ABSTRACT
Marriage in Muslim Hausa society is a religious and cultural process that involves two extended families, going well beyond the relatively uncomplicated agreement between the couple. At times, the consent of young adults, especially women, is not required or given, resulting in forced marriage. Furthermore, polygynous marriage (which is considered as normal in Muslim Hausa society) can involve strong disagreements between co-wives and/or with the husband, and divorce is not infrequent. Examining the fiction narratives of female Hausa authors, this chapter outlines the problems which arise as a result of forced marriage, showing how women, and at times, men and even entire families, become victims of this situation. The chapter discusses parents’ reasons for forcing marriage on their children, including poverty, the individual traumas and the interlocking issues of love, jealousy, polygyny, family and divorce.
