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TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE IN HAUSALAND - THE PROCESS AND RITES

The Hausa are one of the most congested ethnic groups in Africa. They are heterogeneous in nature but culturally homogeneous people. They reside mostly in the Northern part of the country known to them as ''Arewa'' which is translated as Northern Nigeria. They are primarily Muslims while few are Christians. Although a great number of people in this region speak the Hausa language, different tribes among them have their own unique dialects.
The Hausa traditional marriage is not as time consuming or expensive like the Yoruba and Igbo traditional marriage rites. Unlike in other culture where you are allowed some kind of freedom with the opposite sex, a Hausa man and woman don't have such freedom and the only thing that will bring about sexual contact between them is marriage.


The Na Gani Ina is the first stage where the groom with his male friends and kinsmen visit the bride's family house to make their intention known. They also go along with gifts. The acceptance of these gifts implies that the proposal has been accepted by the bride's family.  After that the groom will be allowed to see his future bride briefly but any form of physical contact, romance or courting before marriage is discouraged. After knowing each other, the bride has the right to call off the wedding plans if she is not satisfied with the man's behaviors. If she wants the man, she will inform her parents.
After the approval of the groom by the bride, the bride's parents will have to convey the good news to the parents of the groom which is called Gaisuwa. The process of setting the wedding date follows and it's known as Sarana. The couple will be engaged during this stage. The bride price is always a low amount because it is believed that the low amount of the bride price attracts greater reward from Allah [the Arabic word for God]. The bride price starts from a minimum amount known as
  ''Rubu Dinar'' in Hausa, an Arabic word meaning quarter kilogram of gold piece, to the highest amount the groom can afford.
Payment of the dowry is known as Sadaki. 


The next stage is the Sarana which is fixing a date for the wedding ceremony. The wedding day is called Fatihah and it is the joining of the two families. On this day, the bride remains indoor together with her friends and older women while she is being decorated with jewelries, perfume and henna also known as Lalei.  This is known as Kunshi which is similar to bridal shower.
The males remain outside as the Sadaki [bride price] is being paid and subsequently, the Imam [Islamic leader] pronounces them husband and wife.


The Walimah process follows which is known as the reception. Here, the bride will be brought out and she will be admonished by the old and married women, after which she will be escorted to her husband's house. As part of Hausa tradition, it is the duty of the husband to provide a house for the couple to live in, while the furnishing of the house is the full responsibility of the bride's family.
The newly wedded bride is known as Amarya and the groom as Ango.

This is the Hausa marriage system.


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