Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 January 1909 — AFRICAN MARRIAGE CUSTOMS [ARTICLE]

AFRICAN MARRIAGE CUSTOMS

Fixing the Social Status of the' Bride —Question of Dowry and Divorce The marriage customs of West and Southwest Africa are in many cases peculiar. They diffeif of course, in different tribes, but have broad line? in common. A coastal tribe always considers itself superior to. an inland tribe, and even its meanest member claims to rank higher than, the most powerful man of an up country tribe. A man may marry any woman, he likes of any tribe, it being held that he gives her his own status, whatever that may be, but it is almost unheard of for a woman to marry “beneath’’ her. As a result some of the women of the most superior coast tribes, like the Mpongwe, look to marriage with white men and frequently attain to it. The parents on both sides rule absolutely in the matter of marriage between natives. First the would-be bridegroom goes empty-handed to obtain the consent of the bride’s father. Then he goes again with gifts, and the father calls in other members of the family to view the gifts. On the third visit he carries trade gin, a sufficiently poisonous compound, generally from Hamburg. In the old days it was palm toddy or wine. On this occasion he pays over an installment of the dowry. On the fourth visit he takes his parents with him and is permitted to see the girl herself. When next he calls his prospective mother-in-law provides a feast for himself and his relatives, the host and hostess eating nothing, but taking a hand in the drinking. Finally the man goes with gifts and the balance of the dowry and takes the woman away. On arrival at his village she is welcomed with singing and a strenuous dance called “nkan,a.” For three months the bride is not required to do any hard work, but after that she buckles to with his other wives at gardening and carrying burdens. Polygamy is general and the number of a -man’s yives limited only by his resources in the matter of paying dowries. The man may divorce his wife whenever he chooses and for almost any reason. But It is rare for a woman to be able to obtain divorce at her own wish. Divorce entails the return of the dow-ry.—-London Standard.