TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE IN IGBOLAND - THE PROCESS AND RITES

Do you have this beautiful partner that you can't imagine living without? Well, to prove you value her that much, you would need to do the right thing by legally marrying her. Hence, following the traditional rites according to where she's from. Today, am sharing highlights on how it's done in Igboland.

The Igbo also known as Ibos are from the eastern part of Nigeria. A marriage ceremony is an affair between the bride and groom, but in Igboland, the parents of both the bride and groom, their families and towns people all play a vital role in the wedding ceremony. In the days of old, traditional marriages used to be arranged by the parents of the bride and groom but now women and men are free to choose whoever they want to get married to but with parental consent.

A wedding is called ''Igba Nkwu'' in Igbo language. It is an affair that joins two families and villages together and not only the bride and groom.

After the man and woman have agreed to be married, that's usually after dating and knowing each other. The next simple steps are meant to take place before a marriage is perfected in Igboland.

First and foremost, the groom makes his intention of getting married known to his parents. His parents and some family members visits the lady parent's house to make their intention known to the bride's parents. After the first visit, both family would carryout a background check before they make vivid propositions. In some villages, the parents of the lady would ask for some time to speak with their daughter before further arrangements.

Furthermore, the family of the man comes again to the bride's family who has accepted the offer of marriage, then lists out the bride's dowry and other items that must be presented for the wedding to take place. On the second visit, the groom and his family come with gifts such as palm wine, dry gin, kola nuts and soft drinks. After the acceptance of the bride; if she is willing to marry the man in question, a date for the wedding ceremony will be instated but that's after the bridal items list are submitted and accepted.

BRIDAL ITEMS LIST

Bottle of Gin

Kegs of Palm Wine

Bride Price {Ika Akalika}

Kolanut

A Goat or Chickens

Bags of Rice

Tubers of Yam

Soft Drinks

Packs of Stock Fish

Bales of George/Hollandis Wrappers 

Jewelries

On the wedding day, friends and families from other places come to attend the occasion. The groom with his family visits the bride's family house along with the items he was asked to bring. The bride's family on the other hand, awaits their arrival while cooking various traditional dishes for their visitors.

Subsequently, the bride is then given a gourd containing palm wine to be handed to her intended husband seated amid the crowd. As she passes by searching for her husband, men beckon her to bring the palm wine by stretching out their hand, but she refutes (it's a culture thing) and hands it over to her husband; kneeling down. In some other villages, the bride may be required to sell some items among the crowd and visitors to show how industrious and helpful she would be to her husband. That's after the palm wine giving decorum. Afterwards the parents and elders pray for the new couple for the success of their union.

Then the bride follows the groom's family to their house signifying a change of home. In some places, Idu Uno is practiced; where the bride's family visits the bride's new home some days after with some items such as boxes, bed sheets, bed, pillowcases, clothes, cooking utensils, plates and other things newly married couples need to start a life and family. This is done usually to ease the financial burden on the new married couple being that they have spent enough. Marriage in Igboland can be a long and expensive commitment but usually worth it.

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To the newly weds, CONGRATS!


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