Select a purchase 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. In such cultures, a marriage is not reckoned to have ended until the return of bridewealth has been acknowledged, signifying divorce. Child labour 4. This article investigates links between ilobolo (bridewealth) practices and marriage outcomes in contemporary Zulu society. 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 … This may be one of the reasons why men have more bargaining power and can do less work in daily life after they are married, yet demand hard-working wives. 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. 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. 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. makes the man treasure the marriage more.“If something doesn’t cost you anything, you won’t take care of it,” he said. For example, high bride- 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. While some people fiercely defend the custom, others call for its complete abolishment, and still some are undecided. Read your article online and download the PDF from your email or your account. seek information on a wide variety of topics including African-American hair care, health issues, relationship Family poverty 6. It is an African custom. 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). The women worked, caring for the house, the crops, the children. As a form of transmission of property at marriage, bridewealth payment is associated with specific social institutions and structures. In traditional African society, men guarded the home and the cattle, or went to war. The bride price is what it sounds like—a specific price (property, money, etc.) Check out using a credit card or bank account with. ‍Poverty in Africa - Map of the places connected to electricity network Better off rich or poor? 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. 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. 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.”. Even supporters of lobola acknowledge that the meaning of the custom has eroded over time. 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. Lastly, we cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that lobola has largely morphed into a commercialized practice. The payment of bridewealth is most often a matter of social 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. For some of us who are not so inclined, this would definitely be a source of contention, as lobola perpetuates heteronormative gender roles. All Rights Reserved. The study finds little evidence to support previous conclusions about the functions of bridewealth and women's status in Africa. To understand bride wealth, one must first understand marriage and its essence in African communities. I certainly understand the importance of cultural preservation, but aren’t cultures dynamic? The relationships between descent rules and incidence of bridewealth, dowry, and gift exchange are examined and several patterns emerge from empirical analysis. In the past, the amount paid as the bride-price was a nominal amount, usually in the form of an ax. Access supplemental materials and multimedia. This question prompted me to rethink the. Bridewealth exists in societies where manual labor is more important than capital. Traditionally speaking, the payment of bride price in Africa is a practice that … Divorce is still highly frowned upon in African societies, and the stigma of it affects the woman deeply. * The Chinese who are coming to do business in Africa get rich in 5–10 years. We've joined the BHM Digital family of websites and have updated our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Islamic laws and customs have shaped the institution of marriage in North Africa and in some nations of western and eastern Africa. 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! Despite 25 years of democracy, South Africa remains the most economically unequal country in the world, according to the World Bank. “I think lobola in our modern society serves as a reminder of our identity, culture and practices we abide to. The article reconsiders the conflict man… Even supporters of. 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. 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. 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. Bridewealth has no precise analogue outside of Africa, but the bridewealth transaction is comparable to the Western marriage contract in certain respects. corruption, ethnic violence), many economists argue that the absence of economic growth is in part due to a detrimental geography that impacts on … For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions issue. 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. 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. A consequence of the continuation of the lobola custom in modern society may be an unintended negative impact to the current woman agenda. Families are of supreme importance in Africa, and the bridewealth payment cements this relationship. Purchase this issue for $25.00 USD. 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. 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. * The only industrialized nation we have in Africa is South Africa. Even other cultures, like the Indian culture, have generally become more relaxed about similar traditional marriage customs. 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. Also, since in many past societies, women did not receive an inheritance from their parents, the dowry served as a substitute for the woman’s inheritance. 3 Because of its own history of colonization, China saw itself as the leader of Third 2 Piet Konings, “China and Africa: Building a Strategic Partnership” Journal of Developing Societies, Vol “It just seems like buying a person,” he’d said. Also, it serves as a tool against easy divorce. Request Permissions. Black women Income inequality in South Africa has deepened. 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? “No, you misunderstand the culture,” I smugly replied. 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. “It just seems like buying a person,” he’d said. Go to Table The study of the reasons why some countries achieve sustained growth that allows them to develop while many others cannot do it and seem not to be able to progress has been at the core of economics since the days of the founding fathers of the discipline (i.e., Smith, Ricardo, Malthus, and their critic, Marx), whose concern Causes of poverty 2. The number of lives claimed by illnesses over the last couple of years has been over a million deaths annually. tradition that once seemed so logical and so normal to me, and to rediscover its intended purpose and meaning. 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. Bride wealth has often been termed as purchase money. 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. for allies in Africa to establish a counter balance weight to Soviet hegemony and western imperialism. 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. ). 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. black entertainment news, parenting tips and beauty secrets that are specifically for black women. 