LECTURE 1

MARRIAGE IN AFRICA
 OBJECTIVES OF THE LECTURE
By the end of the lecture, students will be able to:

1. define marriage
2. identify the importance of marriages in Africa
3. identify the constituent of traditional marriage investigation
4. state the definition of bride wealth and its role in African societies.
5. mention the types of marriages in Africa
6. list the causes of divorce
 WHAT IS MARRIAGE
• A number of scholars have defined marriage from many
different angles.

• Marriage is a culturally acceptable union between two

consenting adult usually of the opposite sex who decides to stay
together as husband and wife and have performed all the
necessary rites recognized in their society for that purpose.

• It is very important to emphasis that marriage in Africa is a

union between the opposite sex, since there is an advent of
homosexual marriages between men and men that is gay
marriage and between women and women that is lesbianism
across the world.
• In Africa, society ensure that every marital union
is properly a union between two families and in
the same way divorce cannot be effected until
members of both families have failed in their
various attempts at reconciliation between
husband and wife.

• In Africa a family is not only the father, mother

and children but also the extended family as well.
 IMPORTANCE OF MARRIAGE
• i. It leads to procreation: The husband and the wife produce children,
which ensure perpetuation of the family life, kinship and society, Children
are the seal of marriage. Marriage legitimizes the status of the children
born to the couples. The union is indispensable.

• ii. It promotes companionship: People marry for companionship and love.

Marriage therefore provides love and comfort and the search for these
desires is to be found in the opposite sex.

• iii. It enhances family and societal unity: It is a union of two families in

which the two are only a link in the chain. The union is never broken even
at death among some ethnic groups. This explains the existence of widow
inheritance in some parts of the Akan community.
• Marriage provides a lawful means of sexual satisfaction: Traditional
African societies frown on sex before und outside marriage. That is why
certain cultural institutions and practices like initiation and puberty rights
were established as means of controlling immoral sexual practices in
society. Marriage is therefore seen as the only legitimate means by which
individuals can satisfy their sexual desires.

• v. It is a means of offering support for each other in the union. Husbands

and wives belong to one another. They work together in all activities as a
unit.

• vi. It brings joy and happiness: Marriage is meant to give a better and
happier life to people. It offers better mental and physical health as well as
a happier and more satisfying life. It enables a spouse to inform the
counterpart of any unhappy situations in the home, school, church or on
the job.
• TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE INVESTIGATION
The following are investigated into;

• i. The respective individuals' condition of health,

• Ii. social vices,
• Iii. physiological and mental condition etc.
• iv. character
• v. tribe
• Vi. Religious background
SOCIAL CHANGE AND PRE-MARITAL
INVESTIGATION

Premarital investigation is no longer rigorous as it used to be. The following are some of the
social changes that have contributed to the reduction in the tempo of the investigation,
• i. Education has made the literates assert their independence early as they leave school
and seek employment away from parents and build relations in wider city communities.
• ii. There is gradually a shift from the extended family to the nuclear family leading to small
number of personnel to engage in any meaningful investigation. The tempo of the
extended family investigation of “somebody's” marriage is drastically reduced.
• iii. Marriage is no longer confined to only small communities where contacts can be made
easily for preliminary marriage investigation. Migrations from small communities to urban
areas are now the order of the clay in Africa. Investigating the background of long distance
marriage is not easy. Some couples stay together; give birth to children before parents get
to know of it.
• iv. The issue of poverty is also a factor. Some parents are only
interested in the financial status of their in-laws, for example,
being bank managers, contractors etc. Virtues such as honesty,
wisdom and hardworking are no more the priority.

• v. Some men travel outside the country, bring money home and
instruct parents to go and perform the marriage rites for them.
The rites are performed accordingly.

• vi. Some people claim they have visions as to who to marry.

