TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE CEREMONY IN OGBA KINGDOM OF NIGERIA

TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE
(BRIDE PRICE & EXPENSES) BURIAL
AND
THE COST OF BURIAL CEREMONIES OF OLD WOMEN IN OGBALAND
AS APPROVED BY OGBA/EGBEMA COUNCIL OF CHIEFS (REVISED EDITION).
PREFACE

PREFACE
Ogba/Egbema is made up of five communities namely, Omoku Group, Usomini Group, Igburu Group, Egi Group, and Egbema Clan. The Traditional (Bride price and Expenses) and the burial ceremonies of old women in the above mentioned communities varied from community to community. Traditional marriage and burial cost continue to increase to such an alarming proportion that various communities sent representations to the Oba in council to establish a uniform bride price and expenses and the traditional burial ceremonies of old women to be the same and applicable to all the communities in Ogba/Egbema. There were suggestions that the bride price should be pegged at a rate good enough to enable the average young men and women to get married and the burial ceremonies put at a cost that will be reasonable to all concerned without bitterness.
The vexed issues of high bride price and heavy burial cost of old women were tabled for discussion in the Ogba/Egbema Council of Chiefs as the ultimate traditional body charged with responsibility of making bylaws and the modification of the excesses of the marriage and burial costs.
In a meeting of Ogba/Egbema Council of Chiefs, a nine- man committee was appointed to look into the matter with a view to investigate and consult the various communities in order to codify and harmonize the varied traditional marriage customs/costs and the burial cost of old women in the entire area and recommend a uniform rate acceptable to all the communities. The Committee completed their assignment and submitted their report to the Ogba/Egbema Council of Chiefs. The reported was considered and accepted by the Council after several reading and consultation.
It is hoped that all the various communities concerned will hold fast to the traditional cost of marriage and the cost of burial ceremonies of aged women as approved by the Ogba/Egbema Council of Chiefs.

__________________ _____________________

Secretary

Chairman

Secretary Chairman

COMMITTEE ON BRIDE PRICE
The above committee was given the mandate of the Ogba/Egbema Council of Chiefs to look into the changing nature of traditional marriage and burial activities in Ogba/Egbema, identify causes of such changes and its rising costs and make recommendations to the Council. The committee has the following as members:-
1. Eze M.N.Osoh -Chairman
2. Chief B.U.Orike -Secretary
3. Chief A.N.Nwabali -Member
4. Chief B.O.Ezi -Member
5. Chief Chukuma Obulor -Member
6. Chief S.C.Ajieaku -Member
7. Chief D.O. Ekwem -member
8. Chief W.A. Osuma -Member
9. Chief Tom Ogwe -Member
The committee held several meetings and in its earlier meetings, it was agreed to send out some members in between meetings to various groups of Ogba-Egbema in order to collect useful information relating to the existing terms and condition about marriage and burial activities in the area.
Through this arrangement, the committee observed that marriage and burial activities varied from one community to the other, which does not make for uniformity as people from one ethnic group. Since it is the intention of the Council to create a situation where parents would not impose excessive terms and conditions for marriage and burial activities as it affects both families during marriage and at death, bearing in mind the rising cost of living including training of children, and recommends as follows:-
MARRIAGE

1. NOTIFICATION FOR MARRIAGE
(a) Mother –N2.00 and 1 bottle of Gin
(b) Father -N2.00 and 1 bottle of Gin

2 HOUSE HOLD MARRIAGE CEREMONY(Ogoh-Imu-Uloh)
(a) Kola- N2.00
(b) 4 bottles of Gin
(c) 1 packet of Cigarette
(d) 2 pots of palm wine

3. The Entire Family-Declaration of Marriage
(Ogo-Obudo

A (a) Kola-N10.00

--(b) 2 bottles of gin

...(c) 6 pots of palmwine

...(d) 12 Bottles of Gin

...(e) 5 packets of Cigarettes

...(f) 1 carton of beer, 1 crate of Mineral

...(g) N2 for tobacco

...(h) N1 for washing pot

B...TO WOMEN:

...(a) Kola- N10.00

...(b) 2 bottles of Gin and N2.00

...(c) 2 Pots of Palm Wine

...(d) 1 Crate of Mineral

Drinking fee for the husband and wife- N10.00

1 bottle of gin for the ceremony

Drinking fee for the mother in-law- N50.00

Drinking fee for women- N100.00

Drinking fee for men- N50.00

DEPARTURE: 2 bottle of Gin (Nje Ekah Labuh)

Not to be put in any container.This marks the end of the section.

4.SETTLEMENT OF BRIDE PRICE (IKWU-ONUH-AHIA)

Initial presentation as Kola- N10.00

...2 bottles of Gin and N7.00

...6 Pots of Palm wine

...12 bottles of Gin

...5 Packets of cigarettes

Tobacco for elders- N2.00

N2.00 for Tobacco

N1.00 for washing of pot

....(b) To the Women- kola-N20.00

...2 bottles of Gin and N2.00

...2 pots of Palm wine

...1 crate of mineral

5. ACTUAL BRIDE PRICE

To the Father in-law-N600.00

To the Mother-in-law N200.00

Family money N100.00

Counting fee N2.00

Departure 2 Bottles of Gin (Nje Ekah Labuh)

...............(Not to be put in any container) This marks the end of the section.

