If the groom was not able to pay bridewealth, the other siblings had difficulty in marrying, even if they could pay it. Fostering of that life force took place through marriage, which was “the most responsible phase in life” (Mbiti, 1975, p. 104). All of them were adults between 27-54 years old. Dandora. It could happen that the wife and the children would have to stay in an abuse situation because the family of the wife would not be able to return the bridewealth in case she wanted to leave the husband (cf. If the main reason for a couple to stay in such a relationship is the high amount of bridewealth, it would seem that bridewealth contributes indirectly to creating some unstable relationships. Consent money (“ayie”) was given to the mother and other family members involved in the marriage negotiations. Usually it would be used for school fees, to pay bridewealth for his other sons, to pay his debts and to distribute it among other family members, especially the ones who were poor. It was a means of binding not only two communities/ethnic groups but also of strengthening inner connection within one community. Bridewealth could be paid in installments. The interview was in Swahili. It was a means of preserving and strengthening the community as a whole, and a practical way of ensuring that the community would survive; These traditions continue to play a very important role in the lives of urban Luo dwellers. According to her, it is not necessary to provide an animal that would have to accompany bridewealth paid in cash. 122-127, Sakubu, 2003, p. 12). Another limitation was seen in the fact that members of the Luo community living in Nairobi for a number of years, due to various factors, seemed to have less knowledge about their traditions. Kithinji says that “The dowry issue is causing a lot of problems to young people. Dandora. Bridewealth was a crucial element in marriage negotiations. African customs create a rich culture. Kam, P. (2004), “No bridewealth, no wife”, In Oyugi, E.(Ed). A 27 years old Luo lady was interviewed. It plays a very important role in our traditions and cultures. The parents of the groom would also actively participate in the process of bridewealth. Educated parents might not be interested in receiving bridewealth. [4] The family is typically involved within this process. 79-85) claimed that delaying marriages due to various economic factors, including high amount of bridewealth, contributed to premarital sex, spread of STDs and HIV/AIDS. 2013). That close relationship was mentioned by one person who said that the word “nyombo” is used for both bridewealth and marriage (cf. If there is no bridewealth, they (the couple) can run away, stay together, have children but it is not recognized as a marriage. In modern practice, the payment is typically in forms of cash. Some of the respondents stressed that it was “like a gift, though an obligatory one, which is given to the parents (“yuora”) of the girl”. Some mentioned practical ways of accommodating the practice due to the difficult economic conditions that affect many young people. She defined bridewealth as a “traditional thing, a token of thanksgiving for raising her up, and educating the girl, a way of saying thank you”. Journal of Social Sciences and Public Affairs, 4(1), 94-104. However if children were born, bridewealth is not to be returned. 3). it could be slaughtered for burial; If bridewealth was not spent, it provided an opportunity for the girl to come back to her parental home. Bikorwomuhangi (2005, p. 4) claimed that “bridewealth became commercialized and it is like it has degenerated into commodity exchange”. A 50 year old Kisii, married woman was interviewed. The practice is common in all parts of the globe in one form or another but, as an instrument for the legitimation of a marriage, is most highly developed in Africa. One respondent said that “something has to be given. Because of that, even if the couple lives in a union, they and especially, the groom cannot go to visit the parents of the bride because he would feel ashamed. 10). The respondent stressed that if one did not pay bridewealth for his wife, he could not get it for his daughter. The choice of methodology was dictated by the purpose of the research. Bikorwomuhangi, E. (2005), “Traditional Marriage among the Luo of Kenya” In Katola, M(ed). People may then be involved with more partners and as a result it may contribute to the spread of AIDS. 14.02.09. Others would even leave the responsibility to pay it in the hands of the groom. In general, for the parents of the girl, payment of bridewealth was a sign of respect on the side of the groom and his family. The continuity is to be seen in the fact that bridewealth is still practiced, in towns, and probably even more in rural areas. 