Readers say they will not dare the traditions of the tribes

isaac dachen

October 13, 2016 10:34 AM

If your family says tradition forbids you from marrying the man/woman of your choice because you are related, would you go ahead to dare that tradition?

This is a real depressed man

But there is a very big obstacle in front of them as their families have revealed to them that they are related and therefore, cannot afford to get married. If they dared the tradition, there are deadly consequences ahead.

Read Valentine's story here:

"My name is Valentine, a 38-year-old man from the eastern part of Nigeria. I have been in a relationship with Amara whom I met four years ago through a friend in Lagos, where I live and do business.

I got to realize that Amara is from a community close to mine but from a different local government and that made me make up my mind to marry her.

Her people in Lagos have accepted me and they all relate to me as an in-law while she spends most of her time in my house where we live and relate as husband and wife.

But the problem now is that when we went to the village to intimate our people of our plans to get married, my family vehemently opposed our plans, saying that Amara and I are distant cousins.

We were told that Amara's grandfather was an uncle to my own grandfather and as such, our tradition forbids us from getting married.

We were also made to understand that going by our culture if we defy the tradition and insist on getting married, our children will either die or be inflicted with incurable ailments.

My father has told me to forget Amara and he will get me a wife from a very good home in our village but I must confess that we have been devastated by this news.

The major reason for our disconsolation is that Amara is currently two months pregnant for me and we are torn between daring the tradition and getting married.

But what will happen to our children if we do? Do we get rid of the baby and go our separate ways?

I am a Christian but I also know that tradition should be respected.

Valentine."

The teaser for the day was:

Would you dare any tradition and get married to a distant relative?

How Nigeria voted:

Yes, I will go ahead if I love him/her - 28%

No, I will never dare the traditions of my land - 46%

I will bind the tradition and go ahead - 26%

How would you vote in this instance?

isaac dachen