Seantlo: To revisit the practice or not go there again?
Levirate marriage, known as 'se-a-ntlo' in Setswana is a type of marriage in which the brother of a deceased man is obliged to marry his brother's widow. Levirate marriage has been practiced by societies all over the world with origins from the Bible.
In traditional Botswana, such a practice was common, as it was seen among other reasons, as a way to continue the lineage of the family following the death of a husband. In other words, his name would not be cut off and his property would pass on to a male heir. According to Biblical accounts, in ancient Israel, this also assured that the widow would be able to remain part of the man's family as she raised their other children, instead of needing to go off to find a new husband.
If the wife of the deceased man has male children, she will inherit her husband's property through those children. If the children are still young, she would live on the land and use the land under the supervision of a custodian, until the children grow up to take care of their own property.
If the woman has no children, then the property goes back to the family of the man. If one of the deceased man's brothers accepts to marry the widow, then she retains her husband's property through marriage to his brother. The children the widow gets with her new husband belong to the deceased man! And the property remains for the widow and the children she gets with her new husband! If nobody accepts to marry her, she goes back to her father's house, leaving behind all the property of her deceased husband.
Levirate marriage has fallen out of favour in modern times and is more or less an extinct practice today. Yet there are some communities even within Botswana where such practice still exists. Don't we have any compelling reason to revisit this practice for everyone else? Why would you support or go against this practice that ensured there was overall harmony and peace within families and relatives after the death of a husband? Share your views on the matter as usual, at: [opinions@guardiansun.co.bw]