2nd Place winner
Nyumba Nthobu – The Vanishing Tradition of Women-to-Women Marriages in Rural Tanzania
DESCRIPTION
Nyumba Nthobu – The Vanishing Tradition of Women-to-Women Marriages in Rural TanzaniaIn the remote villages of Tanzania’s Mara region, near the shores of Lake Victoria, an ancient yet little-known tradition is quietly fading away. Nyumba Nthobu—literally translated as "House Without a Man"—is a unique form of arranged marriage between women. This practice, once widely accepted, was a way for infertile or widowed women to ensure the continuity of their lineage.
In these unions, an older, infertile woman "buys" a younger, fertile bride—often through the exchange of cattle—and takes on the social role of a husband. The younger wife bears children through relationships with men outside the household, but these men forfeit any paternal rights. Despite the absence of romantic or physical relationships between the women, the older partner assumes full parental authority over the offspring.
While this system was traditionally a means of survival and inheritance, today it is increasingly scrutinized. Some women embrace the security and social standing it provides, while others struggle under its constraints. I have met families where Nyumba Nthobu marriages have persisted for generations, as well as women who have fled abusive relationships within the practice. In rare cases, I have also encountered women who remain together, content with their union.
Through this project, I aim to document the lives of these women—their struggles, their resilience, and the shifting cultural landscape that is challenging a long-standing tradition.
In this picture: Chausiku with her son in the bedroom. Kitarmanka, Butijama district, Tanzania. Chausiku is married with a woman (husmand) since 2013.
AUTHOR
Stefano Stranges is an Italian independent photographer and photojournalist.His shots capture the harsh realities that plague contemporary society, from exploitation to civil wars, from disasters caused by natural catastrophes to issues related to climate change.
Through his photographs, he has often told the story of how humans, despite various adversities, always find the strength to create a home—even in the absence of walls.
He has documented the exploitation linked to the production of technological tools, from Congolese miners extracting coltan to the vast e-waste landfill in Ghana, in a reportage that earned him multiple international awards.
This work was also the subject of a talk he gave at the TEDx event in the city of Rovigo in 2019.
He has covered the issue of gender-based infanticide in southern India and environmental problems in northern Zimbabwe through a long-term collaboration with the NGO Terre des Hommes.
His reportages have been published in numerous magazines, including Rolling Stone, Il Reportage, Africa, Millennium del Fatto Quotidiano, Jesus Magazine, Il Manifesto, La Stampa, Il Venerdì di Repubblica, Left Magazine, Famiglia Cristiana, and Inside Over.
He is the author of the book "Quell'anno in cui...", which compiles his reportage on a year of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was published in 2021 by Prinp Editoria d'arte in a numbered edition of 200 copies.
His work has been exhibited in various solo and group exhibitions across Italy and Europe.
