ons. The stages of marriage differ from community to community but there are basic stages. First, friendship exists between the groom and the bride. Second, courtship is done but in some communities isnt needed. Lastly, bride wealth is giving to the brides family. It is a means of providing privileges to children at their mothers home of origin. Without a bride wealth, no man can claim any child as his. Dowry is also given to help the families of the couple getting married because the families loose both of their contributions to their families. There are different forms of marriage. Monogamy is a form of marriage, which means a man stays devoted to one woman but this is rare. The more children a man is seen as being very successful and a mark of importance. This is known as polygamy, having many wives. The husband is expected to love all of his wives equally. The first wife or the senior wife is given preferential treatment. Another form of marriage is called levirate union. This is when the original husband dies and the brother-in-law inherits his wife. Whoever takes the widow of a deceased relative or brother is permitted to get children in the name of the deceased. Sororate marriage is when a woman is barren and she asks her sister to marry her husband to conceive children and remove shame from his/her family name. Ghost marriage is if a man dies without children, the clan or community may find a wife for him to marry so as to provide children for him. Lastly, woman marriage is when there are no males left to inherit a widow and the widow is treated like a man and is allowed to marry another woman. Whatever children she has before her union with another woman are counted as her children and she is considered their legal father.And so, marriage is very important in African Traditional Religion. Once a child is born, the marriage is complete. Through the birth of a child, a husband and wife belong completely to one a...