06.02.09. If the researcher was to draw some conclusions based on his research findings, literature and class notes review (being aware of the danger of generalization), he would say that. 5). Ngubane (1987) talked about disadvantages of ‘monetisation’ of bridewealth such as the transaction becoming privatized, individualized, and commercialized. As a result, some engagements are broken, some couples elope and others live together, until they can afford dowry and a wedding while others register their marriages secretly” (2005, p. 54). Reflection on an African Traditional Marriage System. ), Holding the World Together: African Women in Changing Perspective (pp. Bride price, also called bridewealth, is common in many different societies. It was a way of showing respect and appreciation to them for the work and expenses of bringing up their daughter (cf. In Sub-Saharan Africa where land was abundant and there were few or no domesticated animals, manual labor was more valuable than capital, and therefore bridewealth dominated. Some disadvantages have also been mentioned already. Waruta enumerated other reasons such as: introduction of monetary economies, the use of western education system, and a shift from kinship systems of relations to a more individualistic one (2005, p. 101). Bridewealth brought involved families together and created friendships between them. Unless one married upon attaining the right age, one stood no chance of being counted as an adult. [5] It consists of an elaborate ceremony with heavy involvement from both families. Two respondents mentioned that “the father of the groom was supposed to provide at least one cow for bridewealth of his son. Cohabitation and elopement would be means used to bypass the obligation of bridewealth (Bikorwomuhangi, 2005, p. 4). Another advantage of bridewealth was that it gave the couple mutual rights, e.g. The Yoruba integrate many traditional Yoruba marriage customs (such as arranged marriages and bridewealth) into their Christian and Islamic ceremonies. Mbiti (1969, p. 140, 1975, p. 108), Magesa (1997, p. 122) and Waruta (2005, p. 107), emphasized that bridewealth should not be seen in terms of ‘payment’ for the girl – it was rather a way of fostering her dignity by showing her how important she was for the groom. Women are not bought and sold, though bridewealth may come close to this as a result of the introduction of money, and the bridegroom being assessed according to his capacity to pay”. Population of Africa). The process of paying and receiving bridewealth was a source of respect for both families in their respective communities. This practice is very common among the animist and the Muslim communities. b. The same Kisii couple was interviewed concerning bridewealth. The study also revealed that 73% of young people surveyed believe that polygamy is an outdated process. If he did not have it, the father would give him a rope symbolizing that he is giving him a cow” (cf. In her case, the payment of bridewealth remains an obstacle in formalizing their marriage – because it was not paid yet, they have no Church wedding. Marriage to the Yoruba was not focused on love but rather on structure and order. Prof Achola mentioned other forms of paying bridewealth: grain, potatoes, labour, bunches of bananas, bundles of firewood, gourds of milk, planting implements, watertanks, and electrical implements. Bridewealth is seen as a form of “insurance” for the bride's family, as they know that if economic hardship entails they are able to rely on the groom's family to care of them. 14.03.09, Dandora. The families dress in traditional and often colourful attire. It legitimizes the children of the union and confers legal rights over them upon the father. These days some young people choose not to pay it and yet they want to live together. Also bridewealth was seen as a necessary condition of marriage without which one would be cursed (cf. 2). The Yoruba call this ‘Mo mi i mo e’ (know me and let me know you) while the Igbo call it ‘Ikutu aka n’ulo’ (Knock on the door). He could use it for a variety of purposes. The extended family is the most important unit of social organization. Throughout the continent many individuals are electing for non-traditional forms of marriage that do not abide to traditional African marriage customs or more modern religious customs. This is a practice as old as the world. There were some group interviews, though most were individual ones. The amount paid depended upon the agreement between the two families, economic situation of the man and how much both families were attached to their local traditions. The household was the hub of social life, and its layout symbolically expressed the relationships between men, women, cattle and the ancestors. Although bridewealth remains widely practised in Southern Africa, few studies have examined the custom in a contemporary context. Jean-Baptiste, R., & Burrill, E. (2019). Shorter stressed it saying that: “Many individuals of the bridegroom’s family contribute to it and many individuals of the bride’s family benefit from it” (1998, p. 90).The members of the family and the community would participate at various stages. She defined bridewealth as a “traditional thing, a token of thanksgiving for raising up, and educating the girl, a way of saying thank you”. Another reason was that it gave some control to the wife –it could be a means of exercising some control, including threats, over the husband. Kisembo, B. Magesa, L. and Shorter, A. Main forms of marriage in Africa: Monogamy (serial monogamy) Polygamy: polygyny – extremely common One man with two or more wives at the same time. 3, 4). The advantages of bridewealth as found in the field research correspond closely to the one mentioned by such popular writers as Mbiti and Magesa and what Prof Achola presented in his class. It was given to her because she would be the one being most affected by her daughter being taken away from her. Polyandry (multiple husbands) is very rare in Africa – e.g., Lele. One respondent said that “a lot can be asked. A 29 years old married Luo lady was interviewed. 