Historically, marriage has served a variety of functionsfinancial, political, biological (i.e., sex), and social. Contemporary Marriage Processes in Nigeria: Willing Love, Perilous Business, Post-Marriage Problems. Retrieved April 28, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/aspects-courtship. Courting includes activities such as dating where couples or groups go together for some activity (e.g., a meal or movie). People in the United States typically equate marriage with monogamy, when someone is married to only one person at a time. Courtship varies both by time period and by region of the world. World Eras. Hemight offer his services to the family. Children are given names of the departed members as a sign . There is a growing trend among African communities where wedding ceremonies and marriage processes are blending traditional customs with modern practices. The wife will also be sent a school where she is educated on her roles as a wife and importance of marriage. . There is also a relation between great grandparent and sons son where the entry of great-grandson by birth, is a sign of approaching death of great grandfather. In the African kinship system, according to Morgan classificatory system, where parallel cousins and cross cousins are defined. During a courtship, a couple or group gets to know each other and decides if there will be an engagement. As discussed in the previous section,single parenting and cohabitation, which iswhen a couple shares a residence but not a marriage,are becoming moreprevalent and socially acceptable. ), Holding the World Together: African Women in Changing Perspective (pp. The influence of Charistianity and Western technology have, however, influenced people's social attitudes which have had an impact on traditional marriage practices. LOCATION: Ankole in southwestern Uganda The family of the bride would then demand to be paid bridewealth or a dowry (what Europeans might call a dower) before the marital union could be finalized. Sociology and the Culture of Sex on Campus. Encyclopedia.com. 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. The traditional marriage is the local form of marriage. It could be material in nature, such as goats, cattle, cowrie shells, gold and gold dust, and in more-recent times money, but service, such as labor on the brides fathers farm, was not uncommon. Venda So, mother-right (expressed that in nayars) consists of the legal rights which are shared with her children and also in which father has no legal rights over it. Without it, a couple was unsuited to go forward into marriage. The African marriage is an integral part of the whole African culture and was a rite of passage for every mature man and woman. However, even in non-Muslim societies some marriages could be considered arranged. Lobola is a century-old marriage tradition, still common throughout Africa. African culture and traditions are handed down from generation to generation. Many Africans are unable to produce the money required to fund a traditional wedding and pay dowry. chain of humanity. The wedding is an exceptionally respected tradition within Africa due to their deeply rooted appreciation for the notion of family. The average plural marriage involves no more than three wives. In recent years, a number of college newspapers have featured editorials where students decry the lack of traditionally paired-up dating on their campuses. The families dress in traditional and often colourful attire. Marriage moves into the process of development where both husband and wife give birth to their first child. An example of this is the common practice of bridewealth in Africa, particularly among the Zulu people. 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n27p1058. But the poll also found that polygamy was among the least acceptable behaviors considered in the study; for example, polygamy was far less acceptable than consensual sex between teenagers, though it was more acceptable than a married person having an affair (Brenan 2020). One enters into a certain clan by birth but Adoption is also another attribute whereby the clan into which the person is adopted is considered as his main clan. Contrary to erroneous assumptions by some European scholars, bridewealth and dowry were not considered bride purchases. To many Africans, bridewealth is considered to be a crucial part of a marriage ceremony and the marriage will not be acknowledged until the bridewealth has been paid. A hook-up cultureis one that accepts and encourages casual sexual encounters, including one-night stands and other related activity, which focus on physical pleasure without necessarily including emotional bonding or long-term commitment. Polygamy, or being married to more than one person at a time, is accepted to varying degrees around the world, with most polygamous societies existing in northern Africa and east Asia (OECD 2019). Courtship is the traditional dating period before engagement and marriage (or long term commitment if marriage is not allowed). The boy and girl had the opportunity to learn one another and their families. Since they did not want their daughters to leave their households, most rich chiefs (such as those of the Okrika people) prevented such a loss by encouraging their daughters to remain in Igwe (small dowry) marriages, which kept the bride in her fathers household and gave him claim to all children born of the union (who usually ended up working on his farm). It is an alternative to arranged marriages in which the couple or group doesnt meet before the wedding. Affective element is regarded as the personal behavior attached to the emotional sentiment that is the relation between mother and child. Once a couple is engaged, the two families come together for a week of visits and gift exchanges. As a sign of their acceptance of his courtship, the woman's familyoffers him gifts in return. . Today, families might invite guests personally over the phone or hand-deliver printed scrolls bound with raffia. Manage Settings A recent Gallup poll showed that 21 percent of people believe polygamy is morally acceptable, which is a major increase since earlier versions of the same poll. It covers choice of partners, courtship, value of children, and divorce among others. The study also revealed that 73% of young people surveyed believe that polygamy is an outdated process. 