- Title
- The amaXhosa ukuthwala marriage custom in fact and fiction: a contemporary critique
- Creator
- Kaschula, Russell H, Huisamen, Tim, Mostert, André M, Nosilela, Bulelwa
- Date
- 2013
- Type
- text
- Type
- article
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68344
- Identifier
- vital:29241
- Identifier
- https://doi.org/10.1080/02572117.2013.871454
- Description
- publisher version
- Description
- Ukuthwala is traditionally a marriage custom within the amaXhosa culture in South Africa which permits a ‘legal abduction’ of a bride-to-be. Similar customs of ‘bridal abduction’ exist, most notably in Kyrgyzstan, where it is known as ala kachuu. Research into these customs necessitates a more innovative approach to explore the impact of this social phenomenon. In this article the authors mobilise a fictional narrative to offer a backdrop for a comparative assessment of the impact of bridal ‘legal abduction’ and assess its contemporary status and role within a multicultural society which celebrates the rights of the individual while recognising the value and importance of maintaining cultural identity and traditions. Cultural dissonance has always been characteristic of modern and post-modern societies as they strive for a workable shared ethos. However, when customs such as ‘legal abduction’ (Mtuze, 1993:50) continue under the veil of cultural rights, the wider social sensibilities and perspectives can be at odds with the maintenance of such activities where these activities contradict the rights of the individual as enshrined for example in what can be seen as a liberal South African Constitution.
- Format
- 10 pages, pdf
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Language
- English
- Relation
- South African Journal of African Languages, Kaschula, R. H., Huisamen, T., Mostert, A. and Nosilela, B. (2013) The amaXhosa ukuthwala marriage custom in fact and fiction: A contemporary critique. South African Journal of African Languages, 33 (2) 143-152. doi: 10.1080/02572117.2013.871454, South African Journal of African Languages volume 33 number 2 143 152 2013 0257-2117
- Rights
- Routledge
- Rights
- Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the National Library of South Africa Copyright Act
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Collections
Huisamen, Tim (Prof)
RU DST/NRF SARChI for Intellectualisation of African Languages, Multilingualism and Education
Nosilela, Bulelwa B (Mrs)
Kaschula, Russell H (Prof)
RU School of Languages and Literatures
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