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Location. Western Africa Bordering the Gulf of Guinea Between Benin and Cameroon . Nigeria. Nigeria Happiest Country in the World. According to the 1999-2001 World Values Survey Family-life and culture are more important than material wealth. Nigerian Marriage.
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Location • Western Africa • Bordering the Gulf of Guinea • Between Benin and Cameroon Nigeria
Nigeria Happiest Country in the World • According to the 1999-2001 World Values Survey • Family-life and culture are more important than material wealth
Nigerian Marriage • Introduction to Nigerian Marriage • Introduction to Parents/Engagement Party • Traditional Marriage • Life after Marriage
Introduction to Nigerian Marriage • Types • Civil marriage • Religious marriage • Christian: white wedding • Muslim: polygamy acceptable • Traditional marriage • Stages
Stages of Traditional Marriage • Dating and Courtship • Western dating and courtship not common • Customs and norms • Family involvement • Arranged marriages • Teenage women marrying older men • Introduction to parents/engagement party • The “wooing” process • Traditional Marriage • Customs varies from group to group • Dancing and music are common
Introduction to Parents/Engagement Party • Introduction • Confirmation from daughter • Bride price • Entertainment • Costume
Introduction • A ceremony that introduces the bride’s family to the groom’s family • Takes place a few days before wedding
Confirmation from the daughter • The bride gives her decision to accept or decline marriage
Bride price • Presented to bride’s family after confirmation
Introduction to Parents/Engagement Party (contd.) • Entertainment • The families come together & become formally acquainted • The groom’s family presents gifts to the bride’s family • Assorted foods & drinks • Costume
Traditional Marriage • Introduction of the Costume • Stages/Significance of Ceremony • Entertainment • The Search • Presentation of the Bride & Groom—1st dance • Marriage Blessing by Parents • Gifts
Introduction of the Costume • Gele- a popular and indispensable headdress, an item of Nigerian identity • Glamorous • Colorful • Big • Tying can be very tricky & frustrating • If improperly tied, Gele can make a day miserable • No mistakes, must have the best style for Traditional Wedding • Tied a day or two in advanced • Who ties the Gele? • Friend or Family member • Local Market for a fee “Proud is the Head that Carries the Gele”
Stages & Significance of the Traditional Marriage Ceremony • Significance • Celebrated and observed before the arrival of the Europeans • Observed in the village setting, so that all the members can celebrate with the couple and their respective families • Stages • No dating, but an investigation • The “knocking of the door” • The “asking” • Liquor to “open the mouth” of the soon-to-be father-in-law • Groom’s family leaves with a wedding list, including the bride price • Wedding date set • Before the wedding • All items on the wedding list should be fulfilled • On the wedding day • “Blocked” by teenage boys • “Blocked” by women of village • Groom arrives at bride’s house
Entertainment • Food & drinks • Offered to groom’s family & friends, upon arrival • Also, offered to the entire audience • Comedian/MC and dancers • Keep crowd alive • Dancers showcased to potential suitors
The Search • After refreshments • The bride’s family asks, “Why is the groom’s family there?” • The bride’s family brings out different women
Presentation of the Bride & Groom—the 1st dance • The bride is found • The bride and groom accepts and drink • They dance • The audience sprays them with money
Marriage Blessing by Parents • Both the bride and groom’s parents bless marriage by drinking all of the wine that was given to them by the couple
Gifts • The new couple are presented with gifts • They dance together again
Nigerian Traditional Marriage Video • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJb_-WTAKDY
Life after Marriage • Children • Work • Polygamy • Divorce
Children • Having many children is fashionable & is a status symbol • Most families consist of 10 or more children • Female Children • Socialized to serve & be subordinate to males (patriarchal authority)
Polygamy • Women dependent upon each other • Relationships without the emotional elements
Work • Females • Take care of children and home (housewives) • Mostly farmers & traders • Most females work now, before 80% stayed home
Work (contd.) • Males • Providers
Divorce • Not common • Women are condemned
Conclusion • Diffusion model • Adopt Nigerian practices to better our society • Emphasize: • Family • Culture • Sharing • Unity • Over material wealth
Sources • http://www.anyiams.com/marriage_customs.htm • http://www.everyculture.com/Ma-Ni/Nigeria.html • http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/3157570.stm • http://www.topweddinglinks.com/ethnicweddings/nigerian.html • http://village.africanpath.com/profiles/blog/show?id=1555598%3ABlogPost%3A46450