Zulu Customary Marriage In Relation To Christian Marriage
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Date
1997-02
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
In September 1995, Pope John Paul H came to Africa to celebrate the African
Synod on African soil and bring us the fruits of that synod in the Apostolic Exhortation
"The Church in Africa". He told us all Christians in Africa "The Synod is over, the
synod has just begun. And it is very true!. Again in the words of Luke the Evangelist, the
writer sets out precisely the aim of what he wants to accomplish by writing the gospel:
Seeing that many have undertaken to draw accounts of the events that have
reached their fulfilment among us. I in my turn, after carefully going over the
whole stoly from beginning have decided to write an ordered account for you. I
African traditions, judiciously utilised may have their place in the construction
of Christian homes in Africa I am thinking in particular of all the positive
values of the family feeling the seriousness of the marital commitment at the end
of a long process, priority given to the transmission of life and therefore the
importance attached to the mo ther and her children.2
The Papal statement has led to many theological reflections into the African
marriage. This was not the first attempt by the African theologians, is part of the
Church's broad initiative throughout the centuries. Fortunately Second Vatican
Council's reformulated the nature of marriage in its Pastoral Constitution "Church in
the Modern World" together with the call to the younger churches to adapt the
Christian life to the mentality and character of each culture.
It is in this perspective I would like to situate my long Essay as part of on-going
theological reflections in an attempt to inculturate the Christian Marriage. Different
Theologians have tried in many ways to put into theological terms the teaching of the
Church on marriage as a Sacrament. This revelation reaches its definitive fullness in the gift of love which the word of
God makes to humanio) in assuming human nature and in sacrifice which Jesus
Christ makes on the Cross for his Bride the Church.3
On my part as a starting point, I have taken the marriage ceremony as practised
by the Zulu people of South Africa. As a point of methodology the long essay is divided
into two sections. The first part looks at the Zulu marriage with all its value system.
Given the fact that there are many changes that have affected deeply this institution. The social, political, and economical this situation has been aggravated further by the
adoption of Western lifestyle.
Africa is rapidly changing and those values that people lived by are no longer
practised by the present Africans themselves. I know that what is written may seem to
belong to the museum, It is worthwhile venture for African Church and her members in
trying to reclaim her values system. Our task is to present this values in a new way.
When we accept this task and go back to find out in a more scientific way, so that we
may better express them for our people.
The second part deals with the Christian marriage in relation to the Zulu
customary marriage. Although the teaching of the Church on marriage has been
influenced by the word of God and her doctrinal statements formulated over centuries, to
finally acknowledge that it is a Sacrament, a sacred sign, and to clearly express the
concept it took time.
The understanding of marriage as pact between the two families is in serious
jeopardy, one may conclude that practise of traditional values is gone. The present
situation of slums and many families are to live below the poverty line by circumstance:
We have to analyse the dilemma which has come upon African societies that are
rooted in traditional solidarity and yet are increasingly exposed to modern
change. In this dilemma their foundations of existence and security are shaken
and undermined Africa must now search for new values, new identities and a
new self-consciousness.
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Keywords
Zulu Customary Marriage, Christian Marriage, Christian Marriage, Zulu kingdom., idea of family among the Zulu people., Meaning of dowry and its importance in Zulu marriage, Preparation of marriage among the Zulu people, Marriage negotiations, Celebration of marriage among the Zulu people, Zulu marriage values Christian marriage, Marriage properties:, Unity and indissolubility, Divorce and re-marriage in Zulu Culture., Polygamy, Leviratic Custom, Inheritance of widows.