The Perception and Implications of Bride-Wealth for Marital Relationship: Gender Analysis through Sukuma Oral Arts

This study examines the perception and implications of bride-wealth among the Sukuma of Tanzania. The data, which were basically the Sukuma views and the discourse of their songs, were collected using interviews and observations. The analysis and interpretation of the study findings were informed by the social construction theory of reality. Two specific questions guided the study: What knowledge do the Sukuma have about the role and practice of bride-wealth? How do the Sukuma oral arts communicate the social practices of bride-wealth in the community? The integration of songs with people’s views facilitates understanding of the context in which bride-wealth is practiced and transmitted from one generation to another. It also highlights the efficacy of oral arts, specifically songs reflecting social reality. The study reveals that the cultural practice of paying the bride-wealth in the Sukuma, on the one hand, makes the married woman a man’s product as it ties all the movement of her life; on the other hand, it threatens men’s identity, especially those who cannot manage to pay it in full. Generally, the study demonstrates how oral arts provide knowledge on power relations resulting from the inherent social practices of marriage. This knowledge contributes to the understanding of gender status quo in African countries, which is one of the ongoing debates globally. Keywords: Bride-wealth, arranged marriage, marital relationship