article

The noble custom of roora: the marriage practices of the Shona of Zimbabwe

Ethnology32 (1) • Published In 1993 • Pages: 35-54

By: Meekers, D. (Dominique).

Abstract
This document explores change and continuity in marriage practices. Among the most important changes is a decline in the power of lineages over marriage arrangements, together with a substantial reduction in the amount of control the husband previously exercised over his wife. This transformation was brought about mostly by the expansion of modern education and improved opportunities for employment, especially for women. The author warns that this change may have the unintended consequence of reducing fathers' responsibilities for their children, which had been instituted in the custom of [n]roora[/n] (payment of bridewealth).
Subjects
Mode of marriage
Arranging a marriage
Basis of marriage
Household
Family relationships
Lineages
Localized kin groups
Community structure
Gender status
Special unions and marriages
Cultural identity and pride
Sociocultural trends
Sexuality
Pregnancy
culture
Shona
HRAF PubDate
2014
Region
Africa
Sub Region
Southern Africa
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Anthropologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Teferi A. Adem; 2012
Field Date
1986
Coverage Date
1986-1993
Coverage Place
Harare, Zimbabwe
Notes
Dominique Meekers
LCCN
64005713
LCSH
Shona (African people)