There is nothing as beautiful and honorable as marriage. There is no doubt that marriage is an integral part of every culture even though the process varies.
I am an Isoko man from the Isoko tribe of delta state, Nigeria, and for the people of Isoko, the declaration of the man's intention to marry the woman, signifies the beginning of a life-long marital journey.
A typical Isoko marriage involves three steps which are the first visit, the second visit, and the bride price payment.
FIRST VISIT
On the first visit, the intended groom parents and some family members will visit the intended bride’s home to introduce themselves and make their interests known. Upon their arrival, they would be entertained with kola nut and drinks by the intended bride’s parents. In addition to that, the bride's family will support the kola nut with some amount of money since it'seen as a taboo for kola nut to sit on a plate alone in our tradition.
When all necessary kola nut ritual has been done by the intended bride's parents to welcome their visitors, the groom's parents will in return, reciprocate by offering the intended bride's family their own drinks and kola nut but this time around, they will be supporting the kola nut with twice the amount the bride's parents used in supporting theirs.
At the end of everything, the intended bride's parents will then ask their visitors the reason they are visiting. The intended groom's parents will now introduce themselves and then make their intention known to the intended bride’s parents. The discussion that comes after that will decide if the intended groom and his parents will have to come for the second visit.
SECOND VISIT
During the second visit which is also called the introduction ceremony, the intended groom and his family members will present different type of drinks and kola nut to the intended bride's family. Just like the first visit, the kola nut rituals will likewise be done the same way and after all that is done, the intended bride will now be summoned and will be asked to point at the man she wants to marry.
When she must have identified him, she will be asked again if she is sure she wants to truly marry him. If she answers in affirmation that she wants to marry him, that's only when the gifts that were presented will be accepted and the marriage list will then be given to the intended groom. The marriage list is the list of items required by the intended bride’s parents which is given to the intended bride to buy or in some cases, pay the momentary equivalent.
We must note that it is important and also customary for the intended bride’s parents to introduce the intended groom to some of their family member and the intended groom must try and visit these people one after the other, fulfilling every request they ask of him. After the list must have been given to them and the visitations done, a date for the payment of bride price.
THE BRIDE PRICE
The bride price payment is a very significant part of the traditional marriage. This is the day the families of both the intended groom and bride come together and agree on the bride price before payment is made. If the man is an Isoko man, there is always this special consideration given to him in terms of the amount to pay. He is asked to pay $1.50 but if he is not an Isoko man, then he will be paying the sum of $2.50. This price is not fixed though since the elders do review the price from time to time.
The language used during the traditional marriage is very important to the Isoko tribe. And so, during the traditional marriage rites, no other language is spoken except isoko language. Even if the groom is a foreigner and does not understand the language. He is expected to hire someone called otuta to help him interpret the language.
During the traditional marriage, the groom is expected to wear an Isoko traditional attire whether he is an isoko man. He is to tie a wrapper with an etibo top, a bowler hat and a walking stick. The bride on the other hand is expected to tie a lace or a George fabric with Gele, and she is also expected to wear two different attires on that day. One for the first outing and the other which is the same attire as that of the groom for the second outing.
At the end of the traditional marriage, the bride is given to her husband. But before he leaves with his bride, the bride family designates some persons (always bride relatives) to escort the bride to her husband house. After they must have escorted the bride to her husband house and are about to come back, the family of the groom gives them a goat and also distributes salts to all the married women among those who escorted her.
CONCLUSION
It is important to let us know that the marriage committee of any Isoko community, do issue a marriage certificate to the couple during the traditional marriage and this marriage certificate is recognised in every part of Isoko land.
Any Isoko marriage where the marriage certificate isn't issued, tends not to be recognized traditionally. This is to tell how important the marriage certificate is.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
@starstrings01 , why Does this groom have your smile and your eyes? 🥺. Does it mean, your wedding is close? 😁
Hahaha @iskafan lemme oo... What even took your mind there? Hmm.. Anyway thank you so much. I will tell you why in camera.
@starstrings01 want to finish his masters and make billions before he thinks of getting married. Boss I lie?
That masters ehn, I no know. Right now, I am looking for a girl that can be understanding and things naturally works out between us.
Yeah, the billions is important. My focus now is more about securing the bag.
And I'm here thinking you are already with someone. Trust me, that lady will definitely be so lucky having a smart, handsome and hardworking young boss like you. I pray you meet the woman your heart desires soonest. All the best..
Sure, making the money is the focus right now
He is not with anyone oooo, the only person he is with is @mayorkeys 😂😂😂 @starstrings01 you better find someone faster oooo 😂😂
This girl have turn me to gay.. 😅🤣
Is not me ooo, na you Yan me this thing the other day 😂😂
Hmmm.. Guess you know him so much.. I'm yealous ooo
Lol. I don't ooo. It's just tiny discussions we've had on Hive. 🥺
Lemme too ooo. Why won't my mind go there 🤧😒😏😂.
Let him think faster ooo, if not, I'll come and drag him to the altar myself 🤣🤣🤣
Oh.. Wait, so u have crush on him? This is interesting...oya carry go.. Nothing do you.
Let us be looking o
Looking at what 👀
I didn't say anything na😅
Hehehe.... You did not hear it from my mouth ooo 😂😂🏃🏾♀️🏃🏾♀️
He is cute.. yeah he has a tiny resemblance to me...
Amen to this! Like this, I do not see any possibility yet 😅.
He is cute.. yeah he has a tiny resemblance to me...
How do you know how you look? Am I the only one that doesn't even know how I look? Abi its weird?
Haha, you have pictures and mirrors babe, what are you even saying 🤣🤣🤣.
