May 01, 2018 marriages, for instance, and it is also not uncommon for a close friendship to mature into family, or a friend to be named, regarded and treated as family in acknowledgement of length. Three types of african marriages informative speech plan. I have found it helpful to classify marriages as one of three different types. Historically the legal definition of marriage, derived from the romandutch law, was limited to monogamous marriages between oppositesex couples.
The traditional marriage is the local form of marriage. Among the island nations off of the southern coast of africa, the crude marriage rates are substantially higher. Gendered dimensions of marriage and divorce registration laws. Any attempt to change this protection would be a radical change in the meaning of marriage the foundation stone of society in the document that expresses the foundational values of the irish state.
Essays on family structure and marriage in subsaharan africa. A marriage can also combine these two types of marriages. For example, lobola is a centuryold marriage tradition, still common throughout africa. Olygamy in subsaharan africa is not only a type of marriage but also a value. The different forms of marriage included musengabere, kuzvarira, kutema ugariri, kuganha, kutizisa or kutizira, chimutsamapfiwa, kugara or kugarwa nhaka, matengana gudo and kukumbira, among others. Recognition of customary marriages act 120 of 1998 3. New roles for marriage in urban africa university of california. Within that context, i use traditional in the sense of what was customary up to the time of independence, i. Factors on polygamy in subsaharan africa institute of developing. An in community of property or out of community of property, which is further characterized either with or without the accrual system. If we are going to speak of traditional african concepts and customs regarding marriage and the family, a few clarifications are called for. Marriage act 25 of 1961 sa sa gg 6670 came into force in south west africa on 1 february 1972 when the amendments made by act 51 of 1970, including the insertion of section 39a, were brought into force by rsa proc.
You must exercise an informed choice as your choice will determine your property rights during your marriage, as well as if it is dissolved either by. Pdf african customary marriages in south africa and the. It is the most common type of marriage in south africa. The rules of civil marriage bregman moodley attorneys. All three may have some advantages in disadvantages in the african society.
When it comes to marriage, there are two broad types of. Christian view of both types of marriages in traditional thinking, ancestors are an essential link in a hierarchical chain of powers stretching from this world to the spirit world. Some as young as 8 or 9 are forced to trade their childhoods for a life that can be defined by isolation, violence and illness. Although some cultures forbid certain types of marriage, all the traditions are designed to promote kinship ties, to safeguard land and wealth through an orderly transfer, and to create a social order in which members of the community. Volume 4, number 1, 2014 2014 insuderc academic publishers. Mar 16, 2020 different types of marriage contracts the matrimonial property regime, or ante nuptial contract you choose will affect your and your spouses future, specifically in relation to your assets. With this background on the geographical distribution of marriage types, we proceed to. Types of marriages there are many different ways of classifying marriages. Jul 15, 2010 forced child marriage is a lifechanging reality for many of the worlds girls. Christianity brought some challenges to traditional african practices such as polygamy by equating it with adultery and sin. Different types of marriage contracts benaters attorneys. A marriage officer may solemnize a marriage the banns of which have been published in different districts in swaziland or in any other country in africa. This mix is also evident in south africa s marriage laws which can roughly be divided into two categories, viz.
The causes, consequences and solutions to forced child. We can help you choose which type of marriage contract is best suited to your circumstances. Types of marriage, meaning and types of marriage, forms of. Islamic laws and customs have shaped the institution of marriage in north africa and in some nations of western and eastern africa. One of the reasons why this has happened is because the african societies have managed to see that children were a form of wealth and this way a family with more children was considered to be more powerful. Arranged marriage statistics african wedding traditions.
Gendered dimensions of marriage and divorce registration. Todaros 1988 study investigated the link be tween family. Marriage in south africa exists in a number of different forms, as a result of the diversity of religions and cultures in the country. The court marriage is done under the law of the state. This type of marriage is found among some tribes of new guinea and africa, b on the basis of choice of mate or on the basis of rules of mate selection. Any person with a marriage certificate has a civil marriage. Marriage, on which the family is founded, and to protect it against attack art. Throughout the continent, the diversity of systems reflects the traditions, religions, and economic circumstances of a wide variety of distinct cultures. Marriage officer ryan hogarth discusses the first two in this blog. Despite extraordinary diversity across the continent, almost all african women marry, and they remarry quickly after. The customtraditional marriage varies in different countries of africa. The type, functions, and characteristics of marriage vary from culture to culture, and can change over time. The compendium ends with key policy recommendations for marriage law reform and actions by au member states and other stakeholders working to end child marriage.
With this system, all the assets and liabilities which the parties had prior to the marriage or acquired during the marriage. In may 2014, the african union au launched a campaign to end child marriage in africa, by enhancing continental awareness of its. A man in south africa may have more than one spouse but a south african woman may only have one spouse. The causes, consequences and solutions to forced child marriage. The first is that the context of this article is subsahara africa. In northern africa, trends in marriage over time are roughly similar to those in the united states, exhibiting a steady decrease over the past few decades. Change and continuity in southern african marriages taylor. Marriage is a difficult concept in african societies because it is a process rather than a discrete event and involves rituals, negotiations. Below are the marriage forms that are practiced in ghana.
