5 shocking marriage traditions across Nigeria
These traditions might make you rethink your marriage proceedings.
5 shocking marriage traditions across Nigeria. [buzznigeria]
Recommended articles
1. The List (Igbo)
The dowry/bride price of the Igbo people features a negotiation over a certain amount of money, that is usually not so much, and a long list that contains items that are needed for the marriage rites. Some regions of Igboland are notorious for over-stretching the list, as most villagers and kinsmen look forward to marriages as a means of settlement. The list also varies in length and value, depending on how wealthy the incoming family is or if the supposed spouse is from the same village, same state or same country.
2. Fattening room (Efik)
ADVERTISEMENT
The fattening room is one of the shocking rites of passage into womanhood. Practised by the Efiks, it is the room where young women are kept and prepared for womanhood before marriage. In times past, being fat is equivalent to being prosperous and healthy. The culture is gradually phasing out, though.
3. No smiling (Ijaw)
During the wedding ceremony, an Ijaw bride is not expected to smile until she has been sprayed a lot of money by the groom and his family.
4. Prostration (Yoruba)
Prostrating, or dobale, is a huge form of respect amongst the Yoruba, as they are very keen on respecting one's elders. Therefore, at a traditional marriage, a groom and his groomsmen are all expected to lie down flat/prostrate at the feet of the bride's family. The groom is expected to prostrate four times before the end of the ceremony.
ADVERTISEMENT
5. Sharo (Fulani)
Fulanis believe in flogging a prospective groom publicly before the wedding. This is to test the bravery and resilience of the groom and make him prove that he is worthy of the bride. All suitors are expected to go through this rigorous flogging and any one who cries or chickens out loses the bride. The woman sees it as a thing of pride if her man gets flogged for her.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng
Recommended articles
Tems, Diana Ross, or Cher? Who wore the black sequined dress best?
Top 10 cities in the world that are great for walking — Lagos is not one of them
The Night Swim ft Cirque Le Soir live in Lagos, presented by Breeze Beach club
DIY Recipes: Easy steps to making crunchy Nigerian buns
Vanity upon vanity — see what Pablo Escobar's $10 million mansion looks like today
What's the difference between bipolar disorder and ADHD?
Samsung beats iPhone to become the world's top-selling smartphone - See top 5
How to respond when someone embarrasses you in public
The world's first beauty pageant for only AI women has begun - all the details
How to confidently share your testimony in church
Avoid doing these things the next time you are inside an elevator
Avoid these 3 common mistakes when cooking fried rice
Pulse Sports
Lionel Messi's son breaks the internet after scoring five goals for Inter Miami
Naija Stars Abroad: Onyedika, Boniface, and Osimhen shine across Europe
Victor Osimhen and Tobi Amusan make list of Forbes’ 30 under 30 Class of 2024
Alex Iwobi makes Premier League history which Mikel, Yakubu, Kanu could not achieve
Like Michael Jordan - Details of Victor Osimhen’s ‘superhuman’ jump against Monza emerges
ADVERTISEMENT
