Marriage And Family Among The Akambas
Date
2003
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Tangaza University College
Abstract
I will focus this study on traditional marriage among the Akamba people,
without, of course, ignoring their today's society. I will dwell more on the traditional
customs, which are more typical to this group, which explains in a great deal their
experience and concept of marriage. I chose Marriage, because it an institution that
plays a central place among the Akamba, as well as in many other African societies.
Unfortunately, many young people especially those who happened to live out of their
traditional society find themselves in married life without a minimum of preparation for
it, and at times with no idea of what marriage entails. Part of the reason maybe
attributed to the breakdown of families, often caused by the social, economic and
cultural pressures that contemporary life brings. I find this paper relevant to these
situations, which are of common interest in our pastoral work.
I will try to highlight some aspects in this field, and try to see how the Church
would be relevant to them. In the same line, I will stress the virtues and strengths of the
traditional Akamba family. I do believe that as I journey in this field, I will discover many other pertinent
issues for pastoral concern. I will have a specific interest in the social factors underlying
persistence of certain values, continuity and change, as they are appear in contemporary
times. I will try to present the values, attitudes, functions and significance attached to
traditional Akamba marriage. As mentioned above, I chose the Akamba ethnic group, as
one of groups that would help me to understand what an African marriage is; of course,
with respect for all shades of the difference that exist within various African
communities. I will not pretend to deal with all the issues concerning marriage and
family; my aim is therefore to cover the subject within a relatively limited area.
Why Akamba? Because it is an ethnic group with whom I have shared and lived
more than any other ethnic group in Kenya.
Description
Keywords
Marriage, Family, Akambas