The Joy of Marriage: Ibibio culture

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Marriage means many things to many people, culture and races all over the world. However, the goal is to find happiness with the ones we love eventually. In some cultures, it is all about building a home where one can always bond with their loveones. Husband, wife and children makes a perfect home for most folks and thats a beautiful thing if you think about it.

Here in Nigeria, marriage is highly valuable. there are several cultures here and the rites of marriage varry from one culture to another.
The society here is shaped in such a way that having a happy family is one of the greatest goal in the lives of most people here in the country. It is a thing of great joy to families whenever a love-one is married to another family.

I recently was invited to a marriage ceremony of a friend of mine and the marriage was done according to the tradition of the Ibibio race and I thought it would be informative and Interesting to readers on hive if I share my knowledge and experience about how marriage ceremony is done in the Ibibio culture. 😁

The Ibibio people are the dominant tribe in Akwa Ibom state of the south-south geo-political zone in Nigeria. The traditional practices of the Ibibio people as regards marriage is unique and interesting.

It is a thing of big celebration in Ibibio culture when marriage rites are performed in accordance to the norms of the people.

It is a morally acceptable practice to the Ibibio people for a male to seek the consent of the parents of a female before taking the female as wife in the Ibibio culture. But before she is regarded by all as "married," there are rites and practices that must be fulfilled.

First, the family of the groom including the groom take a portion of drinks to visit the family of the proposed bride and make their intention known. Afterwards, a list of things to be brought to the family of the bride is given to the groom, and he is obligated to fulfill everything on the list before the proposed date for the marriage celebration. If the groom fails to provide the items on the list, the parents of the female to be given in marriage will not concent to the marriage hence, leading to the cancellation of the marriage. The list usually consists of things to be bought for the parents of the groom and kinsmen, and a dowry payable to the parents of the female.

After that is done, a date is proposed for the marriage ceremony and the family of the male prepares and fulfills all that is requested from their proposed in-laws.

On the day of Marriage celebration, people within the community will come together to celebrate with the families of the couples. The couples would also invite friends and relatives to the event to witness and celebrate with them.

The groom is first called up to the stage and he is accompanied by his bossom friends, followed by his family and relatives. He dances as he comes to the stage (a special seat is kept for the groom and bride). He greets everyone of his kinsmen, chiefs and village heads seated on a high table. Afterwards, the bride is called up to the stage and she is accompanied by her mother and other maidens who are related to her. She is also accompanied by her friends and fellow young single ladies dressed in a uniform manner. (Music is played to welcome the couples to the stage and everyone else would dance amd celebrate the couples)

The both partners are eventually joined together by the chiefs; friends and loveones are persuaded by the master of ceremony to support the marriage by donating finances to the couples. There are alot of drinks and foods shared to everyone so that all take part in the celebration.


It is always a joyous event that comes once in the lifetime of most couples in the Ibibio culture, hence it is always a great experience that may never be forgotten.