Location Western Africa Bordering the Gulf of Guinea Between Benin and Cameroon

NigeriaNigeria

Nigeria Happiest Country in the World According to the 1999-2001 World Values

Survey

Family-life and culture are more important than material wealth

Nigerian Marriage Introduction to Nigerian Marriage

Introduction to Parents/Engagement Party

Traditional Marriage

Life after Marriage

Introduction to Nigerian Marriage Types

Civil marriage

Religious marriage Christian: white wedding Muslim: polygamy acceptable

Traditional marriage Stages

Stages of Traditional Marriage Dating and Courtship

Western dating and courtship not common Customs and norms

Family involvement Arranged marriages Teenage women marrying older men

Introduction to parents/engagement party The “wooing” process

Traditional Marriage Customs varies from group to group Dancing and music are common

Introduction to Parents/Engagement Party Introduction

Confirmation from daughter

Bride price

Entertainment

Costume

Introduction A ceremony that introduces the bride’s family to the groom’s family

Takes place a few days before wedding

Confirmation from the daughter The bride gives her decision to accept or

decline marriage

Bride price Presented to bride’s family after

confirmation

Introduction to Parents/Engagement Party (contd.) Entertainment

The families come together & become

formally acquainted The groom’s family presents gifts to the bride’s

family Assorted foods & drinks

Costume

Traditional Marriage Introduction of the Costume

Stages/Significance of Ceremony

Entertainment

The Search

Presentation of the Bride & Groom—1st dance

Marriage Blessing by Parents

Gifts

Introduction of the Costume Gele- a popular and indispensable headdress,

an item of Nigerian identity Glamorous Colorful Big

Tying can be very tricky & frustrating

If improperly tied, Gele can make a day miserable No mistakes, must have the best style for Traditional Wedding Tied a day or two in advanced

Who ties the Gele? Friend or Family member Local Market for a fee

“Proud is the Head that Carries the Gele”

Stages & Significance of the Traditional Marriage Ceremony Significance

Celebrated and observed before the arrival of the Europeans Observed in the village setting, so that all the members can

celebrate with the couple and their respective families Stages

No dating, but an investigation The “knocking of the door” The “asking”

Liquor to “open the mouth” of the soon-to-be father-in-law Groom’s family leaves with a wedding list, including the bride price Wedding date set

Before the wedding All items on the wedding list should be fulfilled

On the wedding day “Blocked” by teenage boys “Blocked” by women of village Groom arrives at bride’s house

Entertainment Food & drinks

Offered to groom’s family & friends, upon arrival

Also, offered to the entire audience Comedian/MC and dancers

Keep crowd alive Dancers showcased to potential suitors

The Search After refreshments The bride’s family asks, “Why is the

groom’s family there?” The bride’s family brings out different

women

Presentation of the Bride & Groom—the 1st dance The bride is found The bride and groom accepts and

drink They dance The audience sprays them with money

Marriage Blessing by Parents Both the bride and groom’s parents bless

marriage by drinking all of the wine that was given to them by the couple

Gifts The new couple are presented with gifts They dance together again

Nigerian Traditional Marriage Video http

://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJb_-WTAKDY

Life after Marriage Children

Work

Polygamy

Divorce

Children Having many children is fashionable & is a status symbol Most families consist of 10 or more children Female Children

Socialized to serve & be subordinate to males (patriarchal authority)

Polygamy Women dependent upon each other

Relationships without the emotional elements

Work Females

Take care of children and home (housewives) Mostly farmers & traders Most females work now, before 80% stayed

home

Work (contd.) Males

Providers

Divorce Not common Women are condemned

Conclusion Diffusion model

Adopt Nigerian practices to better our society Emphasize:

Family Culture Sharing Unity

Over material wealth

Sources http://www.anyiams.com/marriage_customs.htm http://www.everyculture.com/Ma-Ni/Nigeria.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/

3157570.stm http://www.topweddinglinks.com/

ethnicweddings/nigerian.html http://village.africanpath.com/profiles/blog/show?

id=1555598%3ABlogPost%3A46450