Marriage in Contemporary Zimbabwe

Marriage has always occupied a profound cultural and social significance in Zimbabwean society, but the forms and meanings attached to marriage have changed in recent decades. Marriage in Contemporary Zimbabwe provides a social analysis of the institution, highlighting how it is changing and evolving in the face of societal factors such as globalisation, technology, increased migration, religious plurality, and shifting cultural systems.

This book traces the evolution of Zimbabwean marriages from traditional pre-colonial customs into the diverse modern practices seen today. Drawing on rich qualitative insights from across urban, rural, and diaspora communities, it explores the shift in traditional ascribed gender roles, and the complex negotiations between persisting tradition and emerging modern influences. These influences include women’s empowerment, partner choice, and divorce. It explores changes in childrearing and the dissolution of the extended family networks that once governed marriages and provided mutual support. The book also explores broader societal transformations such as urban migration and westernisation, and the impact of socioeconomic challenges such as HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, poverty, and economic hardship.

Students and scholars of Zimbabwean history, culture, gender, and the family will find this book essential for understanding the continuities and evolutions of the marriage institution in Zimbabwe.