marriage in african traditional society pdf

The bride and the groom marry for further lineage of the groom's family. This study looks at the pre-existing traditions of marriage(s), its values, beliefs and practices in Igbo land and the influence of the Western Judo-Christian cultural and religiosity . However, in Africa, the practice of arranged marriages isnt as commonly used as it used to be. and expand our definitions and limits. 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. Even though liberated in Christ, the battered syndrome of colonization is still within us. Islamic laws and customs have shaped the institution of marriage in North Africa and in some nations of western and eastern Africa. 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. Publisher of weekly, "Healing Words" and monthly, "Light the Way. But right here is a summary of procedures before and after the Nuptials, the Xhosa way. The marriage ceremony was based on the principle of male dominance and female obedience. After they assemble this packet, the parents go search for a man for their daughter and see if he makes the requirements for their daughter., Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. This is something that most Americans are familiar with, or at least they are if theyve been involved in a wedding. 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. It analyzes gender-role changes or perceptions of change based on students reported interactions in formal education settings. The Role of Folk Music in Traditional African Society: The Igbo Experience 306 marriage rites, post natal ceremonies and other domestic duties. Some slaves tried to continue practices, such as polygamy, that were a part of traditional African cultures but were unsuccessful. Philosophers have also disputed the underlying moral and legal rationales for the structure of marriage, with implications for questions such as the content of its moral obligations and the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. network. Each community has a distinct political and social organization. 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. family is linked to the broader community. In recent years, modern life, industry, All Rights Reserved. In many African societies the expectant mother may be smarred all over her body with white chalk and wears protective amulets. Weefree Ministries, as Jesus did,include ministering to the physical, emotional, mental, vocational, and financial needs of others. According to Mbiti (1969 . Central to these customs is the institution of roora, the payment of bridewealth. 5. In each of these situations, African women are able to manipulate the existing system through woman-to-woman marriage in order to achieve higher social and economic status. Most Africans underwent three marriage rites before they could have their wives. 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. The African marriage is full of deep-rooted culture that cannot be wished away. Keywords: same sex marriage, regulation, institution. If It's Your Money, I Will Pay and Go: Shifting and Contested Significance of Brideprice Payment among the Dagaaba of Northwest Ghana. The brides father welcomes his guest and then asks the bride if she agrees with the proposal. African marriage and family should be conducted according to the Christ-event at the Cross. Once the wedding day comes, it is usually held at the brides compound. It could not be a wedding because wedding was not a Jewish Custom and tradition. of marriage and divorce in contemporary Igbo society. Traditional counselling is a growing area of interest in African contemporary society, especially amongst members of the counselling profession. This common occurrence usually brought about tremendous pain and grief to the slaves. 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 . This is where the suitor either devoted his services for a period of time to the parents of the maiden he wished to marry, he would offer to hunt for them or even assisting to make canoes, or, When Africans were brought to America during slavery they were forced to give up most of their heritage and were usually separated from their families. 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. These items show evidence of ownership and when accepted by brides father or his representative evidence transfer authority of ownership of the bride from the father to the husband. "Marriage in Africa was the means of ensuring reproduction, but things change", explained Dr Lynne Brydon in the opening remarks of the 2017 Cadbury Conference, an annual event held by the University of Birmingham's Department of African Studies and Anthropology (DASA). It takes faith that requires belief in miracle to pledge ones life to another. The World Book Encyclopedia states that 40% of Africans identify as Christian while 45% are Muslim. It is foundational. The traditional marriage is the local form of marriage. 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. This shall be the focus of our discussion in this paper. These values are best explained in African traditional marriages, family, clan, individual gifts and names, talents, cultural practices, arts and sculptures, dress, music and dance, folk stories amongst other traits peculiar to the African society. 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. After the traditional marriage some clergy would require a Probate [court] Registry certificate before they could conduct Church weddings. During this event, relations and the community witness the dowry and bride items given to the womans parent. As Siqwana-Ndulo (1998) stated, the institutions of family, marriage and household in African societies revolved around community. Berlin: Pp. The essence is to serve God or gods effectively to avert its wrath and punishment. In traditional African societies, the law enforcement agents, traditional police and courts were responsible for ensuring compliance with the laws of the land. Its customary gifts [and not a price for buying a bride] in appreciation of the gift of a bride. Are made up of smaller units called clan. The cultural values form a moral code, which regulates the community. It was the marriage ceremony that attracted people to the place. DEATH RITES IN AFRICAN TRADITIONAL SOCIETY (A.T.S) In some communities, the corpse is washed using water and herbal medicine in order to preserve and send it clean to the spirit world. 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. It gives women in customary law marriages the same status and protection as women in civil . This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Marriage in South Africa exists in a number of different forms, as a result of the diversity of religions and cultures in the country. You can download the paper by clicking the button above. 6. This article analyzes gender perspectives at two secondary schools in Nsukka, Nigeria. Marriage takes many forms in Africa. Though these networks may not continue in their traditional form, extended family relationships are still very close and important to one's life. Yet they failed to comprehend the spectacular miracle that held two people together to become one. African culture and traditions are handed down from generation to generation. This is to show how crucial it is! African society, on the other hand, does not emphasize individual looks and lust as the primary motivation for marriage, but rather the basic focus is on building families and communities. It is therefore recommended that before any marriage engagement, the man and the woman should consider their suitability to the fulfilment of fundamental obligation of child bearing as concern for family sustenance. These three ceremonies involve fortune and time. In, Africa and China the children have absolutely no say on whom they are going to marry. In an article about the reality of arranged marriages, in Japan, when a woman reaches the age of 25 she and her parents make a packet of information about her including a picture of the young girl in a kimono. These enquiries are crucial because the couple entering into marriage each represents its family in the relationship. Changes in family structures reflect the enduring tensions between traditional, Christian/religious and modern values and structures. Religion informs everything in traditional African society, including political art, marriage, health, diet, dress, economics, and death. This paper looks at how African marriage and family have evolved as a result of direct contact with both Islam and Christianity. (c) Give six ways the Traditional Africans used to maintain their relationship with the In Africa. My parents were together for 15 years before they divorced but before the split I was able to witness the idea of a family. bo society dominated the early centuries from 1408 to the present period. This paper takes the case of gender based violence (GBV) as a power that threatens the marriage institution. 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. According to the Pew Research Center (2010), traditional African religions are still prevalent in 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. A man in South Africa may have more than one spouse but a South African woman may only have one spouse. moving away from patriarchal . This is not to say that indigenous African spirituality represents a form of theocracy or religious totalitarianism not at all. The parents of the young girls have certain requirements for their daughters future husband. 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. 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