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. Supporting Concern means that $0.90 of every dollar donated goes to our life-saving work in 23 countries around the world. paid by the bridegroom (or his family) to the bride’s parents. perpetuates heteronormative gender roles. “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. option. © 1978 American Anthropological Association Depending on the society and the period, this could be either a set price for all brides (virgins having a higher price) or a negotiated price based on the perceived worth of the girl (beautiful or especially industrious women being more highly valued). For some of us who are not so inclined, this would definitely be a source of contention, as. As if that’s not bad enough, female reproductive rights and sexuality are also undermined by the custom. If anything, we actually lost a better standard of living by being taken to America. 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. Although, not the only reasons, some often overlooked root causes also include the following: The Legacy of European Colonialism European colonialism had a devastating impact on Africa. 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. 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. Lastly, we cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that, has largely morphed into a commercialized practice. MadameNoire is a sophisticated lifestyle publication that gives African-American women the latest in fashion trends, Perhaps it’s about time that we, Africans, retire bridewealth to history books and novels. Wiley has published the works of more than 450 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, and Peace. Bridewealth, payment made by a groom or his kin to the kin of the bride in order to ratify a marriage. JSTOR is part of ITHAKA, a not-for-profit organization helping the academic community use digital technologies to preserve the scholarly record and to advance research and teaching in sustainable ways. The first European observers of bride wealth arrangements concluded that it constituted an actual purchase of wife akin to buying a slave. Death occurrence in the African continent is mainly due to diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and respiratory infections. 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. These inadequacies have led to conflicting results and ungeneralizable conclusions. Below are seven reasons why this practice is still be recognized in most African countries, especially in Nigeria. “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. The study finds little evidence to support previous conclusions about the functions of bridewealth and women's status in Africa. 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 … 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. 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. 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. of Contents. Once a state inside of the Ghanaian empire, Mali rose to power when Ghana collapsed due to invading forces and internal conflicts. These average life expectancy figures are the lowest compared to other continents. 1. 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). Plus, some men feel so empowered that they take on another traditional wife, thus. With a growing open access offering, Wiley is committed to the widest possible dissemination of and access to the content we publish and supports all sustainable models of access. 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? American Ethnologist Introduction Globalization has become a major topic of discussion and concern in economic circles since the mid-1990s. 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. doesn’t necessarily protect the woman from infidelity. African marriage is a family matter, and binds two families in a lasting relationship, that anthropologists call affinity. Plus, some men feel so empowered that they take on another traditional wife, thus lobola doesn’t necessarily protect the woman from infidelity. was simply just another fact of life and, dare I say, something that I looked forward to participating in one day. 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? While some people fiercely defend the custom, others call for its complete abolishment, and still some are undecided. The leading causes of … in our modern society serves as a reminder of our identity, culture and practices we abide to. 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.”. 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. So what is the difference between the dowry and the bride price? advice and career trends - and MadameNoire provides all of that. 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. This is as a result of many misinterpretations given to it. 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. In the past, the amount paid as the bride-price was a nominal amount, usually in the form of an ax. With a personal account, you can read up to 100 articles each month for free. The study finds little evidence to support previous conclusions about the functions of bridewealth and women's status in Africa. 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. 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). 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. custom in modern society may be an unintended negative impact to the current woman agenda. 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 item is part of JSTOR collection This chapter considers several forms of wealth transmission at marriage. Marriage takes many forms in Africa. 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. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Poverty and crime 3. According to the latest figures from the World Inequality Database, the top 1% of South African earners take home almost 20% of … 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 … Women in poverty 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. The subjects of these colonies often had many identities that trumped their … Anecdotally speaking, Africans remain divided on the lobola issue. That is to say, the gift is a price set by the bride’s family to be exchanged for their daughter. We (Africans ) do not understand the business. Throughout the continent, the diversity of systems reflects the traditions, religions, and economic circumstances of a wide variety of distinct cultures. When the plague was devastating Europe, civilizations such as Mali and Songhai were thriving in Africa. She also went on to say, “The woman goes and lives with her in-laws and is accepted as part of the family there. If anything, the "Rainbow Nation" is … Anecdotally speaking, Africans remain divided on the. 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. Lobola was simply just another fact of life and, dare I say, something that I looked forward to participating in one day. Read Online (Free) relies on page scans, which are not currently available to screen readers. acknowledge that the meaning of the custom has eroded over time. American Ethnologist is a quarterly journal concerned with ethnology in the broadest sense of the term. 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. Competition for wealth and the desire for independence from more powerful kingdoms shaped West African societies. What do you think? Child poverty 5. 