Marriage systems of the Gikuyu and San Communities

Family starts with by two consenting adults who chose to live under one roof for the rest of their lives in marriage. In ages past marriages were not necessarily about two consenting adults but as guided by customs and traditions of a community.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Marriage systems of the Gikuyu and San Communities specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Marriage is one of the most  prestigious  cultural events for girls in the San (!Kung)  community  as noted by Marjorie Shostak (147 – 150). This cultural tradition compares to the passage of  ritual  by boys such as the ceremonial first animal  killing  and initiation in this community. The decision to marry belonged to the parents and not the girls. The new couple moved into a hut prepared for them upon completion of the parents’ negotiation. The young husband came to  stay  close to the girl’s parents for as long h e wants, a call he must fulfill in the early years of marriage. This way, the girl’s parents can prove his  treatment  of their daughter and appreciate his ability to  provide  for and support both his young family and theirs too. Payment of dowry is not a significant factor during marriage except the exchange of gifts and other pleasantries. When a girl marries while still young, the husband would  wait  long before having sex with her. An aggravated girl could show strong emotions against her marriage and  raise  the  end  of the same. The separation had to be confirmed by the community. She can  marry  several men in  trial  until she finally matures and settles with one long term partner. Among the Gikuyu, marriages began when an aspiring husband visited his suitors homestead to have a conversation with her parents. The girl’s consent was the most critical factor for the union to  take  off. Bride price was a must as families sired g irls for wealth creation (everyculture.com). The families had to be large with the girl  child  a crucial aspect of each  family  because they guaranteed continuity of the community by child bearing and growth of wealth for the clan. Several families stayed together in one large  compound  unlike in the San  community  where families stayed alone. The girls made their homestead. Discussion The main differences between the Gikuyu and San marriages included the payment of  bridal  price. Bridal price could be recalled back when marriage is terminated. In the San community, there was no bride price and the gifts given were not to be returned unless at will by the girl’s parents. The girl’s consent had to be sought of in the Gikuyu marriages unlike among the San clans.Advertising Looking for essay on anthropology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There were no  trial  marriages among the Gikuyu and women would not  end  their marriages. The couple once married would move to the husband’s family compound and not live in a hut at the girl’s family compound. The girls in Gikuyu made their homesteads while in San community, the parent’s of the girl constructed the hut in which the new couple lived. Conclusion In both the Gikuyu and San communities, marriage plays the crucial role in the  community  propagation and forms an integral part of the  community’s cultural life. Works Cited Shostak, Marjorie. Nisa: The Words and Life of a !Kung Woman. Great Britain: Biddles Ltd., 2000. Web. https://www.everyculture.com/wc/Japan-to-Mali/Gikuyu.html This essay on Marriage systems of the Gikuyu and San Communities was written and submitted by user Vivienne Hull to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.