Nuer

1
Nuer

• Marriage

2
Marriage

• Marriage is Key to the Nuer community. It is seen
  as the gauge of both masculinity and femininity,
  the end goal of a man sex life. Security for a
  woman.
• When Nuer speak of marriage they speak of owning
  a home as this is of importance to them
• From a very young age both sexes learn the roles
  which will be expected of them in adulthood
  within the Marriage.
• Female Child up bringing and domestic up keep
  of the household.
• Women not expected to be virgins when they marry.
• Male War, house building village loyalties,
  Clan loyalties.

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Marriage part two

• Men within the nuer are expected to go through a
  courtship process, before marriage. Sex before
  marriage is cultural accepted, some times many
  times. There is normally a long standing
  relationship between the bride to be and the
  groom.
• Marriage within the Nuer is brought about by the
  payment of bride wealth. This may be money or
  sale of cattle and certain ceremonial rites.
  These will be spoken about by families and used
  as bargaining tools.

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Chief ceremonies of MarriageLarcieng

• Larcieng Betrothal almost an engagement- the
  marriage is formally agreed upon by both
  families. Cattle will be given to the brides
  family as further understanding.
• Not always necessary to complete this part id
  often missed out if groom is rich.
• Ceremony is held in brides home. After morning
  work is done
• Grooms party arrive in war formation as sign of
  respect chant war songs outside of huts.
• Ceremonial use of animals shows importance, as
  blessing for couple. Groom uses them as good
  wishes to in laws. They also form main meal for
  the party.
• Speeches by both Fathers ( some things are the
  same the world over)
• Very much a party with the formalities only
  beginning at midnight. And only lasting for a
  short time.

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Chief ceremonies of Marriage Ngut

• Wedding takes place some weeks later.
• Bride groom will not be alone with bride untill
  then.
• Both sides dont want delay for ecomic as well as
  romatic reasons. I.e brides family want cattle.
• Wedding in home of bride
• Scenes of mock combat between the two families.
• Seal of marriage is calling out of clan names by
  elders.
• Dancing less important rituals take place
  during dancing
• Sunset the marriage Ox provided by brides father
  is sacrificed by senior kinsmen. It is sacrificed
  as a sign of well wishes. Fall well

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Chief ceremonies of MarriageMut

• Makes union a legal binding for western nuer.
• Groom can be called Husband
• Can punish wife for adultery.
• All cattle exchanged is the wives families form
  this point even if bond is broken.
• A contract not just between two people but
  between there famllies.

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Chief ceremonies of Marriageconsummation

• Takes place in male village. Goes to ask
  permission to take daughter away.
• Is a public occasion.- to a point one hopes
• Tethering is placed across one of the huts
  theseholds, bridegroom bride and other parties
  from both sides cawl under it make marriage
  fruitful.
• Bride retires wearing goat skin hat, male joins
  her. Banter between male friends. Loosening of
  griddle friends leave.

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Chief ceremonies of Marriageconsummation 2

• The male makes sexual advances, seizing of the
  thigh. The bride refuses his advances.
• The husband stakes her with a cord.
• custom dictates she must pretend to refuse even
  though she will have known her husband before.
• His duty done the bride groom leaves the hut to
  abuse from brides friends.
• Next day three rights take place which must not
  be omitted.

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Chief ceremonies of Marriageconsummation 3

• The sacrfice- should be an Ox rubs ox with
  ashes and extends good wishes to bride. Ox
  speared. Most then goes to brides family.
• Lustration washing of the hands with bracelets.
  Vesting maidens wash hands let bracelets drop in
  to water, bride and groom fishes them out and
  wears them. All close kinfolk repeat the ritual.
• Shaving of the head, Brides head. Member of
  husbands family, after departure of her
  companions. Stripped of anything from her family
  she is his now. New hair new life.

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Not Allowed

• The Nuer do allow marriages to take place between
  the following people.
• Clans Folk
• Close cognates people who can be traced to
  either father or mothers side.
• Close natural kin folk
• Kin folk by adoption

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Ghost marriages

• The nuer accept re marriage after the death of a
  husband.
• Ghost marriage is the term used to describe these
  marriages because any children of subsequent
  marriages are still known to be the children of
  the deceased. Mainly in heritance rights. They
  share the deceased clan name ect.
• A women could have several ghost marriages in her
  life time ( if she is unlucky) and it would stil
  remain the case that all the children were those
  of first husband.

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conculsion

• Nuer marriage is a complex set of rituals but
  pheraps the central points to stress are that for
  the Nuer marriage is nor complete until.
• A home is owned
• A child is born
• Hope that wasnt too bad.
• THATS ALL FOLKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!