Marriage and the Family

After going through initiation into adulthood, men and women may marry. In Africa, marriages not only create unions between a husband and wife, but also establish political and economic ties between their families. A couple is married after a long series of negotiations and exchanges of gifts between their families. Marriages in Africa are meant to ensure the continuation and wealth of the family.

Let's explore some of the roles of married men and women in African societies through some art works!

Married Women



Fertility Figures


Hunter Shirt

ODYSSEY HOME NEAR EAST Egypt GREECE ROME

© Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University,
Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester and Dallas Museum of Art
For more information please contact odyssey@emory.edu.
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