Types of Marriage Ceremonies in Nigeria, Their Processes and Insinuations

This week we bring to you the various types of marriages and wedding ceremonies in Nigeria and we will answer some questions that arise when planning a wedding in Nigeria as regard what type of ceremonies to have, their insinuations and what's necessary and what's optional.

Broadly speaking, there are two types of marriages that is legally recognized in Nigeria.

• The customary marriage
• The Civil/statutory marriage

Nigeria Customary marriage

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This is where a marriage is done based on the customary law of Nigeria. According to the customary law in Nigeria the payment of the bride price is an essential ingredient of a valid customary law marriage.

What is a bride price?

…any gift or payment, in money, natural produce, brass rods, cowries or in any other kind of property whatsoever, given to the parent or guardian of a female person with the motive of a marriage of that person.

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Payment of bride price is backed by the law in order to have a valid marriage, nonetheless it doesn’t insist that the payment must be completed before the marriage can go on. But part payment has to be made before a valid marriage can take place.

It is a common practice for some states and communities that the payment is bride price is in different stages and the man can do one stage and request to come back at an agreed time or when he can come back to complete the payment of the bride price. Then the woman will be considered married will and they are allowed to start living as husband and wife.

In most states and communities in Nigeria, the bride price is payable to the father. In the absence of the father it is payable to the male head of his immediate family. In the absence of a male head, it is payable to a guardian.

photo credit: weddingphotography

The customary marriage is referred to as traditional marriage. The Yorubas call it the engagement

The procedure to complete the traditional marriage varies from state to state. Nevertheless the main ceremonies include:

·        The introduction

·        The marriage

Commonly in Nigeria, the procedure that starts a traditional marriage is when after a man asks a woman to marry him and she says yes, the man goes to her family seek their consent to marry their daughter. Typically this isn’t the Introduction ceremony. It is called “first door knocking”. This is when the individual (man) seek the father and mother’s consent. And the man doesn’t have to go with more than few persons. The bride may have to ask her parents who and what are the things he need to bring along for the first door knocking. The groom should ask if there are certain elders in the family he is required to personally seek consent from too.

After the first door knocking, then the Introduction which is the formal meeting of both families is scheduled. The family of the bride bares the expenses of cooking to welcome their guests (the groom’s family).

Is the Introduction ceremony compulsory?

Yes. It is compulsory because of the following reasons :

·      There both families are introduced, also many of the family members will be meeting for the first time. This is necessary to allow them to get to know the type of people they are marrying their daughter off to.

·        

         The bridal price is discussed and a bridal list is issued.

·     In some cases, wedding dates are being discussed during the Introduction because that is the only ceremony before the marriage where both family where both immediate and some extended family members will be available all in one place to decide on a time that is convenient for the family to have the marriage.

Although the Introduction is compulsory, but how big you want it to be is a personal decision. Based on tradition it is supposed to be a meeting strictly for the family members, immediate and some extended. But some en up turning it into a party of its own. Some will do as much as erecting canopies for guests that are not members of the family, and a lot of cooking done. But for a couple that want to save on wedding cost, they can keep it traditional and make it strictly a family affair and an indoor ceremony…

The Traditional Marriage

A proper traditional ceremony is where the groom brings all that he has been requested to bring in the bridal list that was given to him. And the elders of the bride’s family conduct the ceremony and accept the bride price. After which there is a lot or merriment.

The traditional marriage is compulsory.

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The paying of the bride price to marry a woman is the oldest ceremony for having a valid marriage. In Nigeria and as a Nigerian, without it, the society doesn't consider you married even if you go to court to register your marriage and get a marriage certificate.

The merriment is not what makes the marriage. But the payment of the bride price is what makes a valid marriage. In a nutshell, the Traditional marriage cannot be exempted. And if the couples involved are willing to minimize their expenses. The bridal list of can be adjusted and negotiated on the day of introduction, the bride can talk to her parents ahead of time to ensure the elders don’t make needless demand from her husband to-be.

Nigerian Civil marriage

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The civil marriage which is popularly called the court wedding in Nigeria.

This is the process where the couple registers their marriage under the Marriage Act of Nigeria. and a marriage certificate is issued to the couple.

There are quite numbers of registry across the entire states in Nigeria.

The court marriage offers security to the woman and her unborn children, she is recognized as legally married to her husband.

The court marriage is usually conducted within the shortest period of time, whereby two witnesses are required, one for the bride and one the groom.

Other Marriage Ceremonies

Religious marriage (white wedding)

This type of marriage ceremony is conducted in order to bless the marriage, often held at churches and holy places. It also prepares the couple for the journey ahead and remind them of the importance of the commitments they are about to make. Most churches conduct counselling sessions for the couple.

The religious marriage can be exempted. Some couples don’t do it.

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Before a religious marriage can be considered legal, it must be licensed by the state. For instance, any church that wants to conduct wedding will be required get approval from the state. With that in place, couples having religious wedding doesn’t need to go to the court to register and collect a marriage certificate since it can be obtained through the church.

So there you have it, the various types of marriage ceremonies in Nigeria and their process.
Our next edition will feature marriages from different tribes in Nigeria. *wink*

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