The Shona concept of marriage with special reference to procreation and fertility

Abstract

This paper investigates issues that the Shona people consider important in Shona marriage and what it takes for an individual to be considered a married person. It interrogates the important and central role procreation plays in Shona marriage and investigates the patriarchal system and how it can influence the size of the family. The paper contends that the Shona people’s views about marriage are largely influenced by their patriarchal system. The researcher argues that Shona fertility challenges can be best understood when one appreciates how the Shona marriage and patriarchal system intertwine in the Shona worldview. The argument concludes by suggesting the need for a cultural paradigm shift among the Shona people in order for the Shona women to be able to control their reproductive rights.