When it comes to marriage in an African setting, much as been discussed over the years about the importance of the Union, what makes the union stand or crumble, roles that is supposed to be played by both partners, and if love is of utmost importance. From where I stand, a lot goes into marriage and it’s not an easy feat. Marriage is a forever thing and it takes a lot to live with someone who is from a different background to yours. Marriage might have a particular definition but it’s very particular to each and everyone and it’s a different ball game to individuals. I often reflect on what it means to love and what it takes for people to finally decide who they want to marry. Marriage is a Union between both parties, usually a man and a woman, who through this joint covenant plan to live together forever. The foundation of this, if it’s real, must have been based on love. Laying the foundation of marriage on absolute love for each other is the best and only way to having a good and lovely marriage. Love is very powerful and it’s often said that it’s blind. The reason being that nobody is perfect, and through love, you are able to see a person’s imperfections as being perfect not only to themselves but to you. This becomes the basics of your act, attitude and character towards them throughout the journey of the Union till death tear you apart.
In recent years, the sacredness of marriage has suffered a lot of aversion such that it’s not as strong as the days of our forefathers. This is the reason why we have topics like love or money which won’t have been a solid topic as in the days of our fathers because they understand what love is.. Not only is marriage a union of love but also an avenue to relate with a different family because you aren’t only getting married to the person but also to their relatives. For this reason is why some people do this sacred thing for escaping porverty. They look at the person if they have enough money and if the family is a well to do people. Capitalist mentality.
I’m not saying money isn’t important in marriage, of course it adds the glamour to marriage, everyone wants to have their vacation, maybe in Maldives, flying round the world with their partners and lovely kids. It can only be achieved with money and with the world inflation now, you have to have enough to do that. With the fun money provided in marriage, it is still not the basics for marriage as our forefathers didn’t have money in that way, not a vacation, not planes to fly around the world but they feel fulfilled in their various marriages and they had the best more than us the present generation.
This alone is enough evidence that lack of money isn’t a reason for marriage not to stand and love is what is needed.
