East Africa News
Woman-woman marriage: Meet the Kuria people of east Africa1 minute read
The practice allows women who experience challenges with conceiving, to have a family and continue her lineage
In terms of popularity, few ethnic groups come close to the Maasais in East Africa. Their vibrant culture and tradition, as well as their rural lifestyle, attracts curiosity from all over the world.
However, the Kuria, another east African ethnic group with stunning history and neighboured by the Maasais, the Kalenjins, and the Luos, attracts just as much curiosity – the aspect of their culture that allows women marry women for non-romantic reasons.
The practice allows women who experience challenges with conceiving, to have a family that may ensure the continuation of her lineage. These sorts of unconsummated marriages are referred to as ‘Nyumba Ntobhu’, literally meaning ‘house of women’ in the native tongue.
An older woman who possesses assets but is childless and fears that her property may fall into the wrong hands may marry a younger woman who will bear a child for her. The child, expected to be a son, would inherit her property ensuring the security of her lineage.
Similarly, Nyumba Ntobhu is becoming popular for women who seek to escape abusive relationships. However, the practice has received its fair share of disapproval. Critics say the arrangements of these woman-woman marriage unions remain lopsided, although it continues to be preferred by Kuria women.
Tanzania has signed a loan agreement with France to finance water supply projects that will benefit about 770,000 people in the country’s Morogoro municipality.
The French government will extend the loan worth about $76 million to Tanzania through its French Development Agency (AFD), according to Dotto James, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Planning who signed the agreement on behalf of Tanzania.
“Upon completion, the water supply in the Morogoro municipality will increase from the current 37,000 cubic meters a day to 108,000 cubic meters a day,” James told a press conference following a signing ceremony in Morogoro.
AFD Country Representative for Tanzania, Stephanie Mouen says the project will improve the well-being of the people in the municipality and it will also improve the environment.
Over 2,500 Ugandan nationals stranded abroad amid the Covid-19 pandemic can now return home as approved by the Ugandan cabinet.
The cabinet on Monday, agreed that Ugandan nationals trapped in 66 countries can return home at their own cost.
The government is making arrangements with the UN World Food Program (WFP) to fly the stranded citizens home, Judith Nabakooba, the country’s minister for information, communication technology and national guidance says, adding that all the returning citizens will have to undergo a 14-day mandatory institutional quarantine.
President Yoweri Museveni last month, directed Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda to study the possibility of evacuating dozens of citizens stranded abroad amid Covid-19 pandemic travel restrictions.
To contain the spread of Covid-19, the country on March 22 suspended all incoming flights, except cargo flights.
A border closure between Tanzania and Kenya has hit Dar es Salaam’s horticulture sector due to long delays at the crossing for fresh produce truckers, resulting in a disruption of the supply chain.
Horticulture is one of Tanzania’s economic pillars.
This past week, Tanzania Horticulture Association (TAHA) Chief Executive, Jacqueline Mkindi asked the governments of Tanzania and Kenya to resolve the border issue for the sake of an already struggling exports industry.
Most of Tanzania’s horticulture produce is exported through Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). “If this tug of war continues, we’ll be the first to suffer as we still rely on JKIA and the port in Mombasa to export crops whose routes are not open from Tanzania,” Mkindi adds. “Our government has all along been considerate to horticulture. We advise it to embark on economic negotiations with Kenya to allow cargo to continue crossing borders smoothly.”
After an international aviation halt, the TAHA signed a deal with Ethiopian Airlines.
Despite the deal with Ethiopian Airlines to ferry fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers to global markets from Kilimanjaro International Airport, the airline has still not been granted long-term landing permits.
Currently, TAHA has to apply for a landing warrant for every incoming flight at routine airport charges and has to attach backup documents each time.
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