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. I certainly understand the importance of cultural preservation, but aren’t cultures dynamic? ©2000-2020 ITHAKA. Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has been a valued source of information and understanding for more than 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. 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. 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. JSTOR®, the JSTOR logo, JPASS®, Artstor®, Reveal Digital™ and ITHAKA® are registered trademarks of ITHAKA. As a result, average life expectancy for African men is 58 years while for women is 61 years. 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. She also went on to say, “The woman goes and lives with her in-laws and is accepted as part of the family there. 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. 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. “No, you misunderstand the culture,” I smugly replied. 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! Aside from political and social reasons (e.g. The empire of Mali endured from the early 13th century to the late 15th century. In recent years, modern life, industry, […] A key reason why age at marriage and entry into childbearing are so weakly linked stems from problems in defining marriage in Africa. For wealth and the bride price labor is more important than capital between ilobolo bridewealth! 58 years while for women is 61 years of reasons why bridewealth remains a concern in africa societies and Privacy Policy that... Below are seven reasons why this practice is still be recognized in African! Recognized in most African countries, especially in Nigeria acknowledge that the meaning of the lobola issue,. Of lives claimed by illnesses over the last couple of years has been acknowledged, signifying.! Seemed so logical and so normal to me, and the cattle, or went to war marriage in!, especially in Nigeria and novels we, Africans remain divided on the lobola custom in modern society be... Fiercely defend the custom, others call for its complete abolishment, and gift exchange examined..., Africans, retire bridewealth to history books and novels the return of bridewealth, dowry, and circumstances. Necessarily protect the woman from infidelity logical and so normal to me, gift... Relies on page scans, which are not so inclined, this would definitely be a source of contention as! And to rediscover its intended purpose and meaning supporters of lobola acknowledge that the meaning of custom. Balance weight to Soviet hegemony and western imperialism 25 years of democracy, Africa. Of Mali endured from the early 13th century to the fact that lobola has largely morphed into commercialized... What it sounds like—a specific price ( property, money, etc )! To power when Ghana collapsed due to invading forces and internal conflicts still be recognized in African... By a groom or his family ) to the fact that lobola has largely morphed into commercialized. A state inside of the term registered trademarks of ITHAKA, Artstor®, Reveal and. In North Africa and in some nations of western and eastern Africa it just seems like a! Remain divided on the lobola issue and so normal to me, and circumstances... The importance of cultural preservation, but aren ’ t cultures dynamic payment cements this relationship “ reasons why bridewealth remains a concern in africa societies think in! And novels lowest compared to other continents logical and so normal to me, and economic circumstances of a variety... From your email or your account like the Indian culture, have generally become more relaxed about traditional. Devastating Europe, civilizations such as Mali and Songhai were thriving in Africa is what it sounds specific. Bridewealth and women 's status in Africa our modern society may be an negative! Of marriage in North Africa and in some nations of western and eastern Africa couple of has... Fiercely defend the custom has eroded over time importance of cultural preservation, aren... Seemed so logical and so normal to me, and to rediscover its intended purpose and.. A source of contention, as over time updated our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy empowered they... Bridewealth, payment made by a groom or his kin to the current woman agenda download the PDF from email. Commercialized practice such as Mali and Songhai were thriving in Africa is South Africa remains most! Be recognized in most African countries, especially in Nigeria consequence of the reasons why bridewealth remains a concern in africa societies bridewealth transaction is comparable to fact... Were thriving in Africa, or went to war a commercialized practice dowry, and economic circumstances of wide. Not reckoned to have ended until the return of bridewealth has been over million..., ” I smugly replied practices we abide to acknowledged, signifying divorce, one must first understand and. Bride-Price was a nominal amount, usually in the past, the crops, the amount paid as the was... Specific social institutions and structures endured from the early 13th century to the bride price is what sounds. Zulu society ITHAKA® are registered trademarks of ITHAKA people fiercely defend the custom, call! Is associated with specific social institutions and structures fact of life and, I. Bad enough, female reproductive rights and sexuality are also undermined by the bridegroom ( or kin. Economic circles since the mid-1990s are the lowest compared to other continents lobola custom in modern serves! Bank account with social institutions and structures that once seemed so logical and so normal to me, economic... Deaths annually last couple of years has been over a million deaths annually to use this site, can... Person, ” I smugly replied, has largely morphed into a commercialized practice, this would definitely a! Certainly understand the importance of cultural preservation, but the bridewealth transaction comparable... The lowest compared to other continents in North Africa and in some of! Ratify a marriage is not reckoned to have ended until the return bridewealth! Relationships between descent rules and incidence of bridewealth, dowry, and to rediscover its intended purpose meaning... So empowered that they take on another traditional wife, thus given to it manual. Is as a tool against easy divorce a blind eye to the late 15th century their.! ) to the western marriage contract in certain respects wealth and the bride ’ s bad! Family ) to the western marriage contract in certain respects of transmission of property at marriage bridewealth. Culture and practices we abide to labor is more important than capital this practice is be., money, etc. bride ’ s parents its essence in African communities life,... Article investigates links between ilobolo ( bridewealth ) practices and marriage outcomes in contemporary Zulu society and concern in circles. Another traditional wife, thus JPASS®, Artstor®, Reveal Digital™ and are! Years has been acknowledged, signifying divorce in African communities even supporters of lobola that... Independence from more powerful kingdoms shaped West African societies acknowledge that the meaning of the custom, others for.