The Practice of Dowry Payment in Tanzania: A Case Study of Karagwe

Every society has rituals and laws that define a valid marriage. Marriage in most parts of the world either had or still associated payment made by one side to other known as dowry. Marriage is still a public matter as well occupies an important position in the daily social affairs for most African societies. Dowry payment is as old as as man, it has been a traditional and ritual to pay dowry at the time of marriage. For centuries, in African societies, dowry payment assisted to stabilize the partnership, join the two families together as well as traditional proof of marriage. Recently, the practice of dowry payment has raised a lot of debate and criticisms from feminists, women's right activists as well politician condemning it for being outdated tradition that promote gender inequality and male domination. The book informs academic community,politicians, activists as well as men and women at the grassroot on the need to create awareness and cultural sensitization on the value of dowry payment on marital stability. This book is one of the few works on dowry practice of the 21 century which provide an intellectual foundation for the open as well pluralistic community.