Lifestyle

Banned: Intra-clan unions

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020 00:00 | By
Banned: Intra-clan unions.

For most young people nowadays, this is a highly debatable, and what they call archaic norms set by the ancestors.

Manuel Ntoyai @Manuel_Ntoyai

It is not strange to hear of hullabaloo, caution and even straight out distress when clan affiliations are brought about, especially with regard to marriages. 

Most Africa societies practice exogamy, meaning one cannot marry someone who is related by blood on the male side, hence marrying from one’s clan is strictly forbidden.

Some are flexible when it comes to intermarrying while for others, such matters are taboo.

Experts opine that marrying from the same clan increases the risk of autosomal genetic recessive disorders. 

 “There are some clans that cannot intermarry because of some long standing traditions.

Elders have to find out both parties clan and lineage, so that one does not marry their own blood,” says Mzee Joseph Irungu, a kikuyu elder.

Among both male and female young urban professionals in urban areas, the matter has become more of bottleneck with some opposing it.

“Some of these things are past their time and shouldn’t be a hindrance when it comes to marrying the love of your life.

I mean, what about some communities which marry cousins and other close relatives to keep family wealth amongst themselves and security, are they also damned?” wonders Evans Kimani, a third year student at a local university. 

“Urbanisation has made many Africans embrace exogamy in the sense that we get our partners based on who we want despite the fact that even in traditional African societies, it was a taboo to marry someone from your own clan or community.

With the intervention of some religious beliefs and interactions with other communities who practice it, exogamy has become common,” says Laureate Rota, a Psychiatrist.

“Marriage between people of the same clan is not allowed. It is like marrying your brother or sister.

Where such a marriage may occur, elders of the clan will come in to counsel and recommend that marriage terminate and or a fine of one goat by the elders.

I am from Gantue clan and I can’t marry from my clan,” says Dj Patche,  Meru FM Presenter, who comes from the Tharaka Subtribe, of the Ameru community.

“Where those involved don’t heed to elders’ advice, the matter is left in their hands. The wrath and consequences of the ancestors are left to befall on the couple and their future generation,” he adds.

In the Maasai community, such acts are not condoned and whenever it happens, which is rare, a fine of a heifer (enkanyit enkashe) is to be paid to the girl’s parents.

This usually happens when young couples have already met and decided to marry. At this juncture there is nothing the in-laws can do, but accept the fine.

Bad spirits

In the Kisii community, the same is outlawed and considered incest.

“Marrying from the same clan is more of incest because of the possibility of blood relations.

For example, I come from the Abanyamatuta clan and highly encouraged from other clans such as Abagichora, Abasamaro, Abanyakoni and so on, but not women from my clan as they are my sisters,” says George Morara.

In Luo, the rules are almost the same. The role of elders is crucial for any intending couples as they are able to iron out such issues. 

“Repercussions are dire. When such come to reality it’s beyond salvage, but to face them by yourself head-on and one is left to deal with the aftermath, which might include being excommunicated from the community, alternatively you can be reconciled by giving out a bull for a sacrifice to “chase away” bad spirits from you. From there you can be accepted back,” says Chris Owuor.

Within the Kalenjin traditions, exogamy is discouraged too and a highly sensitive matter.

Before marriage, one is advised to visit the girls home with elders where among other issues to be determined, is both parties lineage.“When a man wants to marry, the girl’s clan is an important factor.

When it happens that the couple has already started the elders will conduct a ritual where a goat is sacrificed to clean them from evil spirits and are separated lest bad omens follow the family,” says Faith Chepkorir, who hails from Bomet. 

For the Kamba community, the rituals used for cleansing in the event of exogamy varies from one area to another.

The difference is determined by the items used for cleansing. Still exogamy is prohibited.

“In some parts of Kitui, there is a wild tuber and other plants that are made into a concoction to smear on the couple’s bodies, and then a goat is sacrificed to appease the spirits of ancestors.

This applies when the two have not yet married and got no child. There are places such as Machakos where only a goat  is used for the cleansing before the couple is separated,” says Evans Maingi, a Kamba elder.  

“If clan members are too closely related, genetic problems can become an issue.

Even as the clans have gotten bigger and more dispersed, it is the same genes that are replicated,” says Ben Mutiso, a social psychologist, adding, “The chances are that ailments will be replicated. So at the end of it, that family will be overburdened with sickness.”

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