, useful, estimable and important. Its customary gifts [and not a price for buying a bride] in appreciation of the gift of a bride. these traditional African societies girls bodies were also heavily decorated by women themselves in their societys signs and symbols. letters from the traditional council. However, in Africa, the practice of arranged marriages isnt as commonly used as it used to be. (Nafisa Baxamusa, 2011), In the essay The Radical Idea of Marrying for Love, Stephanie Coontz discusses the change marriage has made among the different cultures around the world and how it went from being an act that was necessary to something that was done for personal joy and fulfillment., To this day, these types of marriages happen all over the world, arranged marriages make up vastly the higher percentage in human history (Isaac). Although different societies in Africa celebrate marriage differently given the diversity of belief systems, it can be generally stated that marriage manifests a union of love, joy and great intimacy. Journal of African Interdisciplinary Studies. 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