They in turn consult pastors while family consultation becomes
a secondary affair.
 MEASURES TO IMPROVE PREMARITAL INVESTIGATION
With the reduction in the tempo of premarital investigation a great vacuum has
been created which should be filled to guide the African youth. The following
constitute some of the measures that can be used to guide the youth in marriage in
contemporary Africa:
• i. Marriage counseling needs to be improved.
• ii. Family life education programme needs to be intensified.
• iii. Parents should be more open to their children. They should be able to discuss
marital issues with them so as to give better guidelines. The key to successful
marriage is better socialization in the home. Good training given to the child
would equip him/her with the necessary tools to be very careful in the selection
of a partner for marriage.
• iv. The one who wants to marry should be investigative enough and be guided by
the adage, “Awadee wo ho yi ne Kwan ware,” (Akan); “Srodedefemodzidzi” (Ewe),
which means “marriage is not easy; it is like a long journey with a lot of
complications.”
 The responsibilities of married
• Thecouples
issue of who does what in marriage in Africa is totally different from what
happens in a marriage in the Western countries. Every African grows up to
know that it is the woman who cooks and takes care of the home irrespective
of her level of education, work status or status in society. If the woman
therefore goes in for a house help it should be her responsibility to take care
of the house help.

• However in recent years due to urbanization and economic reasons men

whose income are much lower always help the woman in the house instead of
going in. for house help. This sometimes is not common or done openly
because society ridicules the men doing such activities.
legitimacy of children born
outside marriage
• Another very important issue in marriage is the legitimacy of children
born outside marriage.

• All children born outside marriage are accepted as legitimate and

only the one in which the father does not accept responsibility can be
considered illegitimate.

• ln Ghana PNDC Law 111, Interstate Succession Law passed in 1985

confirms the traditional view of legitimate children and the equal
interests and rights to property.
 PRE-MARITAL SEX IN AFRICA

• In the traditional African societies, sexual intercourse with pre-pubertal girls who
have not undergone puberty rites and particularly when it led to pregnancy
(kyiribra) was viewed as a crime against the society and punishable by death or
ostracism.
• The Mende of Sierra Leone regarded sexual intercourse with uninitiated boys and
girls as a reprehensive act that could bring about divine retribution on individuals
or their families and was punishable by ostratism
• This punishment acted as a social control regulating the sexual life of the
uninitiated.
• The traditionalists were training the youth informally to see illicit sex as
abominable.
• The society was thus appealing to the moral conscience of the people in view of
the serious implications that accompanied illicit sex in the society.
• There was no campaign for the use of any native preventive herbs. The emphasis
was abstinence.
DEFINITION OF BRIDE WEALTH
• The dictionary, defined Bride wealth as something to be received
which is equivalent for something being given out

• J. Mbiti also says it is a marriage gift which is a token of a gratitude on

the part of the groom’s people to those of the bride for their care
over her and for following her to become his wife. According to him
Bride wealth is the exchange of goods where one group receives a
wife and the other obtains something in return.

• According to Goody in his book, Bride wealth and Dowry, Bride

wealth is transmission of property at marriage.
Some of the items used as Bride wealth includes the following:

1) money
2) drinks,
3) cattle
4) clothing.
5) Cola nut, fowls, cowries,
6) In some societies a man works for his in laws for a
specific number of years before taking the wife.
 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BRIDE WEALTH-1
1) Expression of appreciation and compensation
Even though the bride wealth is a token, it is a symbol of gratitude. lt shows
how valuable the girl is, not only to the husband but also to the families

2) It is a sign of respect
Any marriage that has gone through traditional rites is highly
respected if the bride wealth is paid. The man is thus said to be
responsible. It is an index to his ability to maintain the family.
African society respects such a man. In some societies such as' the
Fantis in Ghana, in case a wife dies without going through the
necessary customary rites by' paying the bride wealth, the man
will be forced to perform the rites to pacify the family, ancestors
and the deceased.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BRIDE
WEALTH-2
3) It legalizes the union between the two individuals
It is customarily important for any marriage to be
legitimized and cemented in the presence of the two
families. The bride wealth is what legitimizes and
cements the marriage and serves as a reminder of
the occasion and the whereabouts of the girl. It is
also an honour to the woman as well.
 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BRIDE WEALTH---
3
4) It serves as a symbol of a husband’s authority over the wife
By going through the customary rites like the giving out of the bride price, the man then
acquire sexual and domestic right over her. If the bride price is not paid, a man has no
traditional claim over the woman he has been living with if she is found to have had an
affair with a different man.

