Africa, like many continents, have a variety of cultures and customs. These customs are unique and specific base on regions and religion. In this short document, “Africa: Will You Marry Me”, invites viewers to observe common practices and religions of Ethiopia, Mali, Niger, and Senegal. Through this forty-five-minute documentary, a family from each country is interviewed to portray the average customs in that particular part of Africa. The first interview was in Ethiopia with a young women named Rahel.
Rahel Girma is the ideal candidate for this role because she strayed from her religious customs. This isn’t as unheard of as it used to be. All around the world individuals are deciding to think independently, especially in the younger age groups.
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Furru Chenta has two wives. Sia Chenta, his first wife and mother of two children, said that having another wife is benefical for her because they can share the house work. When Furru told her that the housework was being too much work for her on top of the two kids and that he was considering taking on another wife her only stipulation was that he treats both wives as equals. In this specific case there wasn’t much jealousy amongst the two. Although, N’tata, the younger wife has less respect for Sia. Sia said that when Furru wants to spend the night with her and it is not her turn she turn him down and when N’tata openly said she will spend nights with him when it’s not her turn because she believes she is his favorite. But when they were at the market and got other opinions from women they said that having more than one wife just causes problem and sometimes even death. When Furru was questioned which wife was his favorite he said that he doesn’t have one and that they’re equal. Polygamy is not practiced exclusively to Muslims half of the polygamist is Animist or converted Christians who practice polygamy in secret. Due to wars and immigration there is twice as many women as men. For the most part women who don’t obtain and education are amongst those who believe polygamy is functional. Polygamy is beneficial to women in Africa because less women as single and widowed but is also very dysfunctional because it can cause for divorces and many other problems within a family. Not all places in Africa are the big decisions left to the
Culture is an important part of anyone's life, religious or not. The women acted out various references to traditional behaviour. For instance the mi...
If cultures agreed to research and make alterations to traditions, they would gain a greater understanding of their own historical developments and maybe even desire to research the traditional developments in other cultures. Ceremony is a novel that brings up many racial and cultural issues, and if they can be recognized and used as inspiration to make changes and become better people, the world will become a better place and hopefully negative racial issues will become nonexistent. Works Cited Jaskoski, Helen. A. Leslie Marmon Silko: A Study of the Short Fiction.
One man having many wives may seem like something that would happen in a male-dominated society, but while the men are spending time and doing things for one wife, the other wives are left to fend for themselves and their children. When Sogolon Wulen Condé cannot conceive because she has been vexed by the other wives of her husband, Maghan Konfara, she convinces her husband to take on another wife to have a child with. He ends up giving into her demands and marries another woman. While Sunjata is not actually born from this tie, the reader can see that Maghan Konfara is willing to respect his wife and listen to her input on such an impactful topic. Women are seen in the story has having a profound effect on the world around them, instead of just being used as a wife and mother. In this culture, they have more of a say. While not downplaying this system, it is critical to note that the polygamous marriages put in practice in the story of Sunjata would possibly complicate a patrilineal system, which is why the Mande peoples follow a matrilineal way
In sub-Saharan Africa, thousands of languages, cultures, and geographical regions helped influence our African society. The ways in which we produce our artwork, spiritual ideals, and ritual performances are organic and raw. From the tropical regions of Congo and Ghana, to the arid regions of Mali; I pass through the global gateway into a domain where the Western world lost its roots and artistic imagination and grandeur. Africa appeals most to me for its ability to create a realm where the living, dead, and artistic ideals come into a single unit of tranquil philosophy.
Polygamy has been a worldwide issue for many years. It is the idea of one man having many wives and together they are raising one big family. Nonetheless, it may sound appealing to some people, yet dreadful to others. The focus here is a female being raised in a polygamist environment with three or more moms heavily informs her perception of the world and other cultures out of her community. They are taught that their education is insignificant, men are more superior to women, and outsiders are to be avoided.
Relationships can be discussed in all aspect of life. Including communities, families, marriage, conflicts, and divorce. The gift of any relationship is the gifts from the spirits. The author uses her African teachings, in comparison to how Americans handle different relationships. In the book, “The Spirit of Intimacy,” Sobonfu Some’s gives wisdom insightful experience of her marriage and about the Dagara people of West African beliefs and traditions when facing conflicts in leading to divorcement.
