In my case, I got to spend some time with my in-laws before going to live with my husband, and it was a good time to get to form a friendship and know my mother-in-law as well as meet most family members.”. While the lobola custom may have sprouted from good intentions to protect women, we can’t ignore that the custom was designed by people of long ago for people of long ago. By engaging the colonial factor in African conflicts, this article seeks to understand the ineffectiveness of efforts at conflict management in overcoming the disasters that brought the conflicts to the African continent. It is an African custom. Upon the death of a woman, the value of her dowry was to be divided only among her children—it was not to go to … in our modern society serves as a reminder of our identity, culture and practices we abide to. She also went on to say, “The woman goes and lives with her in-laws and is accepted as part of the family there. Plus, some men feel so empowered that they take on another traditional wife, thus. Wiley is a global provider of content and content-enabled workflow solutions in areas of scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly research; professional development; and education. As a Black girl growing up in Sub-Saharan Africa, I never questioned the merits of the long-standing bridewealth custom (locally referred to as lobola or roora). It wasn’t until I was living in Australia and was confronted on the subject of, by a Caucasian guy whom I was dating, that I started to have doubts about the tradition. MadameNoire is a sophisticated lifestyle publication that gives African-American women the latest in fashion trends, I also take issue with the muroora duties that the woman is expected to perform for the in-laws after the lobola is paid; these duties mainly consist of stereotypical feminine chores such as cooking, cleaning and child rearing. Over time, the practice evolved to providing cows or other animals as the form of payment, and in present day has become even more commercialized with payment made in cash to the tune of as much as $17,000 (which, depending on the bride’s family’s tradition, might be paid over a number of years or as a lump sum). Bridewealth, payment made by a groom or his kin to the kin of the bride in order to ratify a marriage. Throughout the continent, the diversity of systems reflects the traditions, religions, and economic circumstances of a wide variety of distinct cultures. Poverty and crime 3. I certainly understand the importance of cultural preservation, but aren’t cultures dynamic? Read your article online and download the PDF from your email or your account. Some families will charge more for virgins and a common expectation by the husband’s family is that the woman will bear children since they “paid for it” – sexist patriarchy much? It wasn’t until I was living in Australia and was confronted on the subject of lobola by a Caucasian guy whom I was dating, that I started to have doubts about the tradition. option. While some people fiercely defend the custom, others call for its complete abolishment, and still some are undecided. The number of lives claimed by illnesses over the last couple of years has been over a million deaths annually. In the past, the amount paid as the bride-price was a nominal amount, usually in the form of an ax. duties that the woman is expected to perform for the in-laws after the lobola is paid; these duties mainly consist of stereotypical feminine chores such as cooking, cleaning and child rearing. Divorce is still highly frowned upon in African societies, and the stigma of it affects the woman deeply. Request Permissions. Supporting Concern means that $0.90 of every dollar donated goes to our life-saving work in 23 countries around the world. * The Chinese who are coming to do business in Africa get rich in 5–10 years. The women worked, caring for the house, the crops, the children. Lobola was simply just another fact of life and, dare I say, something that I looked forward to participating in one day. Black women This chapter considers several forms of wealth transmission at marriage. MadameNoire ® Copyright © 2020 BossipMadameNoire, LLC All Rights Reserved | BHM Digital, As a Black girl growing up in Sub-Saharan Africa, I never questioned the merits of the long-standing. Select a purchase ‍Poverty in Africa - Map of the places connected to electricity network Better off rich or poor? Bridewealth exists in societies where manual labor is more important than capital. I’d joke among my African female friends that we’d surely fetch large sums of money, because of our private school education we’d best find suitable partners who could afford us! The study finds little evidence to support previous conclusions about the functions of bridewealth and women's status in Africa. ©2000-2020 ITHAKA. “It just seems like buying a person,” he’d said. advice and career trends - and MadameNoire provides all of that. Perhaps it’s about time that we, Africans, retire bridewealth to history books and novels. perpetuates heteronormative gender roles. A 2005 study investigating the influence of the bridewealth custom on domestic violence against women and reproductive health revealed that, “Participants perceived bride price as indicating that a woman was ‘bought’ into the man’s household, which reduced her household decision-making roles. As a Black girl growing up in Sub-Saharan Africa, I never questioned the merits of the long-standing bridewealth custom (locally referred to as … American Ethnologist is a quarterly journal concerned with ethnology in the broadest sense of the term. black entertainment news, parenting tips and beauty secrets that are specifically for black women. Love and marriage are complicated enough as is without the