TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE IN IGBOLAND AND WOMEN’S ECONOMIC IMPACTS IN THE SOCIETY

Believe it or not, The Igbo tradition remains a unique one. People of the extraction in diaspora have even exported it to their base; and have continue to promote it. Culture is indeed, the people’s way of life.

The Igbos are known for various cultural diversities such as, Iri ji, Iwa Akwa, Itu Aka, Owu, Okorosha, Mbomuzo, Ira mburuocha Okuko, Ede Festival and the rest of them. Among the five Igbo- speaking Southeast States of Nigeria, their communities have diverse traditions that depict their central way of life.

These traditions are what uniquely mark them out from other regions of the country that also observe their revered culture. The Monarchs are not left out.  As custodians of Tradition, they spearhead the activities. Always being at the front burner of the festivities.

Among them is the Traditional wedding; also known as “Igbankwu Nwanyi”, is a special occasion in Igboland. This begins with two matured minds- who have actually concured to settle down as husband and wife. Courtship now begins with the duo and snow-balls into a full-blown union which subsequently followed by the white wedding.

Before the traditional day celebration comes forth, the groom would have been given the marriage- list that contains his wife-to-be’s marriage list requirements before their daughter is released to him.

On the d-day of the ceremony, the suitor is expected to come along with his people, friends, well- wishers, associates and other invitees. Also, Tittled men and women are seen in their midst. These aged men (In their Nineties) are highly revered during the gatherings of the “Ndi Nwe Nwa na Ndi Ogo”. They drag the biddings.

In the Igbo sociological norms, traditional weddings are highly revered and therefore attract people of all walks when being organized by the celebrants. But in all, the journey begins with “Iku Aka N’uzo (Knocking at the door) or “Iju ese” in Igbo language- meaning- A pre-wedding introduction wherein the Umunna- the extended family members and the in-laws meet for familiarization’s sake.

The Igbos have continued to push this particular element (Dowry -paying) of a bride, to enviable heights that people of other ethnic groups, even outside Nigeria, now want to marry from the Southeast. Women of Southeast are God-fearing, well-mannered, humble, goal-oriented, hardworking and resourceful and go-getters.

Also, some women of Igbo extraction have made the region proud through their God-given potentials of which they are showing in their professions. Prominent among them are the First lady of Imo State; Barrister Chioma Uzodimma, Wife of the former Governor, Prof Mrs. Theresa Udenwa, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Ex Education Commissioner in Imo; Dr. (Mrs.) Getrude Oduka, Mrs. Benadette Gbazie and rest of them.

Their laudable contributions in the families, communities, churches, political parties, social gatherings and places of work, cannot be over- emphasized. Their impacts are explicitly felt due to this natural ingeniousness to discern and ability to fix.

Interestingly, the present administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma has incorporated women into the system by offering them political appointments. A gender- friendly leader whose shared-prosperity government has extended hands of fellowship to everyone- irrespective of gender.

But sadly, over Thirty Thousand (30,000) women die yearly during child birth as a result of complicated issues surrounding delivery; Many had painfully passed on even before giving birth to their babies.

Expectedly, the newly- elected President Bola Tinubu’s body language during the electioneering, indicates that women are to be carried along in the scheme of things at the national level. There is no way they cannot be fully bequeathed with the responsibilities of developing Nigeria as means of contributing their quota to the national development.