marriage in african literature

This identity is first and foremost expressed and lived within a marriage context through cultural and religious manifestations that prepare people for marriage and guide them through marriage. The entire study has focused on the central role of marriage in African Religio- We will analyze some reasons why early child marriage in Nigeria is so common. Similarly, about half of all first marriages end in divorce, and when children are involved, many of the resulting single-parent households are poor. PDF | IN RECENT DECADES the proportion of African Americans who live in married-couple families has declined sharply. Print. So, the main causes of child marriage are: Poverty in the country. 77.5: 84.2: 84.3: 88.0: Percent ever divorced. Journal of Asian and African Studies 2019 54: 4, 588-599 Download Citation. "Sunjata: A West African Epic of the Mande Peoples." in African societies, but also in African literature which reflects these features of these societies. For a good account of this controversy, see Curtin, pp. If we thought the relationship at the heart of A Portrait was dispiriting, your next novel, Lust by the Austrian novelists and playwright Elfriede Jelinek, contributes a brutal sense of perspective.. This paper uses a unique dataset from Northern Ghana to examine the association between Another picture emerges from the large literature on congenital heart defects, which are conservatively estimated to have an incidence of 50/1,000 live births. In African literature,women have been presented as ancillary to men thereby making them look like objects in terms of motherhood and wifehood. Thus her discussion of Of Plymouth Plantation attends to William Bradfords rendering of the business agreement between the planters and the merchants who underwrote the project. There existed a M. Grohgol (1997) describe that in marriage to strengthen the relationship they need to have seven principles love, respect, value each other, understand, Let your partner influence you, creating an inner life together. This brief yet detailed summary gave its readers a clear picture of seventeenth century literature and the content of Murphys book. Over the years, government and development partners have made various commitments and efforts to curb the phenomenon of child marriage. One branch of sociological studies em- of an African marriage (Garenne & van de Walle, 1989, p. 267). Tradition and change in marriage customs The ethnographic literature shows that, as is the case in most other countries of sub-Saharan Africa, Cote d'Ivoire displays a great diversity in traditional marriage practices, both within and between ethnic groups (e.g., Auge, 1971; Boutillier, 1971; Clignet, 1966; Etienne and Etienne, 1971; Schwartz, 1971). African Traditional Religion influences every area of an African life. Born in Dakar in 1929, she lost her mother soon after, and was raised by her maternal grandmother, who was of Muslim confession and strongly attached to traditional culture. Olaudah Equiano (/ l a d /; c. 1745 31 March 1797), known for most of his life as Gustavus Vassa (/ v s /), was a writer and abolitionist from, according to his memoir, the Eboe (Igbo) region of the Kingdom of Benin (today southern Nigeria). The A study in carried out in 2007 in Nigeria shows that 43 percent of girls are married off before they turn 18 and 18.17 percent are married before they turn 15. Also, Bazin (1990) explores the exclusionary practices reflected in the thematic preoccupations of Emechetas novels. These men have often been ignored in social science literature, presented in stereotypical manner, but literature references on African American fathers are available for family professionals. Polygamy, which is defined as the practice of having more than one spouse, is a common, and widespread, socially as well as culturally accepted phenomenon in many African countries [1, 2].The experiences of women in polygamous marriages vary according to the socio-cultural context [].Historically, many factors are thought to have perpetuated polygamy, and The oral tradition in the work of some of the early writers of the 20th century Amos Tutuola of Nigeria, D.O. 1514-1576. thought is outlined showing how African feminisms have been articulated in dialogue with western feminists, black feminisms (developed by women in the African-American diaspora), and through recognition of indigenous ideologies which allowed African women to Percent ever married. In the view of Kosemani (2005) 'when it comes to the question of what the African scale of Available literature suggests that fertility rates in developing countries have declined in the past two decades (Dickson, 2002; Caldwell & Caldwell, 2002). Marriage is a cross-cultural human phenomenon, which offers a diverse range of customs across different cultures. According to the Bible, the priority in marriage is that a Christian should marry only a Christian. Martin Puchner, ed. Importance of Family - Importance of Family research papers examine how this aspect is incorporated into two African American writers Maya Angelous and Antwone Quenton Fishers pieces of literature. Both the Torah and the Talmud view a man without a wife, or a woman without a husband, as incomplete. Many factors interact to place a child at risk of marriage, including poverty, the perception that marriage will provide protection, family honor, social norms, customary or religious laws that condone the practice, an inadequate legislative framework and the state of a countrys civil registration system. Marriage has traditionally been early and universal in sub-Saharan Africa and this has been blamed for high fertility and the failure to achieve most MDGs including the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, achieving the goal of universal primary education, promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women, reduction of childhood mortality, improvement in quality Before the major changes, the Nigerian family held on to extended ties in which uncles, aunts, grandparents lived together with the nuclear family. Each week in Bookends, two writers take on questions about the world of books. Source for information on African Culture and Islam: 1971. While written literature in Mauritania is limited, the country has a rich repertoire of oral literature including epics, riddles, folk tales and legends, Islamic poetry and prose. Introduction. Love and Marriage in Early African America brings together a remarkable range of folk sayings, rhymes, songs, poems, letters, lectures, sermons, short stories, memoirs, and autobiographies. Child marriage is a human rights violation disproportionately affecting girls in lower- and middle-income countries and has serious public health implications. marriage. 