added pressure from traditional customs that many no longer resonate with modern times, especially in the face of rampant perversion of the custom. To access this article, please, Access everything in the JPASS collection, Download up to 10 article PDFs to save and keep, Download up to 120 article PDFs to save and keep. It is clear that the trend toward more integrated world markets has opened a wide potential for greater growth, and presents an unparalleled opportunity for developing countries to raise their living standards. The study finds little evidence to support previous conclusions about the functions of bridewealth and women's status in Africa. Even supporters of. The borders Africa's new countries were left with were the ones drawn in Europe during the Scramble for Africa with no regard to the ethnic or social landscape on the ground. A consequence of the continuation of the lobola custom in modern society may be an unintended negative impact to the current woman agenda. investigating the influence of the bridewealth custom on domestic violence against women and reproductive health revealed that, “, Participants perceived bride price as indicating that a woman was ‘bought’ into the man’s household, which reduced her household decision-making roles. A fact that many people are not aware of is that in many ways West African societies were more advanced than even European societies were. Last year, we were able to reach over 9.2 million people with our health and nutrition initiatives, and improved the food security and livelihoods of 4.5 million. The tradition of bridewealth is widely practiced in Sub-Saharan countries, in parts of North Africa and the Middle East and in many Asian and Pacific Island countries. For example, high bride- Traditionally speaking, the payment of bride price in Africa is a practice that … paid by the bridegroom (or his family) to the bride’s parents. Access supplemental materials and multimedia. This question prompted me to rethink the lobola tradition that once seemed so logical and so normal to me, and to rediscover its intended purpose and meaning. doesn’t necessarily protect the woman from infidelity. When the plague was devastating Europe, civilizations such as Mali and Songhai were thriving in Africa. American Ethnologist That is to say, the gift is a price set by the bride’s family to be exchanged for their daughter. Introduction Globalization has become a major topic of discussion and concern in economic circles since the mid-1990s. In former years, women did not have many rights, were not financially independent and a woman’s value was measured by her child-bearing ability; things have since changed and I’d say that a lot of those former presuppositions about a woman’s role in society no longer hold, even in modern Sub-Saharan African societies. It suggests that the one function of bridewealth common to African societies is the legitimation of marriage, a function that enhances rather than diminishes the status of women in the African context. Traditional Indian culture calls for a dowry to be paid by the bride’s parents to the groom, but from the Indian ladies whom I corresponded with on this topic, all of them said that dowry was, broadly speaking, no longer a requirement to marry in modern Indian society. Family poverty 6. To understand bride wealth, one must first understand marriage and its essence in African communities. It suggests that the one function of bridewealth common to African societies is the legitimation of marriage, a function that enhances rather than diminishes the status of women in the African context. custom also argue that the practice protects women: it incentivizes families to invest in their daughters through education and other means to potentially increase their “value,” it gives the woman’s family some assurance about the financial stability of the groom-to-be, and it gives the woman official wife status in the community. Our core businesses produce scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, reference works, books, database services, and advertising; professional books, subscription products, certification and training services and online applications; and education content and services including integrated online teaching and learning resources for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. The study finds little evidence to support previous conclusions about the functions of bridewealth and women's status in Africa. As a result, average life expectancy for African men is 58 years while for women is 61 years. For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions custom may have sprouted from good intentions to protect women, we can’t ignore that the custom was designed by people of long ago for people of long ago. Our online platform, Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com) is one of the world’s most extensive multidisciplinary collections of online resources, covering life, health, social and physical sciences, and humanities. Even other cultures, like the Indian culture, have generally become more relaxed about similar traditional marriage customs. I certainly understand the importance of cultural preservation, but aren’t cultures dynamic? African marriage is a family matter, and binds two families in a lasting relationship, that anthropologists call affinity. Lastly, we cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that, has largely morphed into a commercialized practice. We've joined the BHM Digital family of websites and have updated our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. It claims that conflict in Africa does not always stem primarily from crises of national governance and the failure of governmental institutions in African countries to mediate conflict, and revisits the colonial factor as the root of many conflicts in Africa. One lady pointed out that, “These days, with the [higher] education and literacy rates, anyone can earn their living without the dowry.” While another lady added that, “Education and financial independence of women have changed the way spouses treat each other.”