THE AFRICAN BRIDE: MARRIAGE AND VIRGINITY

AFRICAN CULTURAL MARRIAGES Culture can be defined as the knowledge beliefs , traditional practices and the way a specific society behaves. In the context of the African cultural marriage, the male or his aunts have the role of finding a suitable girl that they want him to marry. Girls become women after their first menstrual period at about thirteen years old and left to grow until about sixteen years old. The government, the United Nations and women’s rights have criticised arranging marriages for girls younger than thirteen as a violation of human rights . In the light of early marriages, virginity for brides remains a big deal. The girl is then presented to the man’s family for approval. If the man’s family agrees, a messenger known as sadombo will now be sent to the woman’s family to request for marriage. If the woman’s family also agree, they will draw a list of demands they want to be paid by the man’s family. This list known as “ lobola ” or bride price comprises of sev...