This list Of Traditional Marriage Requirements In Kogi is always followed to the later in almost every marriages in the region. The people of Kogi is exceptionally simple and have some much attachments to their marriage more than every other states or tribes in Nigeria.
This ethno-linguistic group of people in Nigeria simply blew my mind away with their wonderful traditional marriage rites. In all aspects of Kogi people’s lifestyle that one touches on, it is usually hard and uneasy to finish commenting in it due to how interesting and simple it is.
Kogi State, made up of Ebira or Igbirra people are highly accommodating and blessed with land that is highly rich for agriculture and is viable in all types of business but that is not where our attention is focused for today.
The Igbirra Traditional Marriage custom is so simple and full of colors. Unlike other states’ customs on marriage, when a Kogi man sees a lady of his choice, his duty stops at making his intention known to the girl and if she agrees to his proposal, it then becomes the duty of the groom’s parents to take it up from there.
SEE ALSO: List Of Traditional Marriage Requirements In Igboland
According to Ebira traditions, a man never walks to his in-laws to inform them of his interest in their daughter; instead his parents and mostly elderly women from his family do this.
They will go to the girl’s parents to introduce themselves and the reasons for coming. It is also their duty to conduct a thorough investigations on the lady’s family backgrounds such as her upbringing, family history, how well behaved she is and every other necessary details about the girl and her family.
What about the man’s own family background information? Well your guess is as good as mine. The lady’s family also conducts their own investigations to unravel any history of epileptic, terminal diseases, madness or criminality in the man’s lineage. All these they do with a view to see if the union would work or not because an average households in Kogi detests any family with bad reputation in their society irrespective of how rich they may be.
After they certify that the young man is ok and with good family history to back their findings, they would then give him the freedom of visiting the family of the prospective wife which affords them more opportunity to confirm their previous investigations and getting to know the suitor better.
SEE ALSO: List Of Traditional Marriage Requirements In Tiv Benue
A date is usually chosen after some time for the formal introduction of both families as a way of bringing to open what has been going on in secret. This is called in Kogi language “Ise Ewere”, during this initial introduction, some gift are usually giving to the bride’s family. A suitor is even allowed the freedom of presenting all the necessary ‘gifts’ as it is usually called because Kogi people shy away from addressing it as list in a bid not to make it sound mandatory.
The Gifts As Part Of Traditional Marriage Requirements In Kogi
1. Forty two tubers of yam
2. Hot drinks, Assorted wines and Minerals
3. Kola nuts
4. Walking stick for the father
5. Dried fish or bush meat
6. 10 liters of palm oil
7. Groundnut oil
8. Palm oil
9. A bag of salt
10. Clothing materials in some boxes
11. Jewelries and Adornment for the lady
12. Cash for the clan members and family elders
13. Though optional, a groom may decide to present two wrappers to his wife to be
Then after this comes the day of general introduction which the groom may not necessarily attend because his family members are usually handy to do anything on his behalf.
The bride’s family on their own entertains the groom’s family with foods and drinks in an occasion which affords them the fine opportunities of introducing both families properly.
SEE ALSO: List Of Traditional Marriage Requirements In Yoruba
Meanwhile, the gifts that the groom provided are shared among the neighbors and the extended relations to solicit for their prayers and to inform them that the lady is now betrothed to a man of her choice.
The bride price of a Kogi lady is usually agreed by the parents of the girl and it depends to a greater extent, on the financial status of the man. There are other prices here and there to be paid after the initial bride price and they includes the followings:
- “OTANUVOGEI” which literally means, ‘Joining hands together’
- “OZEMEIYI” which means ‘I am attracted to her’
- “IDOZA” stands for the farming price, which the groom pays in place of physically going to work in the farm for his father in-law as in the olden days.
When the day of the traditional marriage arrives, you would see women from the man’s family each carrying tubers of yams on their heads in a dancing procession to the bride’s home. The occasion is always said to kicks off as soon as the women arrive the bride’s home.
During the occasion, a religious leader is usually called to offer prayers along with both parents for the success of the union after which the traditionally rich and colorful occasion would be brought to an end and the new wife’s friends with other women escort the lady to her husband’s home with her belongings.
Chris says
This is interesting and quite educating. You only talked about the Ebira people, while living out one of the main /major tribe in kogi like the IGALA, kabba and bassa people.. Because I know for a fact that not all that applies to the ebiras, goes for the igalas.
Chibueze says
This is so interesting! Cultures of various ethnic groups in Nigeria seems the same and are usually filled with some funy rites of non essentials and some symbolic meanings that have no modern day applications. Amaechi you are right for adding that the readers of this work will be picking enough points from Kogi marriage traditions and would be silently replacing theirs with them because of how practical and useful Kogi traditions are. Good points!