Nyumba ntobhu

Nyumba ntobhu (meaning "house without a man") is a traditional form of non-sexual same-sex union among Kuira women of the Mara Region of Tanzania; the partnerships are formed between older, usually widowed women without male descendants and younger, childless women, known as mokamööna (daughters in-law).[1][2] As part of the relationship, the younger mokamööna bears a child from an external male partner. The elder woman serves as a grandmother to the resulting child, thus securing her with an heir and ensuring the continuation of her lineage.[3][4] Nyumba ntobhu marriages, like traditional Kuira marriages, are secured through the payment of a bride price in the form of cattle; in the case of nyumba ntobhu relationships, the bride price is provided by the older woman to the family of the younger partner.[1]

Traditional Kuria village

Among the Kuira, nyumba ntobhu couples make up an estimated 10 to 15 percent of households.[5]

Nyumba ntobhu relationships have become increasingly common within recent years. Many younger Kuira women enter the relationships as a means of gaining increased agency in choosing their sexual partners and avoiding domestic abuse and female genital mutilation.[5][6]

References
  1. Sikira, A. N. (2012). "Women to women marriages (nyumba nthobhu): Violence among infertile women in Mara region, Tanzania". Tanzania Journal of Development Studies. 12.
  2. "Straight women in Tanzania are getting married to keep their houses". The Independent. 2016-07-29. Retrieved 2019-02-18.
  3. Tsjeng, Zing; Martinez, Marta (2018-10-24). "Straight Women Are Marrying Each Other for Safety in Tanzania". Broadly. Retrieved 2019-02-18.
  4. Interpersonal violence: differences and connections. Husso, Marita. Abingdon, Oxon. ISBN 9781315638393. OCLC 960906146.CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. Shoemaker, Charlie (2016-07-25). "Why Straight Women Are Marrying Each Other". Marie Claire. Retrieved 2019-02-18.
  6. Thomas, June (2013-09-04). "In Tanzania, a Different Kind of Same-Sex Marriage". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2019-02-19.


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