To be honest, I don't know how I look. So if i hear that I look like someone, I just go and look at the person very well. And say to myself, okay I try fine small according to what I see in the person
Wahala 😂😂😂. Ok ooo. Let me not argue. 🤣🤣🤣
Lol.. mirrors says it all na 😅🤣
Hahaha, this means I have good eyes. The wedding is coming soon oooo 😂😂
Come to think of it, he actually do look like @starstrings01, or Maybe is the twin brother.😜😜
You see?? I said it 🤣🤣
😂😂
Hahahahaha, I even thought it was him. And I say Amen to that, his wedding is around the corner joo. 😊
Really well decorative nice post 📯
Really loving the way you explained about marriage ceremony ❣️
Thanks so much.. I explained it to the best of my knowledge...
I'm glad you understood it perfectly
Very interesting post about your traditions and the pictures are awesome. I have to say also that your bride is really beautiful! Congratulations!
Thanks so much. I really appreciate this but she really isn't my bride. 😂 😂.. She is my sister and she is even on Hive.
I appreciate your feedback nonetheless. Thanks a lot.
Hahaha, you managed to fool us well...! Too bad I'm so far away and married, because it was worth it to be your brother-in-law. 😂😂😂
Anyway it's a beautiful photographic work and about the traditions of your country.
It would have been nice having you as a brother in law though.. Good to know you are happily married..
Thanks so much for your feedback
So it must be isoko language?
Wow here is another beautiful norm
I like this actually.
It was be isoko language all through the traditional marriage rites. The foreign groom to be will always find a way to get an interpreter for himself..
Great culture and belief
The images are amazing too
I love it
Thanks so much... I hope you would decide to come marry an isoko lady right??
Wow. I didn't know about the issuing of traditional marriage certificate. That's a good one. These pictures are so beautiful
Yea.. They also issue a marriage certificate. Are you an isoko lady?
Thanks for your feedback
I am Igbo
Nice.. Na only igbo girls dey fine like this. You look pretty dear.
Does that mean they don't issue marriage certificate in igbo land?
Thank you for your compliment.
Does that mean they don't issue marriage certificate in igbo land?
Well I can't say for other communities. But mine doesn't
Oh.. No problem then.. Every community with their different customs.. Thanks for your time
Omo Isoko people are very fine oooo, are you sure I won't marry from that tribe 🤔, the groom is so handsome and the bride is very beautiful ☺️
😂 😂 😂 😂.. It will be a nice thing if you marry from isoko oo.. Should I start searching for someone for you?
Yes but make sure he's handsome like that groom
So the first thing you look for in a guy is his handsome looks?
Not really, they're many things to look for
Thank God.. You don't want to share what you are looking for in a man with us? Who knows, you might be lucky to find your spec here oo...
We are waiting
Hahahahaha find my spec?
I'm sure there are nice guys here.
I will tell you but not now
The isoko marriage is one I would love to attend
Please remind me to invite you for one.. I bet you will enjoy it
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Very interesting post @davidbright. Does this mean that the bride price is really nowadays just a token payment in a nod to the old traditional bride payment system? Asking out of genuine interest as I know in the Zulu culture in South Africa, the bride price is paid in head of cattle which would be worth a fair bit more than $1.50. !PIZZA !ALIVE
They don't charge more that that for the bride price because thru believe they ain't selling their daughters and they just can't give their daughters away without collecting anything.. That's the major reason they collect the token for bride price..
Thanks for stating your thoughts on this.. It's been a while I heard from you. Good to hear from you once again.
This is exactly what I was driving at... :-) that for the tradition they keep the bride price in place but it is now just token... Really great to see that your Isoka Tribe has managed to find a way to blend tradition with equality and respect for women. I truly love it and your comments💗 yes, \i have been away on holiday so took a little break from Hive but I am back 🤗
Sure, women are respected in my tribe and they are never for sell..
I'm happy you are back...I guess I will be seeing you around now.. Welcome back ma'am.. How was the holiday?.. Hope it helped to relax your nerves and rejuvenate your body and soul?.. I guess it did...
@davidbright! You Are Alive so I just staked 0.1 $ALIVE to your account on behalf of @samsmith1971. (3/10)
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Great, these are the steps for a traditional marriage, depending on different cultures anyways. But this is ours
Yea.. Depending on different cultures.
How do you mean?.. Are you from isoko?
Hmmmmm. Isko man! I lije what i read. Traditional matriages are very colorful. When is your own na? 👀
via Dreemport
Yes oo.. I'm an isoko man and I love my tribe.. And mine will come when the time is right.
Starstrings got married to another girl and he didn't tell me
Nawa oh 😆
Hahahahaha... Now you are seeing it too.. Lwkmd.. 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂
Yes oh, the guy looks like him, just fuller.
😂 😂 😂.. Fuller?.. Are you saying starstrings doesn't look fuller?
😆 he is slender
No be my fault.
😂 😂 😂.. I reserve my comment. Let's just hope he doesn't see this..
😆 if he sees it, he knows his my babes
HL hosted a very interesting contest to be honest! Thanks for sharing.
Via @dreemport
They sure did.. Thanks for stopping by
Extremely interesting about the customs of different nations, so am I correct in guessing that there is really not much in the way of physically being together before a marriage @davidbright?
Another wrong word:
"pay the momentary equivalent." should be "monetary" equivalent.
This post was obtained through Dreemport.
Being physically together before marriage isn't accepted. So they ain't meant to be together before marriage.
I read this over and over again.. Why didn't I see that?.. Thanks so much for pointing it out for me. I appreciate..
Is there a contest going on this topic @davidbright ?
Not really a contest thought. It was a task from hive learners community
I see....! What if I want to participate?
I think it's past now but you can as well write on it if you wish
Hmmm. I am now a member of hive learners. ☺
Congratulations.. Happy to know that. You are now eligible to participate in their challenge questions.
Yup 😂