odumchi:
You're being ignorant on this issue. No "village chief" will instruct you to do anything. If you want to marry an Igbo girl, then the marital traditions of her community must be respected and followed.

There is no Igbo man on this earth that would hand away his daughter to a man without undergoing the proper traditional marriage procedures.

When in Rome do as the Romans do; when in the Igbo country, do as the Igbo do. You can't come to Igboland and turn Igbo customs and traditions upside down because you don't like it.

Ileke-IdI:


Not 5 mil in cash, but 5 mil in what is required and some cash amounts are also required, no?

bittyend:

I'm not turning 'Igbo customs and traditions upside down' - I'm just advocating for a change that would make women have more self-respect, and enable the groom to 'respect' the bride. If we want to advocate for our culture(s) to be in its pure form - then we've to go back to the days when yam, kolanut, and farm products were used for bride price, not the millions of naira they're ripping people off nowadays... I definitely would pay with yam, palm oil, and kolanuts - since that was the REAL BRIDE PRICE when our ancestors were on this planet!!! The gods love yam, palm oil, palm wine, kolanut etc - not money!

The culture itself has been manipulated by greedy people - and it's either we take it back to the way our ancestors did their thing - or do away with it, period..

Let's take it back to our ancestors!!

odumchi:

It depends on the type of ceremony that you want to do. If you want a high-end ceremony, then it will be expensive. If you want a quiet ceremony, it will be low.

The items that are required for he actual marriage ceremony are at the discretion of the male leaders of the extended family. The list is composed with the financial capability of the suitor in mind.

Ekukemania: I will disown any relative that marries a yoruba.

So keep off this thread. Let the Igbo's discuss their own issue.

Acidosis: someone should move this to the joke section. govt fixing a bride price? ? ? is this a joke or . .something?

Kobojunkie:

um . . . wrong. Tradition is OPTIONAL and implemented whenever we choose to. That is how many of those who are able to switch traditions do so. It is not mandatory and does not rule your life or anyones.

And what you said about Ibo men handing over their daughters, that is a lie. I know of many women who have safely wed in various countries without needing to go through the traditional wiggle.

Acidosis: someone should move this to the joke section. govt fixing a bride price? ? ? is this a joke or . .something?

odumchi:
Yams, kola nuts, and palm oil were never used as bride price payments. Bride prices were always in currency (whether cowries or manilas).

Those things that you listed are items that are required for the traditional marriage ceremony itself.

However, like I said earlier, I support he reduction of ridiculously high dowries.

asha 80: haha too much lagos and ohio is affecting you.however like i said earlier it is the women from the affected places to liberate themselves

Bandy10: This is funny.I think there are more pressing things to be done than fixing pride price.One of them is the Osu caste system.Every right thinking people should see how this madness should be stopped. Imo house of rep should expend their energy on something important than fixing of pride price

Ekwy Omalicha: @ bittyend why r you sweating over bride price , pls cut your coat according to your size.

Kobojunkie:

um . . . wrong. Tradition is OPTIONAL and implemented whenever we choose to. That is how many of those who are able to switch traditions do so. It is not mandatory and does not rule your life or anyones.

And what you said about Ibo men handing over their daughters, that is a lie. I know of many women who have safely wed in various countries without needing to go through the traditional wiggle.

Ekwy Omalicha: @ bittyend why r you sweating over bride price , pls cut your coat according to your size.

Ileke-IdI:


So you're saying the ability to pay bride price guarantees a prosperous future or a sustainable marriage?

This is what I got from your previous statement about making sure the man is financially secure.

I've yet to meet one person that can guarantee what tomorrow will bring. High unnecessary bride prices only increases the likelihood of a "Bought-Sold" relationship in such marriage.

Ileke-IdI:


From what I've been seeing on them list, ceremony has nothing to do with it. It's basically a list of what each people concerned will be given.

But correct me if I'm wrong. Post 3 lists from your community make we see am.

odumchi:

"um . . . wrong. Tradition is OPTIONAL and implemented whenever we choose to"

That's what you think; it's pure Western ideology. Not everyone thinks like this.

As for those Igbo women, that's exactly why they're living abroad and not in their communities. Such a thing is considered an abomination. However, that's what happens when the West teaches people that European wedding ceremonies are superior to African ones.

Oh well. Hooray for "liberated thinking".

bittyend:

Our ancestors started using cowries and manilas in the 18th/19th century - and people got married way before that. Our culture(s) didn't start with arrival of the whiteman - we've been on this planet for more than 50,000years. So, we need to go back to our roots (950A.D is alright lol), and stop this greedy form of capitalism, we have polluted our culture(s) with..

TBH, modern day 'traditional marriage' is a sham and display of wealth (either borrowed or owned).. I don't know why we can't allow people to get married in peace without all the extras... In today's world, people need to be paid to get married - not sucking them dry because they want to get married...

ACM10:

Ekwy where have u been to? I miss u. Welcome back.

bright007: Here is an example of å recent list given to å guy who wants to marry from d east..

(1)Brief case(gold plated)
(2)Engagement bible(customised)
(3)Engagement ring(worth $2000)
(4)Å set of jewellery(worth $5000)
(5)Italian shoes(36 pairs)
(6)Toyota Corolla(2010 model)
(7)Apple laptop (4)
(Å set of living room furniture(worth $12000)
(9)Red wine (35 cartons)
(10)London wax print (35 pieces)
(11)Iphone(4) or blackberry(
(12)Plasma tv (62 inches)
(13)Mother-in-law's money=$5000
(14)Father-in-law's money=$
4500
(15)Brother-in-law's money=$3500.
***when the guy saw d list......

