Peter,
I am sure that understanding the reasons behind the phenomenon of marrying
one's dead brother's wife or dead wife's sister (though a much rarer case)
would go a long way to answering your question. While I am no expert on this
topic, I do believe that the practice, like other practices in the
institution of marriage is out of social necessity than religious.
From a social perspective, given life expectancy in some of our societies
was no more than mid-30s (perhaps lower among male soldiers), it would not
be far fetched to assume that the need to ensure unity of the family,
security of the kids and of course the wellbeing of the family (given many
hands means better), were all reasons to justify the practice. There were
also cases when tragic loss of young wive/mother led to the marriage of the
sister to ensure continuity of family tie and the care and love for the
kids.
Whether the practice is necessary or guarantees stability these days, I
would wait for experience view.
Malanding Jaiteh
----- Original Message -----
From: peter sanyang <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, July 26, 1999 7:50 AM
Subject: Re: Marrying your dead brothers wife/ incest or social/religious
conformity?
> Hi Lers
> Can somebody help me out with this strange realization about people
marrying
> their late brothers spouses in the event of their dead. I particularly
find
> this practice very distasteful and unwarranted. Is it that, this practice
is
> in conformity of Islam/christianity or is it a practice that some ethnic
> groups within the Senegambia found appropriate and conducive in keeping
the
> family together and pure?
>
> In keeping the family under one uniform umbrella, i don't particularly
think
> that warrants the acquisition of ur brother's wife and nor does it
guarantee
> the stability of the family. Well, these are just my thoughts and i will
> welcome any learned response to these disturbing practice in my view.
>
> Kittos
> Peter
>
>
> >From: Momodou Camara <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
> ><[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: Join us at Ndey Jobarteh's Flat for a night get together
> >Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1999 12:21:35 +0200
> >
> >Greetings Ndey, Saiks and Dr. Saine,
> >I hope this Ceesay kunda guy didn't eat all your food before you had a
> >chance to during the weekend? He even decided to leave the wife behind
> >inorder to eat her share.
> >
> >These Ceesays, Jawos, Bojangs and Tourays eat so much that Gambia still
> >can't be self sufficient in food production:-)
> >
> >Have a great week,
> >Momodou Camara
> >
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
> >
> >To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
> >Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
> >
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
> >
>
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
>
> To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
> Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
