THE BORANA
MARRIAGE IN THE BORANA COMMUNITY
Marriage in the Borana community is seen as a vital institution for ensuring family continuity and
maintaining social order
It is often arranged by families and parents and elders typically negotiate and arrange the
marriage ensuring the union strengthens.
MARRIAGE THE BORANA WAY
The Borana community was polygamous and the husband could marry many wives as long as
he could take care of them
The eldest wife occupied senior position.
The women had the responsibility to build houses, huts called DASSE, while men hunted
A decorative hanging called SOLALA was made by the mother of a young man who was about to
be married, he would hang it in his new home.
The Borana marriage was preceded by several stages and long negotiations, The girls’ parents
would e.g., organize a meeting called KADDA to examine conditions of the marriage.
THE DABARE, which is the wedding ceremony is elaborate and typically involves the whole
community. Included rituals, blessings from elders and traditional dances.
Elders from both families bless the marriage and there are public celebrations that could go on
for days to emphasize communal nature of marriage.
. Marriage in Borana is exogamous where marriage within the clan is not allowed.
In Borana its strictly forbidden for a girl and a boy once married to just come and eat or drink at
their mother’s home without any invitations and vice versa.
Many of their traditional practices are still intact but they’ve been influenced by societal
changes.
If the first wife was barren the man was allowed to marry a second wife and first wife could
adopt the second wife’s children to become her own.
When the father died, his eldest brother inherited his eldest wife and his other brothers could
inherit the rest.
If the man died, the woman shaves her hair to honor him ad if the woman died the children
would shave for her honor,
Consent from both families was essential.
THE GABBARA which is the bride price, often livestock is given to bride’s family and the number
is agreed upon by the elders and it represents respect to the bride’s family.
They practice a PATRILINEAL SYSTEM meaning inheritance and family identity are passed down
through the male child,
In cases where the wives can not give a male child, they may adopt a male relative or a boy from
within the extended family to carry on the family name,
In modern times, attitude has changed and though rare, girls take on the responsibility of men
and inherit as a result of education and external influences.
