Abstract
The representation of child marriages as quintessentially egalitarian in traditional societies is primarily premised on the payment of ilobolo, and an attempt to ‘ward against’ extramarital pregnancy. These considerations outweigh the proposed argument regarding the preparedness of two 16 year olds to enter into the institution of marriage. This ambivalent stance has had tongues wagging in feminist spaces for decades. Although discouraged, child marriages cannot be deemed unlawful if both parties willingly enter into the union and have their families’ full support. This is mostly dependent on the socialisation of female children in traditional societies, coupled with their modelling of themselves after people who went through the same processes. The literature demonstrates that poverty, unemployment and lack of opportunities which then translates to a better lifestyle. This article will employ the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis in attempting to contextualise the gerontocratic leadership in these societies. Similarly contextualising the nuanced manner in which the linguistic features of the language spoken in the specific community impact on individual’s general views on marriage. The data utilised in this study was collected from the TV show Isencane Lengane on DStv channel 157. This paper concludes by stating that young maidens must be empowered to become independent adults with better opportunities then the previous generation. The study discovered that affluent family members are the one who finance ilobolo payment for the groom even though he is fully matured. This hinders their growth into fully functioning beings. They have to face adult problems in their teens.
Presenters
Boni ZunguAssociate Professor, African Languages, University of the Witwatersrand, Gauteng, South Africa
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Human rights, Gerontocracy, Child Marriages