5) The religious role

The religious role of bride wealth is very important since it is used to
venerate the gods and ancestors to seek their blessings and protection
in the marriage since the African believes in the living, non-living and
gods together.
PROBLEMS WITH BRIDE WEALTH

1. Bride wealth seems expensive and unaffordable hence promoting late

marriages.
2. Heavy bride wealth sometimes make the men behave callously as all
resources might have been used for its payment. Any further demands
on the part of the woman sometimes lead to great resistance.
3. Heavy wealth scares away the young men and sometimes prevent
others from marrying.
4. It conveys the wrong impression that the girl is being bought.
5. It has become an avenue for exploitation by some families.
MEASURES TO REDUCE HEAVY BRIDE WEALTH

In view of the problems that are associated with the bride wealth the following
proactive measures need to be put in place to address these concerns.
• i. The national House of Chiefs should develop guidelines which will suit
each traditional area to reduce the wealth.
• ii. The media should educate the public on the need to reduce bride wealth.
• iii. Religious groups should educate their congregation not to emphasize
too much on the material values of the bride wealth,
• iv. Women should educate their families about the necessity to be moderate
in demanding the bride wealth while the man should also be educated by
his parents about the need to be moderate.
TYPES OF MARRIAGES IN WEST
AFRICA-1
• The two main types of marriage systems practiced in West Africa include polygamy
and monogamy.
• While polygamy is a condition or practice of having more than one spouse at a
time, monogamy is a practice of marrying just one person.
• The African marriage system is believed by westerners to be largely polygamous.
What exist in African societies is the allowance granted men to marry more than
one wife. This practice is called polygamy. African people tend to favour polygamy.
• The number of wives a person had often reflected his social standing in the society.

It was discovered that the Mende would describe as a small boy a man who had
only one or two wives.
TYPES OF MARRIAGES IN WEST
AFRICA -2
The chief as the most important person in the traditional society
demonstrated his status visibly by the number of wives he laid claim to.
• Other influential people did likewise.
• In former times, the Asantehene figuratively had 3333 wives. This is an ideal
figure depicting the extraordinary status of the King.
• Even though African traditional society does not frown on polygamy, among
some tribes such as the Akan and Ewe, if a man wants to marry another
woman, the first wife has to be pacified before a new wife is allowed in the
marriage.
• Polyandry is the practice where a woman is lawfully married to more than
one husband at the same time. This is not a common practice in Africa.
TYPES OF MARRIAGES--- 3

• Endogamy
Endogamy which is also known as in-marriage is a custom of
marrying a spouse within ones own group or tribe

• Exogamy
Exogamy which is also known as out-marriage is a custom of
marrying a spouse outside ones own group or tribe
TYPES OF MARRIAGE RITES OR
CEREMONIES
Throughout Africa, three types of marriages are recognized, these are:

• Customary: Under this type, a man can marry as many as he feels he

can support financially,
• Religious: The two main types of religious marriages which are
recognized are Muslim marriage in which a man can marry up to four
women, and Christian marriage in which a man can only marry one
wife at a time.
• Civil marriage or ordinance
 REASONS FOR POLYGAMY
• The wives and the numerous children were political assets of the husband
• The wives and the numerous children were economic assets of the husband, where land
was easily available and technology was simple. The man who had many wives and
numerous children could extend his farms and produce surpluses.
• The wives satisfied not only the men’s ego but also his libidos. Ritual prohibitions associated
with menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth led to temporary loss of sexual access to the
wives in many societies. In the olden days for instance, the woman was declared as unclean
during the menstrual period and so was not supposed to cook for the man. The woman had
to cook outside the house without bringing any to the husband. A mother could breastfeed
her child for up to three years and so long as the infant was unweaned a husband could not
approach her for sex.
• Women’s population was far greater than that of men due to tribal wars that were
frequently fought by men leaving women widowed. It was therefore, reasonable for men to
marry more women in order to help them get the basic necessities of life and produce for
the perpetuation of society.
• Many wives were regarded as a prestige and respect to the man
 SOCIAL CHANGE AND POLYGAMY
The practice of polygamy has reduced drastically due to the following:
• The current thinking of the African is to produce ‘quality’ children who are highly
educated and are in a well-paid job. People want ‘quality’ but not quantity
children.

