From Cattle to Cash: The Evolving Bride-Price Rituals in the Acholi Marriage and Their Relevance to Gen Z

Abstract

This study examines the transformation of bride-price practices among the Acholi of northern Uganda through primary qualitative data drawn from interviews and focus group discussions with Generation Z participants born 1997–2012 (N=33). The paper, anchored in Feminist Political Economy and Cultural Modernization Theory, analyzes the direct voices of young Acholi men and women on economic change, education, gender consciousness, and digital discourse, which are reshaping customary marriage. Findings indicate that while Gen Z remains strongly attached to Acholi cultural identity, there is a growing reformist movement, especially among young women, challenging inflated monetary demands and transactional interpretations of bride-price. The study contributes to debates on customary law reform, gender justice, and intergenerational cultural negotiation in contemporary Uganda.