Marriage Rites Of The Ebira Tribe Of Nigeria
The Ebira people are a tribe mostly found in the middle belt
geo-political zone of Nigeria. They are commonly considered to be the fourth
most populous tribe in the country.
Diving right in, there are several processes leading up to the solemnization of a marital union which make up the marriage rites. In the Ebira tribe, we may divide them into the following:
 |
| Ebira Marriage outlook |
1.
FORMAL
INTRODUCTION
2.
FEEDBACK
3.
INTRODUCTION
ON HIS SIDE
4.
OFFICIAL
MEET AND GREET
5.
PRESENTATION
OF THE FIRST GIFT AND FIXING A WEDDING DATE
6.
WEDDING
DAY
·
FORMAL
INTRODUCTION: After a man and woman have known each other for a while and
are convinced that they can work as a couple, the next agenda is for the woman
to present the man to her family in a formal manner, officially pronouncing him
a ‘serious’ suitor. Even if her family has been seeing her with this man, they
don’t acknowledge him until he is formally presented to them and duly accepted.
 |
| Traditional Engagement |
·
FEEDBACK:
After conducting every necessary investigation and background research, the
family accepts or rejects the marriage proposal as the case may be.
·
INTRODUCTION
ON HIS SIDE: In the happy event that a man’s proposal is accepted, he takes
his prospective bride with him to visit his relatives. Let them see her, and
let her greet them. Again, even though his family knows them to be together,
their relationship is not considered as serious leading to marriage until after
this formal introduction.
·
OFFICIAL
MEET AND GREET: A day is agreed upon on which the prospective groom’s
family will go calling on the family of the prospective bride. They introduce
themselves and state their purpose. They often come along with ‘light’ gifts
and are in turn presented with ‘light’ refreshments on this day. It is also on
this day that a date is set for the presentation of the First Gift also known,
literally, as The Secret Thing.
·
PRESENTATION
OF THE FIRST GIFT AND FIXING A WEDDING DATE: This first gift is more
popularly called Isi Owere; the secret thing. This is because the presentation
of these gifts is a private affair involving only the closest and dearest
family members from both sides. It is usually directly offered to the mother of
the prospective bride or a woman of the same equivalence in her life. The gifts
include, but are not necessarily limited to:
-Thirty tubers of yam
-A small box filled with clothing,
lingerie, perfumes, and other fineries
- A keg of palm oil
- A keg of vegetable oil
- Large pieces of dried fish or
bush meat Etcetera.
On this day, better refreshments
are served, and a wedding date is settled upon.
 |
| Traditional Items |
·
WEDDING
DAY: For an Ebira couple, their wedding day may have two, or three
components or more; depending on how extravagant they wish to make it. However,
the barest minimum is for it to have two components; the traditional wedding
and the wedding fatiha/church wedding depending on the religion of the couple.
 |
| Wedding Day Celebration |
The traditional marriage sees the presentation of a more
bountiful version of the gifts presented during Isi Owere. Songs are sung for
the couple wishing them health, wealth, many children, and a happy home. The
marriage is then solemnized in a masjid, church, or synagogue.
Happy married life!!!
