ABSTRACT
shukansi was played a larger role in young peoples' lives recently than it did in the pastoral past, although even recently there was much secretiveness concerning who one was courting and why—whether for sex, love, marriage, or a combination of the three. Surely the impossible economic situation was used by at least some males as a false pretense for putting off the issue of marriage. And the widespread recognition that "proper" marriage had become financially all but unattainable for many men gave all men more leeway in pursuing women for other aims. Abdi Karim conducts shukansi with several girls in Mogadishu, several where he is stationed, and several at district headquarters. In Mogadishu there are two he is most serious about, but he has not yet discussed marriage with either of them. Masafo, One or more sheikhs were paid for the marriage service.
