The burial of the husband as an opportunity for the introduction of his children, born outside of wedlock – An African pastoral study

The burial of the husband as an opportunity for the introduction of his children, born outside of wedlock – An African pastoral study

Elijah Magezi Baloyi

Issue: Vol. 7 No.1 2026 Article 29 pp. 379 – 392
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267129| Published online 27th February 2026

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ABSTRACT

African funerals have been an occasion to send off the departing person in a dignified way, but they also served as a communal affair where relatives could meet and mend their relationships. For the purpose of this study, funerals have also become a situation where unknown and even unaccepted children of the male deceased who were born outside marriage would be introduced into a family or clan. There would not be any guarantee that such practices would end up adding peace into the family, depending on the reactions and suspicions that the formal wive (or wives) and her (their) children to such incidents. Even though the contestations would follow on the trustworthiness of the deceased to his household, a few questions would arise, especially if there is some inheritance left by the deceased. This article used the conceptualisation analysis of the secondary sources via desktop findings to unveil some of the traditional reasons as well as repercussions of such practices. Without ignoring the African traditions towards the handling of cheating between husbands and wives, the study, by way of discussion, made recommendations to resolve this tendency as a way forward before making concluding remarks. The study contributes to the stability of African marriage, which is, amongst others safeguared by ensuring that while cheating is discouraged, children of the deceased must also receive justice in terms of relating to their family and clan.

Keywords: African Marriage, Unfaithfulness, Children Outside Marriage, African Funeral, Household, African Traditions.

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ABOUT AUTHOR(S)

Baloyi Magezi Elijah is a C2 NRF rated Full professor (UNISA) in Practical Theology and holds a PhD in Practical Theology from the University of Pretoria. He is a former Chair of the Department of Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology and also a former chair of the Board of Research Institute of Theology and Religion, UNISA. He is presently a Research Professor for the Research Institute of Theology and Religion, UNISA. He is the first black theological academic to be awarded Center of Theological Inquiry membership under the topic “Thriving in Diverse Contexts” in Princeton, USA. This led to him being a One Million Rand award recipient from the VC in 2025. His current project involving the Congress of Traditional Leaders in South Africa (CONTRALESA) is “Critical reflection on the erosion of post-colonial African Funeral Traditions.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Baloyi, Elijah Magezi. “The burial of the husband as an opportunity for the introduction of his children, born outside of wedlock – An African pastoral study.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.1 (2026): 379-392. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267129