The guy fainted...

BlackPikiN: Imo State Parliament To Fix A Common Bride Price For All Indigenes

Citing the increase in the number of the unmarried youths in their communities, the Traditional Parliament in Nigeria’s eastern state of Imo, Owerri, passed its first resolution on the harmonization of bride price in all communities in the state.

The motion, entitled, “Motion on the Harmonization of the Marriage Institution in Imo”, was moved by Eze Duru Okwudor and Eze Obi II of Okwudor in Njaba Local Government Area alongside other traditional rulers.

Okwudor identified high pride price and difficulties involved in the process of traditional marriage as some of the reasons for a change in the system.

He noted that the behaviour of some parents and community leaders on the issue of bride price during marriage was a source of worry to young adults.

“What obtains in the marriage institution today leaves much to be desired. It is as if the parents want to sell their daughters. If this is allowed to continue it will translate into a big problem to our youths who want to marry,” he said.

Okwudor, therefore, listed the process by which marriage would be made less cumbersome and cheaper to both the family of the would-be bride and the bridegroom. The motion was seconded by Eze Ekperechukwu of Obowo.

However, Eze Ekwueme Ekwueme, the Ochia of Ohaji Ebgema, opposed the motion and urged the parliament to allow communities to decide on the bride price.

He said it would be out of place for the traditional rulers to decide for parents, who had spent much in training their daughters, on how much to collect for bride price.

Another motion tabled before the parliament was the motion on “The Presentation and Sharing of Kola nuts in Imo.”

The motion was introduced by Eze Okwara Echi from Nkwere Local Government Area and supported by three other traditional rulers.

Then the issue of speaking of Igbo Language compulsory in the state schools was raised.

Reacting, the Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Samuel Ohiri, noted that the motion on kola nuts would be deliberated upon by a committee that would be formed by the parliament while that on the speaking of Igbo Language would be reintroduced.

The highpoint of the parliament sitting was the formalization and conferment of the title of Owelle Gburugburu of Igbo land (Traditional Prime Minister of NdiIgbo) on Gov. Rochas Okorocha.

The motion for the conferment of the title was moved by Eze Obiefula, Ezedibia of Nekede, and seconded by Eze Onwuchiribeya Mmerenni of Umudibia in Owerri West Local Government Area.

They noted that the governor deserved the title considering his leadership qualities and achievements in the state in his one year in office.

Responding, the Governor thanked the traditional rulers for the award, saying that the title signified “a big journey that has just started.”

He pledged his unalloyed support to the success of the traditional parliament.



http://dailypost.com.ng/2012/08/17/imo-state-parliament-fix-common-bride-price-indigenes/

bright007: Here is an example of å recent list given to å guy who wants to marry from d east..

(1)Brief case(gold plated)
(2)Engagement bible(customised)
(3)Engagement ring(worth $2000)
(4)Å set of jewellery(worth $5000)
(5)Italian shoes(36 pairs)
(6)Toyota Corolla(2010 model)
(7)Apple laptop (4)
(Å set of living room furniture(worth $12000)
(9)Red wine (35 cartons)
(10)London wax print (35 pieces)
(11)Iphone(4) or blackberry(
(12)Plasma tv (62 inches)
(13)Mother-in-law's money=$5000
(14)Father-in-law's money=$
4500
(15)Brother-in-law's money=$3500.
***when the guy saw d list......






The guy fainted...

Kobojunkie:

I know what I have told you seems to go against what you have chosen to believe, but unfortunately dear, it is true. Tradition is optional and implemented whenever we chose to. And this has absolutely nothing to do with the west. I grew up watching so called traditionalists change their take on it year after and wondered if I was seeing things. One thing is for sure, it is fluid, and so changes with the times as we all see today that it is again about to.

I never said anything of the Ibo women living abroad. Please open your eyes. There are more and more Nigerians who are breaking away from the mentality you cling to there. They live amongst you right there in Nigeria. It has nothing to do with liberated thinking but more to do with realizing that tradition is not meant to enslave but there for those who choose to have it.

Reading your post, I cannot help but think you have this SACRED place you have built for tradition there in your mind. That is great and all but don't you SEE that not all persons hold that view you do?

Kobojunkie:

It has nothing to do with Lagos/Ohio. If you have something against any specific thing I said. Address it.

On Women liberating themselves, are you being serious? So it is OK for the leaders to impose a price on them, but when it comes to fighting issues that come up as a result, the women are on their own? Really?

odumchi:

I've realized that this whole argument is just based on your own personal convictions. It's people that have an inferiority complex that say such things.

I don't know why indigenous African ceremonies are now considered "optional" (to some) but European ones are a must.

Chai, bekee emeela anyi ihe. Europeans have done Africa dirty.

You're right. I have built a sacred place in my mind for my culture/tradition because it is what defines me.

mbulela: with all his fraudulent tendencies, Ohakim is laughing his heart out.
Imo State are on a very long thing.

asha 80: look women of these days have to be one on the forefronet.like i said earlier i had cousins who used to make mouth about such things like 'i am not cheap' or like ' some other guy paid the bride price did so so why can't you' anthem.well time for those who are not yet married to counter thios rubbish.