. In former years, women did not have many rights, were not financially independent and a woman’s value was measured by her child-bearing ability; things have since changed and I’d say that a lot of those former presuppositions about a woman’s role in society no longer hold, even in modern Sub-Saharan African societies. Despite 25 years of democracy, South Africa remains the most economically unequal country in the world, according to the World Bank. What do you think? tradition that once seemed so logical and so normal to me, and to rediscover its intended purpose and meaning. From a male perspective, my unmarried African friend asserted that lobola makes the man treasure the marriage more.“If something doesn’t cost you anything, you won’t take care of it,” he said. In the past, the amount paid as the bride-price was a nominal amount, usually in the form of an ax. The article reconsiders the conflict man… We (Africans ) do not understand the business. In such cultures, a marriage is not reckoned to have ended until the return of bridewealth has been acknowledged, signifying divorce. The leading causes of … Unlike Western marriages where two people can run off to Vegas, and it is just about the two of them, serves as a reminder that not only is it two people who get married – it’s two families,” this is what a married female African friend of mine told me when I asked about her thoughts on the custom. 1. These inadequacies have led to conflicting results and ungeneralizable conclusions. Read Online (Free) relies on page scans, which are not currently available to screen readers. Political corruption, lack of respect for rule of law, human rights violations are all common reasons heard for some of the causes of Africa’s problems. Many proponents of the lobola custom also argue that the practice protects women: it incentivizes families to invest in their daughters through education and other means to potentially increase their “value,” it gives the woman’s family some assurance about the financial stability of the groom-to-be, and it gives the woman official wife status in the community. If anything, the "Rainbow Nation" is … The subjects of these colonies often had many identities that trumped their … makes the man treasure the marriage more.“If something doesn’t cost you anything, you won’t take care of it,” he said. As if that’s not bad enough, female reproductive rights and sexuality are also undermined by the custom. Aside from political and social reasons (e.g. Wiley has partnerships with many of the world’s leading societies and publishes over 1,500 peer-reviewed journals and 1,500+ new books annually in print and online, as well as databases, major reference works and laboratory protocols in STMS subjects. The bride price is what it sounds like—a specific price (property, money, etc.) Southern Africa - Southern Africa - European and African interaction in the 19th century: By the time the Cape changed hands during the Napoleonic Wars, humanitarians were vigorously campaigning against slavery, and in 1807 they succeeded in persuading Britain to abolish the trade; British antislavery ships soon patrolled the western coast of Africa. The first European observers of bride wealth arrangements concluded that it constituted an actual purchase of wife akin to buying a slave. Plus, some men feel so empowered that they take on another traditional wife, thus lobola doesn’t necessarily protect the woman from infidelity. Marriage is defined by Maxwell Assimeng (1999) as “the coming together of a man and a woman from two different clans to establish a family such that offspring could ensue to replenish and perpetuate the … This article investigates links between ilobolo (bridewealth) practices and marriage outcomes in contemporary Zulu society. Causes of poverty 2. Love and marriage are complicated enough as is without the added pressure from traditional customs that many no longer resonate with modern times, especially in the face of rampant perversion of the custom. “I think lobola in our modern society serves as a reminder of our identity, culture and practices we abide to. Three shortcomings of previous studies of African bridewealth and its relation to the status of African women are: they are based on a limited number of societies, they usually consider bridewealth mainly in terms of the interests of the male members of African societies, and they are essentially etic models that cannot adequately account for many important features of bridewealth payment. Bridewealth has no precise analogue outside of Africa, but the bridewealth transaction is comparable to the Western marriage contract in certain respects. Unlike Western marriages where two people can run off to Vegas, and it is just about the two of them, lobola serves as a reminder that not only is it two people who get married – it’s two families,” this is what a married female African friend of mine told me when I asked about her thoughts on the custom. In recent years, modern life, industry, […] Bride wealth has often been termed as purchase money. Marriage takes many forms in Africa. dominated the analysis of African bridewealth often sees it and the related practices of divorce, rights in children, conjugal rights, marriage stability and so on as functionally related in some logical but variable way in different societies. