Marriage and Family in Some Nigerian Ethnic Groups PDF

www.covenantuniversity. Raising a new Generation of Leaders MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY IN SOME NIGERIAN ETHNIC GROUPS OLUFUNKE ADETUNDE What is Family? A family is a social group whose members are related by ancestry, marriage or adoption and...

www.covenantuniversity. Raising a new Generation of Leaders MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY IN SOME NIGERIAN ETHNIC GROUPS OLUFUNKE ADETUNDE What is Family? A family is a social group whose members are related by ancestry, marriage or adoption and who live together, cooperate economically and care for the young (G. P. Murdock, 1949) 2  The family is a group of individuals related by blood ties, marriage or adoption, who form an economic unit, the adult members of which are responsible for the upbringing of children (Anthony Giddens, 1997). 3 Types of Family Nuclear Family: A man, his wife and his children. Predominant in western industrialized societies. An individual belongs to two nuclear families (family of orientation or natal family and family of procreation or conjugal family). 4  Extended family: A man, his wife or wives, children, parents, cousins, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, grandparents, grandchildren, etc. 5 Functions of the family Reproduction Socialization Care, protection and emotional support Assignment of status Regulation of sexual behaviour 6 Descent Has to do with how lineage is traced and how property is passed from one generation to another. 7  Three types of descent: Patrilineage: People reckon with descent and transfer property through the line of the father. E.g. Yorubas, Hausa, Fulani, Bini, and Igbos of Nigeria and the Massai of Ghana. 8  Matrilineage: Descent and inheritance are traced through the mother’s side of the family. E.g. Yarkur of Cross River State, Nigeria. We also find this in some other African societies the Ashanti of Ghana, the Nyakyusa of Tanzania, 9  Bilineage: Descent is traced through both the father and the mother. E.g. The Yoruba practice this. Also, the Americans, and most parts of the West. However, the surname is transmitted through patrilineage. 10 Authority structure Patriarchy – Eldest male or husband is the dominant figure. Found among the ancient Hebrews, the Greeks and Romans, the 19th century Chinese and Japanese, and most part of West Africa. 11  Matriarchy – Power is vested in the woman. Matriarchies are rare and there is considerable controversy as to whether the balance of power actually rests with the woman in any known society. Such may occur after the death or desertion of husband. 12  Egalitarianism – Power and authority are equally distributed between the husband and the wife. Common in western societies especially in the United States, UK etc. On the increase among the educated elite in Nigeria and other African societies. 13 Forms of Marriage Endogamy – Marriage is allowed or prescribed among one’s kin- group but not one’s sister or brother or close kinsman. E.g. the caste and sub-caste groups in India and the osu caste system among the Igbo. 14  Endogamous practices seek to maintain the purity of the group, conserve group’s property and keep their solidarity. 15  Exogamy – One must marry outside one’s group of kinsmen, defined in most societies as a clan or lineage. 16  Exogamous practices help to bind various groups together through relationships, first of marriage, and subsequently of blood when children are born. 17  Monogamy – One man, one wife. Serial Monogamy- characterized by several successive, short-term marriages over the course of a lifetime. Polygamy – two types: i. Polygyny ii. Polyandry 18  Polygyny – A type of polygamy where a man marries two or more wives. Polyandry – A type of polygamy where a woman marries two or more husbands. 19 Types of polyandry Polyandry is of two types: i. Fraternal polyandry: woman marries two or more husbands all of whom are brothers, e. g in India. ii. Non-fraternal polyandry: woman marries two or more husbands who are not related by blood, e. g in India. 20 Forms of marriage cont. Group Marriage – Marriage with two or more husbands and two or more wives. Used to be found in societies that practiced polyandry (India). A typical form of group marriage is a practice where a group of men is united with a group of females forming a single conjugal unit ( definition according to American English) eg Nair Kerala of India used to practice this. 21 Other forms of marriage Levirate: A man marries the widow of his dead elder brother. Children born belong to the dead man. 22  Widow inheritance: A male kinsman such as the deceased’s son or close relative marries the dead father’s or brother’s widow. Children born belong to him 23  Sororate: A man marries the sister of his dead wife. Found among the Kgatla of South Africa. 24  Ghost Marriage: The younger brother of a dead bachelor marries and bears children for his dead brother. Found among the Nuer of Africa. 25  Modes of Contracting Marriage Church Marriage Muslim Marriage Court or statutory Marriage Indigenous/Traditional Marriage 26  Rules of Residence Rule of residence has to do with newly married couples reside after their marriage ceremony. Patrilocal residence: the couples reside with or very close to the parents of the groom. Matrilocal residence: the rule is that a woman remains in her mother’s household after maturity. Consequently, her husband has to join her there after marriage. The couples live with or very close to the bride’s parents. Neolocal residence: the couples live on their own away from their parents houses. 27  Avunculocal residence: the couples reside with the groom’s maternal uncle. Bilocal residence: the couples live with or near either of their parents or alternate residence between their parents. 28 END THANK YOU FOR LISTENING 29