Traditional Marriage
In Nigeria today, there are three types of marriage: religious marriage, civil marriage, and traditional marriage. A Nigerian couple may choose to participate in one or more of these marriages. Religious marriages, usually Christian or Muslim, are held in a church or a mosque and follow the norms of the respective religious teachings. Christian men are only permitted to have one wife, whereas Muslim men are permitted to have up to four wives. Civil weddings are held in a government registry office. A civil wedding allows men to have only one wife, regardless of religion. Traditional marriages are usually held at the wife's home and follow the customs of the ethnic group involved. Most ethnic groups traditionally allow more than one wife.
While Western courtship and marriage are not unheard of, the power of traditional values and the family's strong influence mean that traditional ways are usually followed, even in cities and among the elite. According to old customs, women had little say in who they married, though the number of arranged marriages is decreasing. Women marrying in their teens, often to much older men, is also not uncommon. When there are already one or more wives, it is the responsibility of the first wife to look after the new wife and help her integrate into the family.
Many ethnic groups in Nigeria practice offering a bride price for an intended wife. Unlike a dowry, which is something of material value that the woman brings to the marriage, a bride price is some form of compensation that the husband must pay before he can marry a wife. A bride price can be money, cattle, wine, or other valuable goods paid to the woman's family, but it can also be more subtle. Men may contribute money to an intended wife's education or assist her in establishing a small-scale business or agricultural endeavor. This form of bride price is often incorporated as part of the wooing process. While women who leave their husbands will be welcomed back into their families, they often need a justification for breaking the marriage. If the husband is seen as having treated his wife well, he can expect to have the bride price repaid.
