{UAH} ACHOLI TO DRAFT BYE-LAW ON BRIDE PRICE- PARAMOUNT CHIEF

Gwokto/ Ocaya p'Ocure/ Reggae Laduma

What do you make of the efforts of the Acholi paramount chief to control bride price, which seems to have gone over the roof, and the system now  seems frankly  open to abuse? A lot of young men can no longer afford bride price, and besides the author claims the effect of Arab MUSLIM slave trade and Nubian colonial mercenary atrocities are still being felt in the demographic gender  balance between men and women.

Bobby 

William Owor

18 mins · 

DYANG ARYO KONYO LACAN .
Marriage dowry has been reduced before in Acholiland.

In 1916, Rwot OLYA of Atyak, in his capacity as Chairman of the All Acholi Council (Lukiiko) – a post he was holding during the absence of Rwot Awich of Payira (who had been imprisoned by the British at this time for opposing British rule) - brought to an end the increasingly prohibitive habit of excessive marriage dowry, by fixing it in Acholi (at the time) to two cows and two goats.

Hitherto, prolific and sustained Nubi/Arab slave and ivory raids had decimated the livestock population in Acholi, leading to the use of Madi hoes as dowry. As the livestock population grew, so did the dowry demands.

And so Rwot Olya's fixed dowry policy ("Dyang aryo konyo lacan" – two cows will help a poor man, to marry) was an egalitarian master stroke which was warmly welcomed by all Acholiland, particularly by suitors and their families, for it made marriage more affordable.

His Highness Rwot David Onen Acana II 's latest pronouncement will be similarly well received by Acholi.
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