Abstract:
This study examines the impact of colonial and post-colonial social and economic
changes on Isukha traditional marriage institution 1894-2010. The study maintained
that the colonial and post-colonial policies restructured the traditional Isukha marriage
institution from courtship, bride wealth, marriage ceremony, widow guardianship to
polygamy. The objectives that guided this research included the evaluation of
significance of marriage among the Isukha during the pre-colonial period;
examination of the establishment of colonial and missionaries’ activities in Isukha;
exploration on Isukha marital structural responses to colonial policies and missionary
activities; assessing changes in marital relations of the Isukha community in 1963 to
1990; and post-colonial period on labour, property and marital relationship among the
Isukha to 2010. The historical research design was used in this research in order to
link phases of the area of the study. The study was informed by the theories of
articulation of modes of production and agency. Data collection was done through
primary and secondary sources by use of vast archival materials and the oral
interviews that revealed the state of Isukha perception of marriage institution.
Purposive sampling and snowballing techniques were used to select a sample of 60
participants well versed with Isukha marriage from the target population. The research
instrument that were employed to collect oral data included unstructured interview
schedule, and Focus Group Discussions. Data was analysed using qualitative method.
It was compiled into themes and reported in descriptive texts and direct quotations.
The study established that the traditional marital institution was the foundation of
Isukha society because marriage ceremony fostered cohesion and socialization among
community members. It equally observed that, the establishment of the church
through missionaries’ activities who acted as fore runners of colonialism impacted on
traditional Isukha marriage institution. The study also established that the period
1945-1963 marked a transition in the Isukha marriage institution courtesy of rural-
urban migration of the persons under study. Furthermore, the study also found out that
while the missionaries and the colonial state with considerable difficulty articulated
foreign marital practices, the Isukha responded as receptive agents ready to
accommodate, absorb and assimilate new practices into their traditional marriage
institution. The Isukha therefore, retained what they deemed beneficial to their marital
institution and restructured their traditional institution of marriage with the new and
progressive ideas from the missionaries, the colonial state and globalization with what
they considered beneficial to the marriage institution. With this nature of the Isukha,
their marital institution and property structurally evolved during the period of this
study. The research findings established harmonization of the missionary and colonial
progressive marital values into the traditional Isukha marital system. The study
recommends the need to incorporate some traditional practices such as bridewealth
payment, parent’s involvement in family life education and communal interest in the
choice of a partner which are harmless and the registration of all marital unions in
order to protect the matrimonial rights of the parties