14.03.2014 LISTEN. The changes have also affected the definition of what constitutes marriage and family. Literature teachers now use this novel in their classes. In Ghana, one in five girls marry before their 18th birthday and one in 20 girls is married before her 15th birthday. In the 13th century, Richard de Early marriage is common, with the median age of first marriage at 18 for women and 23 for men (DHS Report, 2004). Love as a gut-feeling is certainly a central factor in the relationship between the African couple traditional and otherwise as portrayed in modern African literature. It affects girls in much greater numbers than Published: April 30, 2020 7.23am EDT. "Sunjata: A West African Epic of the Mande Peoples." Drawing on the economic prospects, adult transitions, and work family literatures, the A cousin marriage is a marriage where the spouses are cousins Africa. Marriage is a cross-cultural human phenomenon, which offers a diverse range of customs across different cultures. Yet, besides a total lack of discussion in the popular media, what is typically called woman-woman marriage is the subject of a very small body of academic literature. child marriage does exist and how girls living conditions can be improved. Given the link between marriage and well-being, there is a need to carefully and more systematically examine African American marriages taking into consideration the unique life circumstances and the cultural norms of this group. African Studies and Head of the Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy, University of Ghana , Legon. The African marriage and family systems are changing. 34a), and another that says, "Any man who has no wife lives without the joy, without She tries to reject the negative idea about feminism in terms of hatred feminists feel for men (Maierhofer 11). Child Marriage in Malawi. It strikes, very forcefully indeed, a deathblow at the institution of marriage. . It combines, on the one hand, the real (the contemporary world) and history (the realistic world of the past) and, on the other, myth and hero, with metaphor being the agent of transformation. generally on the rise, early marriage marriage of children and adolescents below the age of 18 is still widely practiced. 1514-1576. Kidnapping your bride In the Sudanese Latuka tribe, when a man wants to marry a woman, he kidnaps her. Multi-variate statistics exhibit that if women are allowed to choose their life-partner, caste takes a rear-seat in marriage contemplation. Marriage. Girls in households where boys are favored often have low self-esteem and little confidence. The answer is obviousnumber 3. The Consequences of Marriage for African Americans . Spanning over 100 years, from the slave era to the New Negro Movement, this extraordinary collection contradicts or nuances established notions that slavery fractured families, devalued A 14-year-old girl holds her baby at her sisters home in a village in Kanduku, in Malawis Mwanza district. The theme of love and marriage in literature is perhaps as old as literature itself. While early marriage takes many different forms and has various causes, one issue is paramount. Desroches states that the book looked closely at family, marriage and reproduction, and [t]his. Born in Nigeria in 1977, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is part of a new generation of African writers taking the literary world by storm. The perception of African oral literature 29 Nineteenth-century approaches and collections. Empowerment programs for young girls are key to preventing early marriages by improving their self-efficacy. This is in fact, not very much than it is now asserted in different countries. This is the alchemy of the literary experience. Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health; AIDS Education; Early and Unintended Pregnancy; Puberty Education and Menstrual Hygiene Management; Sexuality Education Audience and occasion. I. N RECENT DECADES. The practice of women marrying women is somewhat common in certain societies in West Africa, Southern Africa, East Africa, and the Sudan. This is a desk study based on various reports regarding the subject in Holst Peterson, in her article Feminist Approach to African Literature, argues that an important impetus behind the wave of African writing which started in the 60s was the desire to show that the African past was orderly, dignified, and complex, and altogether a worthy heritage in order to fight cultural imperialism. In the course of Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. 2. Enslaved as a child in Africa, he was taken to the Caribbean and sold as a slave to a Royal Navy officer. Empower Girls. The law should define marriage as a union between two consenting adults. The book explores the complacency and shallowness of white colonial society in Southern Africa and established Lessing as a talented young novelist. Ccile Accilien's Rethinking the Marriage Concept in Francophone African and Caribbean Literatures, is an important work that sheds new light on the marriage convention in diasporic postcolonial francophone literature as well as the discourses on feminist (womanist) scholarship. 