differences between the two cultures

The difference between the Singapore and South Africa cultures with regards to marriage is that of monogamy and polygamy respectively. Polygamy refers to having more than one spouse at the same time.

In South Africa, some of the older generation feels that practicing polygamy is a way of preserving their culture. To South Africans, the idea of polygamy solves a lot of issues because divorce is not allowed in the African customary marriages. However, in the Singapore context, divorce is matter of personal choices and rights. Therefore as long as you find fault in the marriage, you can choose to end the marriage.

Furthermore, in South Africa, the first wife often finds herself deprived from access to the marital property. Therefore in 1998, laws were passed in South Africa to permit polygamy as long as the wife’s interest is protected. In Singapore, women are also protected by laws such that after divorce, they will be entitled to a sum of money for compensation.

Another difference between the two cultures is the issue of bride price. In Singapore, it is a tradition for the bride’s family to pay a dowry to the groom’s family. This symbolizes that the groom will be taking responsibility of providing for her. On the other hand in South Africa, it is the groom that pays, through the transfer of cattle or money, to the bride’s family. In this case, the husband appears to be “buying” his wife from her parents.