Nyumba ntobhu explained

Nyumba ntobhu (meaning "house without a man") is a traditional form of non-sexual same-sex union among Kuria women of the Mara Region of Tanzania and Kenya ; the partnerships are formed between older, usually widowed women without male descendants and younger, childless women, known as mokamööna (daughters-in-law).^{[1] [2]} As part of the relationship, the younger mokamööna bears a child from an external male partner. The elder woman serves as a grandmother to the resulting child, thus securing her with an heir and ensuring the continuation of her lineage.^{[3] [4]} Nyumba ntobhu marriages, like traditional Kuira marriages, are secured through the payment of a bride price in the form of cattle; in the case of nyumba ntobhu relationships, the bride price is provided by the older woman to the family of the younger partner.

Among the Kuira, nyumba ntobhu couples make up an estimated 10 to 15 percent of households.^[5]

Nyumba ntobhu relationships have become increasingly common within recent years. Many younger Kuira women enter the relationships as a means of gaining increased agency in choosing their sexual partners and avoiding domestic abuse and female genital mutilation.^{[5] [6]}

Notes and References

1. Sikira. A. N.. 2012. Women to women marriages (nyumba nthobhu): Violence among infertile women in Mara region, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Development Studies. 12. 2019-02-20. 2020-02-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20200215193654/http://www.suaire.suanet.ac.tz:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2470. dead.
2. Web site: Straight women in Tanzania are getting married to keep their houses. 2016-07-29. The Independent. en. 2019-02-18. 2019-02-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20190219184935/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/straight-women-kurya-tanzania-africa-married-property-domestic-violence-fgm-a7162066.html. live.
3. Web site: Straight Women Are Marrying Each Other for Safety in Tanzania. Tsjeng. Zing. Martinez. Marta. 2018-10-24. Broadly. en-US. 2019-02-18. 2019-02-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20190219130042/https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/43e98q/tanzania-straight-women-same-sex-marriage. live.
4. Book: Interpersonal violence: differences and connections. Husso, Marita. 25 November 2016. Taylor & Francis. 9781315638393. Abingdon, Oxon. 960906146. 21 March 2023. 14 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231114172549/https://books.google.com/books?id=Z0QlDwAAQBAJ. live.
5. Web site: Why Straight Women Are Marrying Each Other. Shoemaker. Charlie. 2016-07-25. Marie Claire. en-US. 2019-02-18. 2019-02-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20190219130200/https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/a21668/the-tanzanian-wives/. live.
6. Web site: In Tanzania, a Different Kind of Same-Sex Marriage. Thomas. June. 2013-09-04. Slate Magazine. en. 2019-02-19. 2019-02-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20190220002849/https://slate.com/human-interest/2013/09/nyumba-ntobhu-in-tanzania-a-different-kind-of-same-sex-marriage.html. live.