7); Bridewealth was a means of binding individuals and communities/ethnic groups together. Once bridewealth was exchanged, marriage was official and was not be broken. The respondents appreciated the value that was traditionally attached to bridewealth and also were aware of the alterations in its application in modern Nairobi. Some … They said that even though bridewealth should be paid, the groom could take a long time to fulfill that obligation. Since the families would usually belong to different clans and communities, bridewealth contributed to forming relationships between them. That rope signifies that cow was given by the father. Riggs, T. (2006). Other Africans are unable to participate in tribal or community centric ceremonies as they are required to move far from their community for employment. It legalized the status of the wife, as well as of children and their rights. The payment, which may include money, property, animals and commodities, can often equal a year or more of income. This is where the bride inherits gifts from her family with the purpose of using them within her new home. African marriage is a family matter, and binds two families in a lasting relationship, that anthropologists call affinity. Inability to pay bridewealth among some young people was a main factor to elope and to live together in unions that were not traditionally recognized as marriages. App.#, no. Above, the importance of the marriage gift in relation to marriage has been emphasised. Marriage was defined as a ‘union of two people becoming one’, ‘two people joining to become one to start a new family’. They would be the first ones to whom the son would communicate his desire to marry. Bridewealth exists in societies where manual labor is more important than capital. Bridewealth was traditionally seen as a sign of one’s commitment. If he is not able to afford it, he is to get at least a rope which will be used to take that animal to girl’s parents. Traditional customs relevant to the specific community are performed during this engagement ceremony, while the more modern marital customs will be performed at the religious wedding ceremony. For example in Senegal there are almost 47% of the marriages where they feature more than one woman. Hence, bridewealth was contributing to wives staying in some abusive relationships; If the parents cannot agree about bridewealth, the young may have to wait till the parents are dead to formalize their relationship. He believes that the practice should be maintained though in a more moderate form that would prevent some a possible exploitation of young men. It was not meant to be ‘temporary issue’ – it was an ‘everlasting indebtness’ whereby the man was to contribute on various occasions. On the other hand, one person added that “some denominations try to do away with bridewealth believing that bridewealth was causing drift in families”. Second to that, it was thought to serve as a way of covering to the bride’s family for the loss of her services, and to legitimize the children born to the marriage (Anderson, 2007). In particular, we have little evidence of its con-sequences for women in contemporary Africa. [7] The amount of bridewealth that a family is able to pay serves as an icon of her family's social status and indicates how much the family will be able to support the groom's. There is a growing trend among African communities where wedding ceremonies and marriage processes are blending traditional customs with modern practices. The amount of bridewealth depended upon a number of factors such as: the general economic situation of the country, financial ability of the groom and his family, beauty, character and education of the bride. Overall the polygamy in Africa is a very common practice that you are going to find all over Africa, but it tends to be more popular especially in the West African countries. In spite of that, all would like to keep that practice –one of the reasons provided was that it was a custom and it could not be left out. Kisembo claimed that “Modern Africa is witnessing a violent and far reaching process of social change’ (1998, p. 208). Among Southern Luo there was a type of marriage called ‘Por’. App.#, no. This paper addresses the paucity of research by focusing on South African Zulu society where, among all cultural traditions, the payment of bridewealth (ilobolo) continues to be one of the most salient. Despite this, there are also many similarities between African weddings and the customs that surround them. One respondent said that: “it was a wealth for the family - they get animals, they get milk and respect in the village” (cf. App.#, no. Polygamy is heavily integrated into traditional Ghanaian marriage. The effort of parents was appreciated in a very concrete form; The practice of bridewealth pointed out to the importance of traditions in the life of the community. 90% of surveyed students disagreed with this practice, believing the father should pay the dowry and pay for the costs of the child (such as education). 