With 250 ethnic groups, Nigeria can be easily be referred to as a culturally rich country with different ethnic backgrounds and culturally resplendent practices to admire. Marriage traditions is one of such culturally resplendent practices and Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 5 interesting Nigerian marriage traditions to know.

The Fulani Sharo Tradition

In what is referred to as an ‘act of bravery’ by the groom before he marries his bride, the potential groom is flogged publicly just before the nuptial and is expected not to wince, cry or show he is in pain. It is believed that this process will help prove the worth of the potential groom in terms of strength, endurance and resilience because the nomadic Fulani are one group of people known for their hard work, courage and discipline. The tradition is more or less a test of the strength of the groom, and any groom who cannot endure the required number of strokes losses out of the marriage race.

The Virginity Test

This is an ancient marriage tradition that has over time become a controversial tradition hotly debated by two schools of thoughts. One school of thought supports it and believes that a female’s pride is in having her hymen intact, and the other school of thought considers it a crude practice that is a relic of a lost age in these modern times. The practice is typically carried out after the wedding ceremony, when the groom is expected to consummate the marriage with his bride. The family of the groom waits outside, at the entrance of the room, for the groom to come out with a blood stained bed-sheet as a confirmation that he married a virgin. If the bride fails the test, a euphemistic message to that effect is sent to the bride’s family, and this spells doom for the woman because she will have to live with the shame of defiling herself before marriage.

Igbo Marriage Tradition of Fund Solicitation

This is one interesting marriage tradition that has been hotly debated over time and has prevented a number of eligible suitors from marrying their love interests. The custom is a peculiar and largely expensive one that involves presenting a list of gift items, sometimes alongside cash, before marriage to the prospective bride can take place. The list gets more expensive if the prospective bride is a bachelor degree holder, and increases significantly if she has acquired a masters or doctorate degree. Many a times, this fund solicitation has led to the collapse of courtships after the man realizes he cannot meet up with the challenging requirements for marriage.

Custom of Not Marrying Until the Eldest is Married

This is mainly synonymous with the Igbo custom, although it is currently not as widely practiced as it was in the past. It is based on the belief that marriage should follow in order of seniority. This tended to cause a lot of fighting and controversy when the younger sibling will be ripe and ready for marriage with a prospective bride or potential suitor, but will have to wait for the older sibling to marry first. Many men and women who found themselves in such situations, decided to postpone the idea of marriage till their elders tied the knot or, if they couldn’t wait, go ahead with the marriage without the blessings of their family. In the case where it was the lady that was affected, some men would prefer to leave the lady and marry outside such tribes if they couldn’t wait for the lady’s elder sister(s) to get married first.

The Traditional Wedding Act of Prostrating

This is a Yoruba traditional wedding act that is practiced even in modern times. Respect is highly regarded in the Yoruba kingdom and this goes out to every man intending to marry a Yoruba girl. The groom and his friends will have to prostrate to the bride’s family, regardless of what they are wearing – be it imported lace or even gold; there is simply no escaping the tradition. Usually, after the prayers are said, the groom dances in with some of his friends and prostrates before the bride’s family.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/5-interesting-nigerian-marriage-traditions/

You didnt mention d greatest ritual of all


Being responsible for all bride's siblings.

If you wanna die quick, Marry d first born

FTC back-to-back... Shout-out to all brothers

Nigeria is indeed diverse and blessed with good people only few miscreants want to tarnish our image

The Igbo fund solicitation tradition is a myth. It is not a tradition. I don't know any Igbo village that ranks a Woman's bride price by academic qualification. You can't even name a tribe that does it.

I am not saying it has not happened before or doesn't happen, by it isn't a tradition of ours. Some greedy families may make such a statement during the bride price negotitiations as a way of getting the In-laws to increase what they are offering but that's it. And if anything, many Igbo villages actually have a standard list for traditional marriage in their village approved by the King of that village and it isn't usually that high.

Also the flogging tradition in the north is outdated now and doesn't happen anymore.

Nigerian marriages sha. but OP, you shouldn't have generalized. And I think most of these traditions have been modified to reflect modern standards.

Some Igbo weddings are expensive yes, but have you seen/heard of Bonny, Okrika, Opobo or the Iya marriage rites of the Kalabari people all in Rivers State? Try them and see.

One question (Fulani marriage), "was Buhari or Indimi flogged before getting married?"

V

ok

What of the bride price ?
Imo people wanted to kill me

Excuse me Op,what do you mean by "fund solicitation"??
It is called bride price and so many other cultures practice It,you guys just enjoy painting Igbo people and cultures in a bad light with any little opportunity you have.
Bride price payment depends on the particular town or village where the bride is from,while some charge as low as #100 others may be on the high side.There'a no fixed or general Bride price amount all over Igbo land.
In the North,some cultures use boxes of gold and expensive ornaments as bride price (depending on the status of the brides family) in place of money which is far more expensive than that of Igbo people.
Educate yourself before talking about other people's culture and spreading false information.

Ok

Interestingly interesting!

Bossjosh:
Nigeria marriages sha

wetin do am?

daewoorazer:
You didnt mention d greatest ritual of all


Being responsible for all bride's siblings.

If you wanna die quick, Marry d first born

Bro which network u dey use Na 12.5 g

The Association of Aso Ebi
Aso Ebi for 200K

I will soon get married

I dey come

Dear Lord, Pls bring & lead me to my soulmate. The one I will call my OWN.

OMG. I wish to have this kind of wedding

Awaiting my time, watch out!!!, can't wait to postrate in fact I want to dobalee

Jesu!!...flogging kee?

Marriage and spending money are like
Where is that zuma picture

Ahmed0336:
wetin do am?

Don't mind the OP that generalized everything

hmm.. Am here to read coments

principalgee:
Awaiting my time, watch out!!!, can't wait to postrate in fact I want to dobalee

Idobale for the omo ile, baba iyawo etc

WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS 'MARRIAGE IN MARRIAGE OUT

You barely hear about ethnicity in Europe
Why do all our discuss are based on Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Ijaw and so on.

Gbese ree ooo..... o nyi bi taya





............... Lil keshi (2015)

This thread would end up being a thread discussed about igbos watch and see

So its no longer bride price now but fund solicitation?

Besides

Tell us the part of Igbo land that has the tradition of increasing the brideprice because of academic qualifications


Don't just come to the internet and say whatever

First carry out your research properly!