1. Population of Africa). [10] A large majority of these students defended their answer by stating that everyone has a father while not everyone has an uncle. This practice is still used extensively in contemporary African society and has raised both critical and supportive voices. From what information we have, the pursuit of the female . Betrothal and courtship in traditional African society - Tutorke As discussed in the previous section,single parenting and cohabitation, which iswhen a couple shares a residence but not a marriage,are becoming moreprevalent and socially acceptable. His permission was only a formality. [9] This standpoint is particularly polarizing and has not been backed up by scientific data. There were rules of inherited property amongst the sib. LOVE, MARRIAGE, AND FAMILIES IN AFRICA. There are more than 1,000 cultural units in Africa and each culture, each tribe has its own wedding and marriage traditions, many of which can trace their origins back hundreds or even thousands of years. The significance of marriage forming the foundation of a community is made obsolete if the couple were no longer a part of this community. Marriage in the Maasai Tribe consists of a tedious process of courtship. MENYE is a term which Masai people use to denote, the father, the fathers brother, and grandfathers brothers son with the same term. In order to understand the term kinship thoroughly, one needs to understand social structures as well as social realities. Love, Courtship, and Marriage in Africa - A Companion to African History - Wiley Online Library Chapter Seven Love, Courtship, and Marriage in Africa Nwando Achebe Book Editor (s): William H. Worger, Charles Ambler, Nwando Achebe First published: 31 August 2018 https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119063551.ch7 Citations: 2 PDF Tools Share Summary This is where the bride inherits gifts from her family with the purpose of using them within her new home. Mothers brother has sometimes a superior rank. George B. N. Ayittey, Indigenous African Institutions (Ardsley-on-Hudson, N.Y.: Transnational, 1991). We also see declining rates of marriage and individuals marrying much later in life, with 30 years old as themedianage for men and 28 years old for women in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. "Some Muslims in the U.S. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/02/13/8-facts-about-love-and-marriage/, https://cnx.org/contents/AgQDEnLI@10.1:_C0iCApg@6/What-Is-Marriage-What-Is-a-Family, https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Sociology/Family, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookup_culture, https://openstax.org/books/introduction-sociology-3e/pages/14-1-what-is-marriage-what-is-a-family, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWTz3KBCxfg&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtMJ-AfB_7J1538YKWkZAnGA&index=40&t=0s, Describe changes and trends in courtship, marriage and family patterns. We aim at providing virtual guidance to the ones taking their first steps into the world of Social Science, either through formal education or because of their never-ending quest for learning. It has its roots in simple societies which were not so complex. Many African communities believe marriage is primarily about procreation and providing for children as this is seen as the foundation of society. We also see declining rates of marriage and individuals marrying much later in life, with 30 years old as themedianage for men and 28 years old for women in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Riggs, T. (2006). The Practice of Courtship Courtship can be defined as a secret or public association between potential spouses. African courtship and engagementbegin with complex pre-weddingrituals. Despite this, there are also many similarities between African weddings and the customs that surround them. The bridereceives gifts for her home and trousseau. In Japan, some parents hire a matchmaker to provide pictures and rsums of potential mates, and if the couple or group agrees, there will be a formal meeting with all family parties and the matchmaker in attendance; this is called Omiai. Polygyny refers to a man being married to more than one woman at the same time. Initiated boys and girls grew up and knew each other well as they congregated during public village Geiger, A and G. Livingston, 2019. A hook-up cultureis one that accepts and encourages casual sexual encounters, including one-night stands and other related activity, which focus on physical pleasure without necessarily including emotional bonding or long-term commitment. The West African people of Ghana participate in marital customs that differ greatly from many other African countries. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/aspects-courtship, "Aspects of Courtship The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Virtual dating, chatting online, sending text messages, conversing over the telephone, instant messaging, writing letters, and sending gifts are all modern forms of courting. Wed love your input. The prevalence of one-night stands and non-committal relationships contributes to what sociologists call a hook-up culture. Roughly one half will occasionally hook up, and one-third of students do not hook up at all.The median number of hook-ups for a graduating senior on a college campus is seven, and the typical college student acquires two new sexual partners during their college career. [5] The wedding will consist of more modern marital customs relevant to the religion of the participants families. In earlier centuries, young adults were expected to court with the intention of finding marriage partners, rather than for social reasons. As urbanization increases in these cultures, polygamy is likely to decrease as a result of greater access to mass media, technology, and education (Altman and Ginat 1996). 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. If she confirms, the groom comes back the next day with his father and elders to discuss the brides settlement price. Unfortunately, as a result ofthemen being much older at the time of marriage, most women become widows, knowing that it is understood that they should never remarry again. Marriage - Marriage rituals | Britannica
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