| dc.description.abstract | The institution of bride price has been changing over time
depending on changes in society. Economic conditions, societal
structures, institutions, and family characteristics have
brought about these new patterns. The general objective of the
study was to investigate the influence of the new practices of
bride price on the marriage institution among the Acoli
people.The study was guided by identifying the new patterns of
bride price practices, the effect of the new practices of bride
price on the marriage trends, the new practices of bride price
have affected the rate of marriage today and the new practices
of bride price have affected the stability of marriage.
In the first objective, the study found that the institution of
bride price has been changing in trends, practices, and
meanings. The nature and amount of resources exchanged has also
been changing over time. The study therefore concluded that
whereas some communities have tended to increase the resources
exchanged to exorbitant levels, others have altogether done away
with it due changes in marriage and familial arrangements. In
the second objective, research found that the price for
legitimately marrying a bride has become extremely expensive for
many young couples due to the extreme financial demands
required. It was concluded that this has led to increasing
unofficial marital relationships especially among the urban
dwellers. In the third objective it was found that due to the
changing patterns in the bride price, many young people are
choosing to stay single for more than they want in order to
avoid paying the hefty bride prices set by the families of their
love interest. In the fourth objective, it was found out that
marriage is an alliance between two families that for the bride
and for the groom. It was concluded that failure to produce a
bride price or account for the fine almost always means the
marriage is illegitimate.
The researcher recommended that the term ‘bride price’ should be
replaced with the term ‘dowry’ because the term is demeaning to
women. There should be better mutual understanding between the
parties during the bargaining process. The changes and
commercialization of bride price are mainly related to the
adoption of Western norms and values of commodities. Educating
communities about the traditional meaning of bride price is
essential. | en_US |