4. Black literature thrived under the adverse conditions of apartheid, but today there is no black writer, playwright, or journalist with the stature of E'skia Mphahlele and Alex la Guma from the 1950s through the 1970s. So long a Letter is really a long letter. A 14-year-old girl holds her baby at her sisters home in a village in Kanduku, in Malawis Mwanza district. We will analyze some reasons why early child marriage in Nigeria is so common. She married in Christian marriage is different from traditional marriage in Igbo nation. Wives for Cattle: Bridewealth and Marriage in Southern Africa, 1975. Polygamy is considered to be a valid form of marriage in Algeria, Chad, Ghana, Benin, Congo,Gabon,Togo,Tanzania(Welch&Click,1981), Saudi Arabia, and Israel (in Bedouin-Arab commu-nities). American Literature parency. Zambian anthropology defines marriage as a union between a man and woman. In fact, it is said that sub-Saharan Africa is the only region in the religio-cultures can be said about concepts and customs of marriage in Africa. This is because marriage is one of the key religio-cultural institutions in Africa. Marriage manifests the unity of African religio-cultures in its various expressions among African ethnic communities (cf. Bahemuka 1983, 88-100). Karimi (2012) reported as follows on this event: Zuma, 70, tied the knot with Bongi Ngema in a traditional ceremony Friday in the town of Inkandla. The reasons why early marriage is so common in West and Central Africa are wide ranging and can be grouped under religion, tradition and culture, poverty, and gender inequalities 10, 22 24. Percent ever married. the proportion of African Americans who live in married-couple fam ilies has declined sharply. A jury of French high school readers has awarded the prestigious Goncourt students prize to Djali Amadou Amal for her novel "Les Impatientes". It is the sixth marriage overall for the polygamous president. Zambian anthropology defines marriage as a union between a man and woman. Apart (1958) slaughters a goat for one of his wives who has had three sons in a row, Elechi Amadis Madume in The Concubine(1966) is demoralized by his wifes inability to produce a male heir. Literature Review Related to Marriage John. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. The study revealed that there is still a general positive regard for marriage among young, South African students. The literature review ends off with a brief look at where children stand in the face of a Background. 3. Shorter 3rd ed. At present, in Africa mostly violated and then comes the rest of the world where gender inequality is perceived to bloom. The review was written narratively, rather than systematically as a general overview was desired, instead of a focused view of individual aspects of child abuse. According to the analysis from a DHS conducted in 25 developing countries, Edwards (1996) noted that one of the main ways in which education affects fertility is by delaying marriage. African novels to get you through lockdown. She reads Thomas Mortons use of the conventions of pastoralism in New English Canaan (1637) as a style practice more suitable for Posted by Unknown at 9:28 PM. Surely, there is a background behind this act. ERIC is an online library of education research and information, sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education. African Literature.pdf. Email This BlogThis! Bryant, & Stanik, 2009). As Palmer (1983) rightly points out, Adaku is the forerunner of womens liberation in African literature. Marriage outcomes by age 46 by gender and educational attainment; Characteristic Less than high school diploma High school graduate, no college Some college or associates degree Bachelors degree or higher; Men. The Consequences of Marriage for African Americans . marriage law is consistent with the Constitution, there is a need to adopt the Southern African Development Commu-nity (SADC) Model Law to end child marriage, amend the Marriage Act, and adopt policy that clearly defines mar- riage and prohibits child marriage. use African proverbs to enrich their works. xvi, No. So, the main causes of child marriage are: Poverty in the country. February 2: The Book of Memory by Petina Gappah (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) Petina Gappahs The Book of Memory is the only Nabokovian meditation on living in memoryfrom the perspective of an albino inmate of a Zimbabwean womens prisonthat you need to read this year. In related literature, this period is defined as the emergent adulthood stage and it is of critical importance to establish and maintain romantic relationships during this transition period (Arnett, 2000). 2. Proverbs feature in almost every aspect of traditional African life. The multiplicity and diversity of African societies is reflected in the broad literature devoted to the study of women and gender in Africa, which encompasses several thousand ethnolinguistic groups and fifty-five sovereign states. AFRICAN CULTURE AND ISLAMIslam, an Afro-Asiatic faith, has long been known to be a religion of great synthesis that has interacted with local cultures, enriching them and being enriched by them. We can say that in African costumes the kind of marriage they have is polygamy. 401 and 3649, and William B. Cohen, Literature and Race: Nineteenth Century Fiction, Blacks, and Africa 18001880, Race and Class, vol. When her second marriage ended in 1949, she moved to London, where her first novel, The Grass is Singing, was published in 1950. If the father disagrees, however, the man might forcefully marry the woman anyway. ERIC is an online library of education research and information, sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education. For example, less than 10 percent of married couples with children are poor as compared with about 35 to 40 percent of single-mother families. Furthermore, statistically significant correlations such high divorce rates increases our understanding of marriage attitudes. Works of literature across borders and genres have worked around these twin themes to give us some of the most memorable tales, yet they appear quite neglected by the critics when making a study of African literature. Oral art as literature.

marriage in african literature