Cohabitation, marriage and remarriage patterns in africa. The face of child marriages in mashonaland west girls voices on child marriages in zimbabwe irls ndaba vimba 2. When it comes to marriage, there are two broad types of marriage. In africa the institution of marriage varies as widely as the many thousands of ethnic groups and cultures. Marriage markets in developing countries iza institute of labor. Child marriage prevalence is the percentage of women aged 20 to 24 years who were married or in union before 18 years of age.
These types of marriages have been more present in the whole history of africa like no other continent in the world. Monogamy, though present and practiced in traditional africa, was not as widely spread as polygamy waruta, 2005, pp. Arranged marriage statistics vary depending on who you ask or the sources you reference. Thus, the emergence of monogamous nuclear families in contemporary african. Marriage in community of property is the default matrimonial property system and will apply in every marriage where the parties enter into the marriage without executing or registering an antenuptial contract beforehand. In south africa there are basically 2 ways of marrying in community of property, or out of community of property ie. Pdf several decades ago, marriage among women in most of subsaharan africa could reasonably be described as early and nearuniversal. Since 1998 the law has recognised marriages, including polygynous marriages, conducted under african customary law, and in 2006 south africa became the fifth country in the world to allow samesex marriage. Marriage in ghana see all the rites and requirements.
Monogamy, though present and practiced in traditional africa, was not. East africa, but marriage between women is not peculiar to this group, nor. Ethnicity and marriage patterns in mozambique bioline international. Type of marriage and residential choices in an african city jstor. Saharan africa have the possibility of becoming polygamous wives, and are. Marriage in africa was the means of ensuring reproduction, but things change, explained dr lynne brydon in the opening remarks of the 2017 cadbury conference, an annual event held by the university of birminghams department of african studies and anthropology dasa. Olson this study developed a marital typology based on a nonrandom, national sample of 415 africanamerican marriages who took the enrich marital assessment inventory. Marriages between people of differing religions are called interfaith marriages, while marital conversion, a more controversial concept than interfaith marriage, refers to the religious. Both apostolic sects, some modern christian churches doctrine and african. A civil marriage is a marriage that is licensed and recognized by the state, while a religious marriage is a marriage that is recognized within a certain religion. Jun 19, 20 several decades ago, marriage among women in most of subsaharan africa could reasonably be described as early and nearuniversal. Marriage is one of the universal social institutions established and.
Regionally, there have been a number of african mechanisms and institutions that have recognised and taken steps to address the harmful impact of child marriage. A civil marriage is a marriage that can only be entered into between a man and a woman. Customary marriages are not handled by marriage officers but rather home affairs and are regulated by the customary marriages act. It is a practice rooted more in tradition than religious custom, and one that spans the globe, from asia to africa to the americas. I know this is going to sound a bit controversial but contrary to popular belief, arranged marriages do have some pros in the midst of the cons. Section 4 reports the empirical results, and section 5 concludes.
Jul 20, 2017 traditionally the shona had various forms of marriage that were designed to guarantee social cohesion. Civil marriage is when a man and a woman are married by a marriage officer. Jun 27, 2017 brihc scholar carmen thompson reports on the cadbury conference 2017. This paper is a philosophical examination of african forms of marriage, particularly the customary marriage practice of kukumbira asking for a bridewomans. Within that context, i use traditional in the sense of what was customary up. Insofar as african traditional religion can be defined by specific religious actions, the cult of the ancestors is its most common and essential activity. This shall be the focus of our discussion in this paper. This involves administration of the marital union by a religious leader, such as imam, or a religious minister. However, on average, girls in type 1 countries marry almost two years earlier and give. Most pastors, priests and other church leaders are also marriage officers. Arranged marriages are just one of many marriage patterns found among african wedding traditions. Civil marriage vs civil union in south africa what are the.
Marriage out of community of property subject to the accrual system. Customtraditional marriage, religious marriage, civil marriage and mutual consent unioncohabitaion. One way is to look at the maturity level of the marriage. Driving factors of child marriages religion culture poverty technology some apostolic sects and churches were identified as a major contributor to child marriages. Three types of traditional african are arranged marriages, polyandrous marriages, and polygamous. Types of marriages in south africa the basics explained. White marriage is done in the churches and mosques where clergies preside over the affairs. Provided that the marriage officer satisfies himself by written evidence on oath if he deems it necessary that the banns have been duly. The 3 types of marriage in south africa find an attorney. I also find that misreporting leads to biased marriage indicators. Degree type dissertation degree name doctor of philosophy phd graduate group demography first advisor hanspeter kohler keywords demography, family structures, marriage, subsaharan africa. But in all forms of the marriages allowed in major parts in ghana, customary marriage forms the basic parts. This act makes provision for three types of marriages.
Major types of marriage in south africa updated 2019 wiki sa. Types of marriage contracts in south africa dream ceremonies. Fawzia khan in south africa we have 3 different types of marriage regimes. Marriages between people of differing religions are called interfaith marriages, while marital conversion, a more controversial concept than interfaith marriage, refers to the religious conversion of one partner to the others religion for sake of satisfying a relig. However, it is apparent from a number of studies published in the past two decades that in many countries in the region, there is a trend toward delays in the onset of marriage, with early marriage becoming less prevalent.
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