Cause and Effect of Change

Abstract

The influence of religions, primarily Christianity and Islam, has caused several changes to indigenous African families. Both religions have lead to a deviation from traditional religious values and customs (Kayongo-Male & Onyango, 1984). Islam came with Islamic Law that has specific codes over aspects of family life. One such code or law was the seclusion of women (Kayongo-Male & Onyango, 1984). Women were no longer allowed to work in the fields, be in contact males outside of the family group or attend clinics. There was also the law that only allowed a man to marry up four wives. While this still allowed for the practice of polygamy and allowed men concubines, it put restrictions on them. All of the man’s wives and children had to be properly cared for in order for him to take a concubine. Concubines also had rights also and had to be cared for. Islam also forbade levirate marriages – a custom where the deceased husband brother would have to marry his wife (Kayongo-Male & Onyango, 1984). The influences of Christianity had far more changes on traditional African Families. Polygamy was not an accepted practice nor was female circumcision. As the amount of wives a man had was a status symbol and female circumcision was a rite of passage for females, families or individuals who converted have just abandoned two traditions (Kayongo-Male & Onyango, 1984). The church also encouraged the education of women and all children. But with children, both boys and girls, attending school, there was a lack of labor in the fields; as well as a desire for a change of the way of life as they used to see it (Kayongo-Male & Onyango, 1984). Both religions gave greater rights to women. Although Christianity encouraged greater equality for women, Islam did allow women property and inheritance rights. However, there are independent churches that incorporate traditional beliefs and customs opposed to completely forbidding them (Kayongo-Male &...