2, 4). It would be given in envelopes. The distribution of bridewealth among various members of one’s family helped to strengthen relationships within that family and acquire wealth. It helped both of know who their ‘significant others’ in both families were. One person summarized it in the following way: “Education, Christianity, urbanization and westernization diminish the role of bridewealth, though it is still important – the culture is still an underlying idea in one’s head” (cf. Importance Of Bride Wealth In Bridewealth. Conflits portant sur le mariage, le divorce et les rapports sexuels en dehors du mariage dans les tribunaux coloniaux de Libreville, Gabon 1939-1959 Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press. Bought and Bound: Bridewealth and Gender Inequality in Africa Abstract In this paper we turn to the norm of reciprocity to explore gender inequality in Africa. App.#, no. The most common form of such transfer in Africa is called bridewealth. Omari, T. (1960). The father of the bride was the one who received bridewealth. These days money seems to be used a lot more. The practice of bridewealth was a means of ensuring the survival of the kinship, establishing very strong bonds between individuals and families coming from different clans, recognizing and legitimizing the marriage and ensuring a legal status of children born in that union and their right to inheritance (Kam, 2004, p. 4, Sakubu, 2003, p. 7). A Luo man said that “to marry it has to be paid. Prof Achola mentioned that bridewealth should not be seen as a price tag that was put on the girl. Such an agreement depended upon their attachment to the traditions and their understanding of the role of bridewealth. It shows that traditional cultural practices continue exercising an impact in spite of modern factors; There is a continuity and disruption in the practice of bridewealth. Some respondents were referred to above mentioned changes taking place in the modern society as reasons for the tradition being challenged. A 45 year old married Luo man was interviewed. Shorter referred to bridewealth in terms of indemnity and compensation to the bride’s family for bringing her up and losing a productive and reproductive member of the family (1998, p. 90). O’Donovan (2005, pp. Some academics believe this may not be a choice, but rather the outcome of current living conditions within the continent. A curse could also result from breaking certain taboos around bridewealth, like somebody eating the chicken prepared for the groom (cf. In the contemporary society, many urban residents live in poor conditions and it is very difficult for them to raise bridewealth. The reason that I use the term lobola rather than bridewealth is because it … In many cases those changes affected adversely traditional African values, including marriage, because the traditional structures were weakened and did not longer have the strength as they did in the past (Kisembo, 1998, p. 209). Chosen members of both families would be involved in bridewealth negotiations. Both groups saw bridewealth and polygyny as instruments of male domination and sym- As a result, the young could elope or the future husband would have to take loans to be able to pay for bridewealth. Prof Achola stressed that marriage was a means of achieving companionship, to get wealth, to have children, to be immortalized as ancestors and to fulfill God’s will. 940 Words 4 Pages. It still remains a relevant practice especially to parents whose children want to marry. The parents of the girl were the ones to agree on the amount of bridewealth to be paid. One of the respondents said that in some areas there was one word used for both bridewealth and marriage -“nyombo” (cf. Being married and to have children affects not only one’s earthly destiny. 17.01.09. At home the gift ‘replaces’ her reminding the family that she will leave or has left and yet she is not dead… The gift legalizes her value and the marriage contract. One Luo respondent defined bridewealth (“nyombo”) as a “payment that is given in exchange for the girl” (cf. Many African communities believe marriage is primarily about procreation and providing for children as this is seen as the foundation of society. Culturally, the groom was always ‘bound’ by bridewealth – it was an ongoing process that meant, using the words of one respondent, “everlasting indebtedness” (cf. All activities were geared towards achieving that goal. Bridewealth involved the parents of the girl. Bridewealth was defined as a ‘payment in exchange to take the girl’, ‘a gift that one has to give to bring families together’. However, if there were children born in that marriage, bridewealth was not to be returned; If there were problems in the family, and the bridewealth was spent, it, somehow, forced the wife to continue staying in an abuse relationship; If bridewealth was given in livestock, if there was a disease, it could be easily lost; In case of the death of the wife before bridewealth was completed, it could create tension between the husband and late wife’s family concerning the place of burial; The institution of bridewealth could be used as a means of abusing and disrespecting the bride. App.#, no. The disadvantages, as found in the field research, correspond to what contemporary writers such as Waruta, O’Donovan and Kisembo pointed out to claiming that the practice of bridewealth was influenced by economic and cultural factors and caused some problems in preparation for marriage. Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices: Religions and denominations. Such a rather modern development points out to the fact that traditionally the payment of bridewealth was an effective means of avoiding a lot of problems in relationships. Among the Kipsigis, in negotiating the terms of the bridewealth payment, a woman's parents: Select one: a. LOVE, MARRIAGE, AND FAMILIES IN AFRICA. This point was also stressed by Waruta (2005, p. 107). Sometimes, marriages of the sons could be delayed because they had to wait for bridewealth for their sister to be given so that they could get necessary means to pay it (Koyango-Male, 1984, p. 17). Inability to pay bridewealth was the main reason of such a situation. All the respondents claimed that the practice of bridewealth is ongoing in towns and villages. Abwanda confirmed that point stressing that “according to Luo customary law, bridewealth is what really seals a marriage contract and without it there is no marriage in the Luo custom (2004, p. 9). Africans/Ghanaians, love which is vital in marriage in the Western societies means the state of meeting material needs of children, parents, spouse and close relatives while success is identified to include marriage, children, social recognition and contribution to society (Annabella et al., 2018). App.#, no. 11). [10] The results also show that 87% of students believe love is the most important factor of marriage, despite that in traditional Ghanaian culture, marriage and love share a relatively loose connection. What is bridewealth Marriage was an important rite of passage in Africa (Waruta, 2005, p. 103, Bikorwomuhangi, 2005, p. 1). Prof Achola stressed that bridewealth was not usually paid in full because the family of the girl could go to ask for assistance to the family of the boy. 8). Mbiti defined it as “a token of gratitude on the part of the bridegroom’s people to those of the bride, for their care over her and for allowing her to become his wife. It was an outward expression of the seriousness of both families involved in marriage and a symbol of marriage bond. The complexity and importance of bridewealth and its practical relevance to the daily life in the contemporary society influenced the researcher’s desire to undertake a more deep study of this topic for his MA dissertation. He defined it as a ‘token given to the parents of the girl for migrating from her family to start another one’. 74-75). To remove it would be a sign of irresponsibility – ability to raise bridewealth was a practical expression of the groom’s ability to provide for his family” (cf. Some authors noticed that there are changes taking place in the contemporary African society. A good wife is the best investment any man can ever make. However, a failure to pay at least some significant and agreed upon part of it meant that no matter how long the couple stayed together, their union was not recognized as a marriage (Kam, 2004, p. 7). It is a custom widely practiced across Africa. It allowed him to understand better an important element of African culture and how it affects daily lives of modern Nairobi residents from the Luo community. Keeping in mind the small scope of this project, the researcher decided to use some elements of descriptive statistics in order to provide simple summaries of the findings. 2, 8). In his case, paying bridewealth was an obstacle but it was ‘a must’. One lady described it as follows: “the groom has to pay it because of my hardships involved in bringing my daughter up. One of the crucial rites of passage is marriage. He would be the one involved at all stages of the process. Marriage and Bridewealth (Ilobolo) in Contemporary Zulu Society. Are there any changes in the contemporary society that would affect the practice of bridewealth. On the part of the groom (“or”) the following could participate in it: elders from the family, the father, uncles and friends. In case of divorce, the bridewealth was to be returned, and often it was already used by the family of the wife – practice of bridewealth effectively encouraged the wife to stay in that relationship; A lot could be asked as bridewealth. The father of the groom is supposed to help his son in giving him at least one cow. Bride could be considered as a commodity that has been bought and hence could be treated as an object (cf. If the groom can pay himself, he can do it. Children are taught through folktales that families built on love and attraction risk damaging the foundation of their community. The family is typically involved within this process. It brings shame” (cf. Such an approach allowed the researcher to ask questions answers to which were not necessarily easy to quantify. His task consisted of coming up with a set of categories, and then to analyze his text again in order to find out how many instances fall into that category (Dominik, 2007, p.53). Some African couples are opting to bypass the legal marriage status entirely and alternatively having irregular unions as a symbol of their love and connection. Ogoma, D. (2014). These reflections seemed the most important when reflecting upon the value and relevance of bridewealth. The wife will also be sent a school where she is educated on her roles as a wife and importance of marriage. It is here that payment from the groom's family to the bride's is made and wedding rings are exchanged. 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