6.Fixing of the Wedding Day-(IBUSI- EGBAH)

....4 bottles of gin

...2 pots of Palm wine

...DEPARTURE: 2 Bottles of Gin (Nje ekah labuh)

7. WEDDING DAY-(IKNIRINE- NWANYA)

....Kola- N10.00

...2 bottles of Gin

...N7 wedding fee for the men

...6 pots of Palm wine

...12 bottles of Gin

...5 Packets of Cigarettes

...Tobacco for elders N2.00

...2 Cartons of Beer, 2 crates of Mineral

...N1.00 for washing of pot

(b) To The Women:

Wedding Fee-N100

2 Pots of Palm wine

2 Bottles of Gin

N7.00 Escort Fee-This will be shared as follows:

Women-N4.00

Men- N3.00

Departure 2 Bottles of Gin (Nje ekah labuh)

This marks the end of the section.

NUMBER OF FEMALE RELATIONS TO EXCORT
THE MARRIED GIRL TO THE HUSBAND'S HOUSE WILL BE:

(a) 4 People to escort

(b) Dinning fee, Husband and Wife-N1.00

(c) Turning of grinding stones fee-N 1.00

(d) Opening of Parcel fee ((Etoh-Ngnu-Uhie)-N1.00

(e) Spreading of Mat fee- N 1.00

(f) Chewing Stick fee-N 1.00

(g) Send off fee for escort- N20.00

(h) Little presents at discretion

8B ESCORTION: The married departs the parents house for the husband's place with the excorts before day-break usually 5a.m and not later than that.

9. EXCESSIVE DEMAND BY WOMEN

The Committee observed that women constitute another body in the case of household marriage ceremony which is not normally the case,it then strongly recommends that this practice should discontinue.

9B PROVISION OF BEER AND MINERAL DURING MARRIAGE CEREMONY

The Committee observed that the above items have always been offered during marriage ceremony without being properly accounted for, this is because some people love beer and mineral as against our traditional drinks. lt then recommends that item 3,4 and 7 above should have provision for beer and mineral.

(C) EDUCATED GIRL TO BE MARRIED:

All bride price remain the same irrespective of the standard of education attained by the bride but the bridegroom should take cognizance of the money spent on the bride and reciprocate

(D)CIRCUMCISION OF A GIRL

The committee considers this aspect of marriage expenses as excessive pointing out that circumcision is entirely the responsibilty of the parents who should not be imposed on the son-in-law.

Despite the above, it is not in keeping with modern trend of civilization. lt is primitive and should be discouraged.

10. REFUNDABLE AND NON-REFUNDABLE ITEMS:

Every present to the parents, relatives of the bride remains refundable should marriage break -up irrespective of who is responsible.

(a). All property acquired by the woman while in the husband's house remain forfeited as soon as marriage ceases by way of divorcement by either of the two parties in consonance with our culture.

(b).All expenditure incured in items 1-8 above are however refundable excepting drinks of all descriptions which should not be accounted for, and cigarettes.

(c) There should be an authority fee of N300.00 which authorizes the woman to choose another husband if she was the cause of the broken marriage by way of divorce; provided the bridgegroom had satisfied all customary marriage ceremonies as out listed in items 1-7 above.

SECTION B

BURIAL EXPENSES FOR OLD WOMEN

1. NOTIFICATION ABOUT THE DEATH:

To the house hold directly where the deceased hailed from.

(a) Kola- N2.00

1 Pot of Palm wine

1 Bottle of Gin.

(b) The entire family- Kola- N10.00

1 Pot of Palm wine

1 Bottle of Gin

(c) Arrival of the entire family at the venue of the representative of the bereaved family.

Presentation of Kola and drink by children and grandchildren should be done on individual basics but with no specific amount.

3. INSPECTION OF THE CORPSE:

Inspection fee- N2.00

1 Bottle of gin

3. COVERING OF CLOTH

The family presents two fathom of print or george material as follows:

1 for the corpse

1 for the bereaved.

4.LIBATION AT GRAVE SIDE

The Chief Mourner libates with one full (1) bottle of gin, others may follow with even 1/2 bottle of gin as this should be optional before the interment.

5. DANCING DEMONSTRATION BY THE CHIEF MOURNER

After the dancing demonstation by the Chief Mourner:

After the dancing demonstation by the Chief Mourner, the family presents as follows:

N50.00 to assist Chief Mourner

1 Print or George

1 Owoko change to match

6.ENTERTAINMENT:

At the end of item 5 above the bereaved family presents cooked food preferably boiled yam accompanied with one goat,1 fowl, 2 bottles of gin only as thank you.

7. SEND OFF CEREMONY

1 goat

2 bottles of gin for the send off with some group of people to escort visiting family

FINE FOR COMMITTING ADULTERY (EBNAH LA NWANYA)

INCEST

1.N2000.00- cash

2.one goat

3. Ten (10) tubers of yam

4. One fathom of Cloth

5. One mat

6. One bottle of oil

7. One beer bottle of Pepper and One beer bottle of salt

Any man guilty of this offence is ostracized until he pays the following fine:

1. N4000.00

2. Two goats

3. Twenty tubers of vyam

4. 2 fathoms of cloth

5. One mat

6. 2 bottles of Pal oil

7. 2 beer bottles of pepper and 2 bottles of salt.

ITUH-ONUH-(APPROACHING ANOTHER MAN'S WIFE

This goes with a fine of N500.00-cash

CONCLUSION

The purpose of this document is to remove all anamalies in our Traditional marriage and burial of aged women. lt should receive absolute adherence of the communities in order to remove fear of heavy expenses from young men who intend to marry. A defaulter should be penalized without fear or favour.

PENALTY

(a) Defaulting fee of N500.00

(b) 1 goat

2 bottles of dry gin

1 carton of beer

10 sizeable tubers of yam

The above should be paid to the Council of Chiefs

This document should be properly read; it should serve as a marriage handbook; and reference made from time to time especially during marriage and burial ceremonies.

(Second Edition)

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