This shall be the focus of our discussion in this paper. INTRODUCTION society, there exists within the African traditional marriage system resources available, which if discerned and learned properly can help checkmate or even stalemate some of the ills it suffers today. After the grooms family hands over the money and other prerequisites to the brides family, the wedding day is planned. When a woman gets married the entire community rejoices with This paper looks at how African marriage and family have evolved as a result of direct contact with both Islam and Christianity. Marriage is sacred in Africa and beyond; because it solidifies relationships that enrich communities and nations by bringing forth new life and new hope. What is new is the reaffirmation of marriage vows during marriage anniversaries. There are consequences on those who breached this norm. But in the name of Churchanity [not Christianity], most Africans appear to regard European wedding superior to our rich African traditional rites. The Biblical view of marriage will be studied in relation to the human fall and the Cross of Jesus Christ. Even if they object, by virtue of beings parents, they must be duly and respectfully informed. In the extended family, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents played important roles. 681 Koyiit zyiit / The Meaning of Marriage According to University Students: A Phenomenological Study adjustment to each other and relationship satisfaction. The wedding tradition came along with colonization and the inception of Christianity in Africa. In traditional African society, marriage between close relatives is not allowed. This is to show how crucial it is! Black Feminist Criticism and Drama: Thoughts on Double Patriarchy, Western Education's Impact on Northern Igbo Gender Roles in Nsukka, Nigeria, 1. Traditional marriage is a community affair. 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. 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. Traditional African Society. bo society dominated the early centuries from 1408 to the present period. 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. 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). 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. 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. God created a woman for a man and brought her to him to name. It is important to state that child bearing is fundamental to African marriage as it was the major crisis that brought this one to failure. Royal African Society. In Africa. BiAS Series, Kudzai Biri, Joachim Kuegler. The focus is on the collective more than the individual. Journal of African Interdisciplinary Studies. It was possible for betrothal to happen when a girl had not yet reached her change of pubescent to later be married and was considered a marriage contract and if not followed, there would be great consequences. Little wonder Mary felt so concerned when the marriage ran out of wine. In India among tribes of Tiyan, Toda, Kota, Khasa . This common occurrence usually brought about tremendous pain and grief to the slaves. For them, "love" is ife, "to love" is iferan, and "I love you" is mo fe e.2 In the East African country of Kenya, the over 6 million Gikuyus express love reflexively, as in "to love one another," ngwendet n, rather than the sentiment On the other hand, payment of the bride price and bride items demonstrates the mans capacity to plant a family unit in the community as well as coming of age. This paper is comprised of a literature review and an annotated bibliography of past and current empirical and theoretical scholarship and policy analysis concerning the de jure and de facto rules and norms of inheritance practices in African societies, particularly with regard to physical assets, and their effects on the intergenerational This article analyzes gender perspectives at two secondary schools in Nsukka, Nigeria. They shall witness, bless and rejoice for Gods fulfillment, support and encourage them as they pass through new experiences of starting life together. The parents of the young girls have certain requirements for their daughters future husband. All Rights Reserved. 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. 10.2307/1971859 JSTOR Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. Marriage has, despite demographic and political shifts, significant value for the individual, families and the society (Nock, 2005). society, there exists within the African traditional marriage system resources available, which if discerned and learned properly can help checkmate or even stalemate some of the ills it suffers today. Customarily, in practically all these traditional African societies girls' bodies were also heavily decorated by women themselves in their society's signs and symbols. My parents were together for 15 years before they divorced but before the split I was able to witness the idea of a family. Some slaves tried to continue practices, such as polygamy, that were a part of traditional African cultures but were unsuccessful. She is given the task to find her groom in a crowd of guests while she greets them. The bride price is negotiable but it is the role of the grooms family to persuade the betrothed his father to trim the items on the list. In some African Churches, couples that had performed their traditional marriage rites and live together without wedding are misconstrued fornicators. 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. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. 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. Once she finds him, he takes a few sips of the wine, and they are married. Some go further to find out whether the intended couples parents are married and still living together; not ruling our class distinction. Women in Africa: Tradition and Change. Even if they object, by virtue of beings parents, they must be duly and respectfully informed. 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. Julius Gathogo, Jennifer Sistig, Judith Kotze, Kudzai Biri, Johannes Wessels, Joachim Kuegler, Stephanie Feder, Francis Machingura, Fortune Sibanda, BiAS Series, Reverend Nyasha Madzokere, Canisius Mwandayi, Musa W. Dube, Lovemore Togarasei, Moji Ruele, IN: Networks, Resources and Economic Action. I pray African Christians to re-examine most European concept we give prime place while undermining our rich traditional culture. Traditional counselling is a growing area of interest in African contemporary society, especially amongst members of the counselling profession. 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. Marriage is an institution of society with different purpose, functions and forms in different societies but is present everywhere as an institution. Marriage in african traditional society pdf After this is over, the brides father hands the bride a wooden cup filled with palm wine. Unlike, that of my own culture in the United States of America, where I am free as a citizen to choose whomever I may choose to marry and when and if I may marry. This paper looks at how African marriage and family have evolved as a result of direct contact with both Islam and Christianity. It's an honor due to them that recycles to the couple when they become parent. love, CourtShip, and marriage in afriCa 121 exact words to express amorous or romantic love. The Development of Cultural Unity In sub-Saharan Africa no overarching great tradition developed Sub-Saharan Africa is a vast territory of many small traditions. Historians know very little about the prehistory of these many small traditions and their peoples African cultures are highly diverse There is an estimated 2000 with some recent contrasting work on African Americans. According to Caroline Mucece Kithinji, in a paper titled Impact of colonialism on traditional African marriage among the Igoji people of Kenya . - Agriculturally is easier to have a big family to cultivate the land. In many African societies the expectant mother may be smarred all over her body with white chalk and wears protective amulets. So unhappy is the woman who fails to get children. 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 . 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. Marriage plays significant roles in the Igbo status system for the individuals and their family and relatives. If she says yes, they go to the brides compound where the groom meets with the father and explains why he is there. But right here is a summary of procedures before and after the Nuptials, the Xhosa way. single-parent families, gay couples, etc.) 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. In a modern family people is less subject to the parental control in the matter of mate choice. Again neither the Jewish synagogues nor their temples had a place for wedding. 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. They have no reason to impose it on people who had already had their marriage rites. Marriage in South Africa exists in a number of different forms, as a result of the diversity of religions and cultures in the country. Love, economic status, religious beliefs, political views, and social acceptance are just a few reasons individuals marry across differing cultures., In the tribal villages of eastern Africa the Maasai marriages are arranged by the elders without ever first consulting the bride or the mother of the bride to be. To learn more, view ourPrivacy Policy. 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. (b) Explain four reasons which made traditional African communities to offer sacrifices. Its customary gifts [and not a price for buying a bride] in appreciation of the gift of a bride. 3 (3), 14 35. 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. 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. The point is that this In fact the survival of the family and the future of marriage depended a Africa culture is all about the ethnic groups family traditions, the literature, art and music shows the religion along with the social paths of their culture. Traditional verses Current Situation in Africa Traditional African society knew only one religion, ATR which greatly shaped the lives of the African people. TRADITIONAL ETHICS AND THE MAINTENANCE OF SOCIAL while caution must be exercised in the quest for the liberation of women so that African cultural values can be retained, and thus not destroyed under the guise of civilization. Couples in these Churches have no need going through Court Registry marriages anymore. Each covenant has a senior partner and God appointed the man. This is not to say that indigenous African spirituality represents a form of theocracy or religious totalitarianism not at all. They must be duly and respectfully informed cultures but were unsuccessful be and. 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