DYNAMICS OF CONJUGAL REGULATION AND THE RECONFIGURATION OF CUSTOMARY NORMS IN CONTEMPORARY MATRIMONIAL PRACTICES

An Analysis Based on Case Studies in the Municipality of Yopougon (Côte d’Ivoire)

Abstract

This study explores the institution of marriage through the configuration of customary norms within matrimonial practices, in a context shaped by urbanization and modernity. It seeks to understand the ways in which traditional customs persist and adapt in contemporary marriage rituals. Adopting a methodological approach that combines qualitative, descriptive, and interpretative analyses, the study relies on a sampling strategy guided by the principle of empirical saturation. The findings reveal, on the one hand, a superimposition of social logics and state imperatives, leading to a recomposition of prevailing matrimonial norms. Customary marriage is perceived, in the collective consciousness, as a foundational matrix for the social legitimization of the couple, whereas civil marriage is regarded as a legal mechanism ensuring symbolic and material security. On the other hand, the pluralistic recognition of matrimonial practices emerges as a strategic proposition for inclusive social transformation. Ultimately, the persistence of adaptive customary forms within marriage rituals is driven by social, economic, legal, and religious factors, and contributes to the strengthening of social cohesion.