The “proposal”, by Théodosie

Sorosoro moving on with our series on Akele marriage and its side issues.

Marriage runs the Akele society, it occurs in a ritual approach, one step after the other. The whole point for families just about to marry their children is to settle a bond based on negotiation and exchange.

Théodosie tells us here about a key step in the ritual of matrimonial union in her community: the traditional kidnapping of the future spouse by the husband’s family. Traditionally, the young woman was taken from her parents’ home, locked up by the husband’s family, and eventually released in exchange of a dowry.

Sensitive souls who might find these practices shocking should know that they actually remain in a great number of customary societies, including outside Africa. Yet as Théodosie concludes with a smile, after all marriage was always “for better and for worse” anyway…