• Farming is becoming more and more scientific and less labour intensive.
The practice of depending largely on wives and children as farm labour and
depriving them of education is becoming a thing of the past. Labourers
equipped with different skills on the farm coupled with modern
machinery can easily take the place of the Women and children.
TYPES OF MARRIAGES
• Marriage can be put into two classifications based on the age of the
would be couple.
Firstly, where the female is not matured (before puberty) and is
being prepared to be given to a man to marry and secondly, where the
woman is grown up (after puberty) and on her own accord wants to
enter into a marriage relationship.
The former is called Betrothal marriage while the latter is Bridal
marriage.
Some people even go from shrine to shrine or from one church to the
other to seek help so that the right partner is targeted for marriage.
 IMPORTANCE OF BETROTHAL
MARRIAGE
• It prevents teenage pregnancy with irresponsible boys/men. The man who has
engaged the young girl will take up all the responsibilities including providing
money for the puberty rites.

• It prevents immoral behaviour because the marriage has already been contracted
and is being nurtured to maturity,

• There is high degree of monitoring of the girl by both the man and the girls’
family.

• Parents of the girl get some support from the would-be man for caring for the
girl and for their own sustenance.
 DISADVANTAGES OF BETHROTHAL MARRIAGE
• Though infant betrothal is rational and beneficial to parents, child marriages have several drawbacks
from the point of view of contemporary society. The young girl is denied certain rights and freedom
of planning their marriages.

• Such marriages have become unstable and usually break up prior to their consummation or soon
after, when the bride groom achieves a measure of control over the girl’s life and her right to make
choices.

• Such girls are likely to be denied access to formal education owing to fear that formal education
would delay the marriage.

• In most cases, the girl later realizes that a wrong choice has been imposed on her

• In addition, the man would have greatly advanced in years. Consequently, people become widows
and fatherless children are raised since the aged husbands hardly live longer to support their wives
CAUSES OF DIVORCE
• When you don’t marry for love: If you have married your partner
because they look like a million bucks or if your partner has married you
for your wealth, then the foundation of marriage is not true love. A
marriage lacking foundational love is not strong enough to overcome
relationship challenges and eventually succumbs to the end of love and
need to be together.
• Infertility on the part of either partners: Infertility can be caused by
abnormal sperm production or function due to undescended testicles
and health problems such as diabetes and infections
• Incompatibility of characters: When spouses with different
temperaments marry it creates a lot of unwarranted problems for them.
CAUSES OF DIVORCE-2
• Inhuman treatment: If a partner is subjected to persistent beatings and abuses he or
she can forsake the matrimonial home
• A difference in parenting styles: A gap in parenting styles is one of the most common
causes of divorce. You are a strict disciplinarian who gives no leeway for any kind of
misbehavior or cuts slack in discipline from children, while your spouse has a more
relaxed and flexible approach to rules. In this scenario, children would naturally
gravitate towards the parent who is fine with breaking or bending rules.

• Addictions: Substance abuse or addiction of any kind – alcohol, drug, gambling,

sexual predating, compulsive lying, or excessive smoking batters a marriage
irreparably. It takes a toll on your relationship with your spouse, impedes your career
growth, disturbs the financial equilibrium, and leaves a negative impact on children.
CAUSES OF DIVORCE-3
• Lack of intimacy: Not feeling connected to your partner can quickly ruin a
marriage because it leaves couples feeling as though they’re living with a
stranger or more like roommates than spouses. This can be from a lack of
physical or emotional intimacy and isn’t always about sex. Ignoring your partner’s
sexual needs is being called the number one cause of divorce in recent times.
• Unrealistic expectations : These expectations can put a lot of strain on the other
person, leaving you feeling let down and setting your spouse up for failure.
Wrong expectation setting can become one of the reasons for divorce.

• laziness

• Physiological and mental problems