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Betrothal and courtship in traditional African society

Answer Text:
Betrothal and courtship in traditional African society:
-Betrothal refers to the formal engagement between a boy and a girl.
-Courtship refers to the period between engagement and the time the actual wedding ceremony takes place.
-African communities have different customs of marking the engagement stage.
- In some communities once it is agreed that a young man is to marry a particular girl, his parents take beer, sheep, goats and foodstuffs to the girl’s parents to mark the occasion and formalize the engagement.
-Following the engagement, the girl, in some communities, may start wearing items such as cords, bracelets or rings to indicate that she is engaged.
-From this time on the girl is expected to behave differently because her status has changed.
-Virginity is to be ensured since pre-marital sex is highly forbidden and punishable.
- During the courtship period other marriage negotiations occur. Some of these activities involve the payment of bride-wealth. In some communities such as the
Gikuyu, the Akamba and Luhya, bride-wealth is paid before marriage takes place.
-Among the Marakwet bride-wealth is not paid immediately. It may take place after the birth of the first child.
-What comprises bride-wealth in traditional African communities varies from one community to another. For example, it includes cattle, goats, sheep,camels, honey, beer, farm implements and certain foodstuffs.
-The most common and most important activity during the time of betrothal in African societies is the linking together of the two families involved as a way of formalizing marriage.