Title:
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The Levirate custom of inheriting widows among the Supyire people of Mali : theological pointers for Christian marriage
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The Supyire people of Mali practise levirate: when a woman is married, she permanently
joins her husband’s family, and the marriage is not terminated by his death. Rather, it
continues, with one of the husband’s younger brothers or cousins inheriting her and acting
as a substitute levirate husband. The thesis describes how levirate is an integral part of the
Supyire institution of marriage, how it gives marriage permanence, supporting the social
structure, linking descent groups, determining access to land and providing a milieu for
socializing children. The thesis highlights the experiences, positive and negative, that
Supyire men and women have had of levirate, as related in interviews. It then begins to
construct a practical theology of Supyire marriage by reflecting on it through four
metaphors applied to Christ and his mission (redeemer, bridegroom, head of the church
and the image of God) and the qualities particularly associated with these four metaphors
(mercy, joyful love, permanent unity and respect for human dignity respectively). Despite
its imperfections, the Supyire system of levirate gives security to widows and the
fatherless, allows them continued access to farmland and thus to a livelihood, and can be a
channel for Christ to mediate and teach about his faithful love. On these bases it is argued
that levirate should be recognized by the church as a valid stage of marriage rather than
treated as adultery or fornication. The thesis also reflects on the negative impact of sin on
Supyire levirate and how marriage and levirate could be redeemed, with God at its centre
rather than on the periphery. There are concluding reflections on lessons that might be
learnt or relearnt that could be fed into a theology of marriage for the global church. An
appendix outlines a possible Christian service of blessing for a Supyire levirate union.
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