Wise African Living: Marriage

This is how the Acholi people get their marriage partners. A boy can organise himself plus a friend with whom he goes to the home of the girl he is intersted in (for marriage), after reaching the girl's home, the family of the girl can welcome them whether or not they know them. The girl would take them to her mothers house and the mother would leave the house for them to discuss with her daughter and after the discussion, the girl will escort them on their way back.

In the evening the girls mother would ask her who the visitors were and she will tell the mother what is on the ground that "these people are interested in marrying me" the mother will then ask her daughters opinion as regards the matter and when she says yes then the mother proceeds to ask the caln of the boy in a way of verifying if they are not related.

And back on the boy's side, he will also discuss with his family members that he has found a friend (lover) whom he needs to marry. He will be asked of the clan of the lady to know if she is from a good home. It is upon the consent of the boy's family members that the boy is given power to get the girl and tell her parents that her visitors are comming on such and such a day in the procees of marriage.

The mother of the girl will call on the members of the girls family informing them that her daughter will be having visitors comming on a such a day to bring the report about marrying the girl.

The boy will prepare himself along side his father and brothers to go to the lady's home as indicated on prior arrangements and on their arrival, they will be welcomed in to the house prepared for them (the house of mother in-law), the house would be smired using cow dung and they will sit on animal skins (hides).

Then the father in-law will ask the visitors who they are. The father of the boy would answer that they have brought a report to marry her daughter and the father in-law ask her daughters if she know the people who have come.

The father in-law will give them the total of the items to be brought to marry her daughter. They will then agree on the day to bring those things to the family of the girl and on the day agreed upon the boy's family will bring what they have prepared, it does not neccessarily mean every thing should be brought at once.