The world polygamy means the practice of having more than one wife. It comes from poly meaning ‘many’ and gamos meaning ‘marriage. Polygamy has been around for many years, and by many years, it’s been around since the biblical ages. In the Old Testament of the bible polygamy was allowed, not only was it practiced or allowed in the Old Testament but other cultures and religions practiced polygamy as well. These religions included Hindus, Muslims, and Christians. The Old Testament gives multiple examples of men being married to more than one wife at a time. The patriarchs Abraham and Jacob are known to be examples of righteous men who had several wives in the Old Testament. It is said that in ancient times when a man had more than one wife or wives and concubines(a woman who lives with a man but has lower status than his wife or wives) these wives and concubines were segregated by position and authority within the husband’s family. The first wife held the highest position and it was to her first –born son that the husband’s inheritance was given. (www.bibleresearch.org)
Mention the concept of polygamy in any “civilized” gathering, and you just may be able to see the shiver of repulsion that ripples through the crowd. By substituting the word “polyamory” in, you will be able to circumvent this reaction – but only because everyone is staring at you in baffled silence instead. So we begin, as always, with definitions.
...’s depictions of both traditional and modern beliefs in varying degrees illustrate the importance of both in contemporary Nigerian culture, as well as the greater Africa as a whole, and how both are intertwined and cannot exist without the other. In effect, she skillfully subverts stereotypes or single perceptions of Africa as backward and traditional, proving instead, the multifaceted culture of Africa. She further illustrates that neither traditional African nor western culture is necessarily detrimental. It is the stark contrast of the fundamental cultures that inevitably leads to clashes and disagreements. In the end, what holds African countries such as Nigeria together is their shared pride. Modern, western influences can bring positive changes to society, but new cultures cannot completely eradicate the foundational cultures to which a society is founded on.
“Polygyny is the marriage of one man to more than one woman at the same time” (Powell 167). This structure of marriage is prevalent among the families of Okonkwo’s village, and Okonkwo himself has three wives. A man with many wives was looked upon in a better light than a man with only one wife or no wife at all. In the novel, Okonkwo is said to have had a hard start as a young man because “he neither inherited a barn, nor a title, nor even a young wife” (Achebe 18). Men view wives as a means to gain titles and respect as well as extra labor power for thier combines. Women bring a number of benefits to a man: sexual services, reproductive power, labor, farms for women’s crops, in-laws with goods, land, and livestock. Men typically have only one wife if they lacked wealth (Amadiume 30-31). This is a feminist issue because the people of the village treat women as property that can be inherited. A feminist critic sees how polygyny devalues women and treats them the same as animals. According to Nigerian law, a woman is categorized “as an object who is not quite human” (Bazza 176). In Nigeria, if a woman is involved in polygyny and her husband divorces her for whatever reason, she cannot remarry and often turns to prostitution or extreme poverty for herself and her children (Kunhiyop 44). There is no good that comes from polygyny for
Kaduna: Baraka Press, 2004. Magesa, Laurenti. A. African Religion: The Moral Tradition of Abundant Life. Nairobi: Pauline Pub., Africa, 1998. Mbiti, John S. Introduction to African Religion.
Polygamy causes children to grow up faster than needed, experiencing adult like experiences. Becoming married as young as fourteen, and marrying a man that ages much older. Escaping a polygamous community clearly depicts a difficult task, as much as this idea appears to be emphasized and craved for, women are too afraid. Attempting to escape means risking the chance of them getting caught and taken away from their own children. They are deprived of their money and therefore, if they escape successfully, then they are already homeless. Competing for the attention and respect from the husband depicts a conflict many wives’ face. The social status of wives’ go down once the husband no longer longs for affection. Children are victims of both, physical and sexual abuse from father or other family members. Family members could also include step-family members. The abuse that these children face often cause them to have anxiety in the
Polygamy can be subdivided into two categories: polygyny and polyandry. Polygyny is when a man has two or more wives at the same time or in another perspective when a man is married to a single woman however supports one or more mistresses. This subsection of polygamy is the more common of the two when it comes to the Islamic religion.
A second point raised during the reading which exemplifies gender inequality tendencies of the society includes polygamy. In the story, after Modou and Binetou’s marriage, the guests go to Ramatoulaye’s house for a surprise visit. Tamsir, Modou’s older brother, tells Ramatoulaye that “God intended [Modou] to have a second wife” and that “there is nothing he can do about it” (Bâ, 2008, p. 38). He soon continued by saying that “a wife owes her husband [happiness]”
South Africa is a nation with a wonderful and varied culture. This country has been called “The Rainbow Nation”, a name that reflects the diversity of such amazing place. The different ethnic and cultural groups of the South Africa do, however, appreciate their own beliefs and customs. Many of these traditions, besides African culture, are influenced by European and Western heritage. The complex and diverse population of the country has made a strong impact to the various cultures. There are forty-five million people; about thirty million are black, five million white, three million coloured and one million Indians. The black population has a large number of rural people living in poverty. It is among these inhabitants that cultural customs are preserve the most.