THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE RITES IN ETCHE, SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper examined the significance of traditional marriage rites in Etche South-South Nigeria. The paper contends that in Etche marriage rites such as  iju-ajuju (to enquire or to investigate) into the would-be wife family history, iku-akanamgbo (knocking at the door to which Etche people often refer to as opening talks with the family of the wife to be), ishi-onyeukwunwanyi (the handing over of the middleman to the husband to be),ijeabaliano (four days visit undertaken by the wife to be to her would-be husband family), to study him and to familiarize herself with the family, ibungwo-umunna (the carrying of the family male relations wine and that of the kinsmen, and finally, ikwu-ugwonwanyi) (the payment of the bride - price to the girl’s parents) must be performed by the husband before the woman finally comes into  his house as his wife. The paper posits that these rites are intended not only to confer full traditional rights on the husband over his wife and children born into the marriage, but also to enhance the status of the girl in the society. The methodology adopted was oral interviews (report of the custodians of Etche customs and traditions and Handed down tradition) and secondary sources (Published materials). The study also adopts phenomenological approach to describe and interpret the rituals associated with marriage rites. Findings from the study reveal that marriage rites as an essential aspect of Etche customs and tradition still remains sacrosanct and that it has helped for the sustainability of indigenous Etche cultural practices.