A surrogate marriage describes the arrangement where a woman is

infertile Infertility is the inability of a person, animal or plant to reproduce by natural means. It is usually not the natural state of a healthy adult, except notably among certain eusocial species (mostly haplodiploid insects). It is the normal state ...

or dies young and her family substitutes another woman to bear children for the husband.

Cultural roots

Surrogate marriages exist in some African cultures, such as the Zulu culture.The Continuity of Life in African Religion with Reference to Marriage and Death among the Zulu People
The root of the arrangement is the belief that marriage is an arrangement for the continuity of life. Where the life of the family or clan cannot be continued due to infertility or death, the family of the wife can substitute a female relative to bear children for the husband on behalf of the wife.

References

African culture Types of marriage African society {{marriage-stub

Cultural roots

See also

References