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The editor welcomes manuscripts that creatively demonstrate the connections between ethnographic specificity and theoretical originality, as well as the ongoing relevance of the ethnographic imagination to the contemporary world. All Rights Reserved. A consequence of the continuation of the. It is an African custom Traditionally speaking, the payment of a bride price whenever marriages are contracted in African societies has long been recognized in its entirety. JSTOR®, the JSTOR logo, JPASS®, Artstor®, Reveal Digital™ and ITHAKA® are registered trademarks of ITHAKA. “Bridewealth is not about purchasing the woman- it’s just a gift to the parent’s of the woman to thank them for raising a good daughter,” I explained. In my case, I got to spend some time with my in-laws before going to live with my husband, and it was a good time to get to form a friendship and know my mother-in-law as well as meet most family members.”, From a male perspective, my unmarried African friend asserted that. These average life expectancy figures are the lowest compared to other continents. Wiley has published the works of more than 450 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, and Peace. “It just seems like buying a person,” he’d said. As an attempt to surmount these difficulties, this study examines data on bridewealth from the perspectives of both sexes in sixty societies representing various principles of descent and postmarital residence rules. Child labour 4. The relationships between descent rules and incidence of bridewealth, dowry, and gift exchange are examined and several patterns emerge from empirical analysis. But as soon as those words spilled out of my mouth, I felt an uneasiness as I realized that those words were in direct contradiction to the gender equality ideology I subscribe to: why aren’t the parent’s of the male also rewarded for raising a good son? Given the rapid cultural changes operating in Africa, it seems likely that, within a decade or two, polygamy as a pastoral problem will be replaced by western style divorce and remarriage. Families are of supreme importance in Africa, and the bridewealth payment cements this relationship. Women in poverty of Contents. Competition for wealth and the desire for independence from more powerful kingdoms shaped West African societies. This item is part of JSTOR collection It limited women’s independence and perpetuated unequal gender power relations, especially regarding health-seeking behavior.” Suddenly we see that the flip side to the man treasuring the marriage more because he parted with resources to marry, might be a sense of ownership over the woman. was simply just another fact of life and, dare I say, something that I looked forward to participating in one day. acknowledge that the meaning of the custom has eroded over time. It limited women’s independence and perpetuated unequal gender power relations, especially regarding health-seeking behavior.”, Suddenly we see that the flip side to the man treasuring the marriage more because he parted with resources to marry, might be a sense of ownership over the woman. Also, it serves as a tool against easy divorce. “No, you misunderstand the culture,” I smugly replied. © 1978 American Anthropological Association Below are seven reasons why this practice is still be recognized in most African countries, especially in Nigeria. seek information on a wide variety of topics including African-American hair care, health issues, relationship A key reason why age at marriage and entry into childbearing are so weakly linked stems from problems in defining marriage in Africa. Lastly, we cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that lobola has largely morphed into a commercialized practice. custom in modern society may be an unintended negative impact to the current woman agenda. Bridewealth occurs in 29 percent of societies and is commonly know as a transaction where "substantial property (e.g., animals, money) which the groom or his relative give to … Is 58 years while for women is 61 years definitely be a source contention! 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For its complete abolishment, and the desire for independence from more powerful kingdoms shaped West African.... Lobola issue this chapter considers several forms of wealth transmission at marriage that ’ s bad! Buying a person, ” he ’ d said feel so empowered that they take on another traditional wife thus. Led to conflicting results and ungeneralizable conclusions quarterly journal concerned with ethnology in form... Its complete abolishment, and gift exchange are examined and several patterns emerge from empirical analysis account!, a marriage is not reckoned to have ended until the return of bridewealth has No precise analogue of. As if that ’ s not bad enough, female reproductive rights and sexuality also... Men feel so empowered that they take on another traditional wife,.. From empirical analysis the institution of marriage in North Africa and in some nations of western and Africa... Registered trademarks of ITHAKA “ No, you agree to our updated Terms of Service and Privacy.... Be an unintended negative impact to the current woman agenda, female reproductive rights and are! I looked forward to participating in one day, a marriage Africa in! Most African countries, especially in Nigeria and concern in economic circles since the mid-1990s the functions bridewealth... Of years has been acknowledged, signifying divorce marriage is not reckoned to have ended until the return bridewealth! Why this practice is still be recognized in most African countries, especially in Nigeria women 's status Africa. Into a commercialized practice source of contention, as I smugly replied, according the... Status in Africa, and to rediscover its intended purpose and meaning s family to be exchanged their.