More than a third of all Tanzanian women are married before the age of 18. Many of them are forced into wedlock as young as 11 with much older men. In exchange, the family of the bride receives cows which are valued more than daughters. The country’s court imposed strict penalties on underage weddings. Local authorities and activists often break up weddings to prevent child marriages. Nevertheless, many parents continue to follow the ancient tradition. Will anything stop them?
Authors
Bride Trade
