Why Dinka Traditional Marriage Won’t Stand a Chance in Modern Life (Part Two)

Introduction

By Mamer Deng Jur, Australia

April 7, 2015 (SSB)  —-  CAUSUAL SEX: the popular uprising of very common practices of CASUAL SEX has seriously wounded Marriage Today in South Sudanese Communities in Australia.

Traditional marriage has been badly wounded in the back by the following encouraging factors:

• Education
• Used of drugs; contraception pills, and smoking of shisha
• Used of protections; condoms
• High prices – parents of daughters’ demanded are not exclusive at all;
• And bodies built guys are also another threat to the marriage, and also lacks of responsibilities from many young couples.

And the most threatening virus as a master minder is casual sex. Threatening traditional marriage (thok) in this community, like an Ebola virus threatening the entirely world these days.

First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to apologies to anyone whom may find my article stressing and insulting. For disclosing some inmates private matters that no one wants to talk or hear about those facts. I know very well that 93% of the people loved to reads something that relates to politic, and smell politic.

But brothers and sisters true facts are true facts. If you cannot see the bright side, then polish the dull side. And I Mamer, sincerely appreciated PAANLUELWEL forgiving us a daily opportunity to shared our thoughts with our beautiful prudent readers who have had always spared their times and willing to read our thoughts.

Marriage issues and discussions are not always lovely safe heaven to play joke with. The area is stressful; especially for those who are faithful to unfaithful partners. All the communities in the world were built upon marriage, without marriage there would be no communities to called in the world.

According to Dinka people ‘marriage’ (thok) ‘is a union between one man and one woman or more women for their lives for the purpose of sexual cohabitation’. [1] In contrast, Australia (West) defined marriage ‘the union of a man and a woman to the exclusive of all others, voluntarily entered into life.

Elements of value marriage in Dinka culture

• Consent (gem/gam) in Dinka.
• Maturity (dit)
• Dowries (hok thieek in Dinka)

Elements of valid marriage in the West

• Consent from parents, especially when a girl or a boy happened to be under age (16 or 17). Parents’ consent is paramount in such situation, but that consent cannot reject the best interest of the child in question.
• Capacity of a person to make a wise decision.
• Love – people entered into this contract voluntarily

I know sexuality matters are not province of law to entertain. But they are left to individual morality principle – honesty principle.

Please look out for the above encouraging factors (1-5), because each of these factors will be thoroughly examined and explain in more depth on how they are affecting traditional marriage.

[1] Dr. Mohamed Fadlalla, Customary Laws in South Sudan.

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PaanLuel Wël

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PaanLuel Wël is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a news website that covers news, opinions, analysis, history, culture and literature of South Sudan and the world. Founded in July 2011 by PaanLuel Wël to create a platform for free expression and constructive dialogue, the website features articles from various contributors, including columnists, commentators, poets, authors, activists and academics. PaanLuel Wël believes that media can play a vital role in informing, educating and empowering the people to participate in nation-building and social transformation. He also believes that media can foster a culture of dialogue, tolerance and diversity among different communities and groups, and hopes to inspire and mentor the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.

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