It is me Almami Dampha. I have been trying to get you for a whike now. I am in Germany for M.Sc, finishing it next September. Best wishes to your wife and everybody there. Its Mr. Dampha On Mon, 26 Jul 1999, Malanding S. Jaiteh wrote: > 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 > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------