A marriage is both a
cultural and a legal institution subject to the influence of societies moral
view s and culture. In the African culture, marriage is generally seen to serve
the purpose of procreation and passing on of one’s name from one generation to
the next. Where a couple cannot conceive the family elder (in accordance with
the culture) will propose alternatives. Marriage therefore has the ability to
bear children to carry one’s name which is of a great significance in the
African culture.
Read also ........... Marriage in African Culture
Marriage in the African
culture entails more than just building a relationship between spouses but
involves the establishment and cementing of relationships between two groups.
The new Media generation has therefore over exposed more of the western culture
to the African families to the extent of marriage being viewed and handled like
in the Western culture e.g. viewing a marriage as a partnership and not necessarily
having children.
Same
sex partnership
Homosexuality has never
been an African and if there is any it is viewed as a taboo or an abomination
and the African culture is so silent about it. The silence on sex in an African
culture is attributed to the fact sex has never been the subject of public
discussion in African communities. The subject of sex in conjunction with
homosexuality is generally seen as a taboo.
In African culture the
importance placed on marriage and child bearing was viewed as a fundamental for
rejecting same sex marriage because the greater the number of children to a
family the greater the family prestige. Procreation was therefore valued in marriage.
This same value cannot be placed on marriage between people of the same sex
because they cannot procreate. It is therefore not surprising that same sex
partnerships are not recognized in African culture and indeed in some countries
they are illegal.
Today with the
emergency of new Media homosexuality is openly discussed. Individuals who are
homosexual are more open about their sexual orientation. Not only do they want
to express their orientation freely to people of their culture but across the border
and within the reach of African culture where the most countries are leading in
use of new media channels. This has led to some African countries taking
pro-active step in affirming the right of same sex partners e.g. South Africa.
More on......... Same sex Marriage in Africa
TO BE CONT.... PART 3 New Media and Culture Imperialisation on Gender
by Auma and Iminza
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