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 Form 4 CRE lessons on marriage

Divorce in traditional African Marriage and circumstances under which it is granted

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Answer Text:
Divorce in traditional African Marriage:
Divorce is discouraged:
Divorce is very rare or even unknown among some communities. If there are any problems in the marriage, temporary separation is granted by the community. The wife goes back to her own people for a period of time until there is reconciliation or the cause of the separation is remedied.
However, there are certain circumstances when divorce is granted by the community, for example:
(i) If the girl is discovered not to be a virgin on the wedding night.
(ii) Continued cruelty from the husband which may be due to drunkenness.
(iii) If the marriage is contrary to the customs of the people. For example, if the two are closely related by blood and this is discovered after they have married.
(iv) If either the husband or wife is proved to be greedy, selfish, spiteful, lazy, a thief or a wizard.
(v) If the wife is barren.
(vi) If the man fails to pay bride-wealth to the family of the girl.
(vii) If the wife commits adultery. In case it is the man who has committed the offence
he is asked to pay a certain fine to the husband of the adulterous woman.
(viii) If either the man or the woman has failed to undergo initiation rituals before marriage such as circumcision.
(ix) If one of the partners develops serious illness such as madness, epilepsy or leprosy.


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