The Tiv people of Nigeria offer marriage as not only unions between two individuals but a process saturated with symbolism and communal participation. Tiv marriage customs are founded on the prologue of the antecedent, tribal standards and principles, family ties, self-esteem, and conservation of their culture. These indeed are complex socially constructed customs with deep embedded meanings that define the Tiv people’s culture and realities.
As stated earlier, it is high time that the African people’s culture is explained and understood better.
In this article, the Tiv marriage stages, rituals, and importance will be discussed and explained to create a clear understanding of the subject.
1. The Importance of Marriage in Tiv Culture
According to Tiv’s ethics, marriage is a rite of passage and plays an important role in the continuity of the family line. He is a bond that holds families and clans together, hence strengthening social cohesiveness and cultural fabric.
Core Beliefs:
- Procreation: As mentioned above, marriage is described as the way to procreate a child to carry on that family name.
- Community Ties: It enhances family relations and cooperation among different families and clans with family and close ones with mutual regard.
- Cultural Preservation: The practices involved in Tiv marriages reinforce traditional values and customs.
2. Types of Marriages in Tiv Culture
The Tiv people recognize various forms of marriage, each with its distinct processes and cultural significance.
Common Types:
- Exchange Marriage (Yamhegh): This traditional form involves the exchange of sisters or female relatives between two families for marriage. Although it is now rare, it played a crucial role in maintaining balance and reciprocity between families.
- Bride Price Marriage (Kem Kwase): This is the most common form today, where the groom’s family provides a bride price to the bride’s family as a gesture of respect and commitment.
- Elopement (Kwase-Nguher): In cases of love or urgency, couples may elope. While less formal, the marriage is later legitimized through negotiations between the families.
3. Courtship and Family Involvement
Tiv marriages begin with courtship, during which the potential couple gets to know each other. Family involvement is significant from the outset, as the Tiv believe that marriage is not just between two individuals but between two families.
Key Aspects:
- Approval of Families: The man’s family approaches the woman’s family to express their intentions. This is done respectfully and through formal introductions.
- Compatibility Check: Elders from both families often ensure that there is no blood relation between the couple, as marriage within the same lineage is forbidden.
4. The Bride Price (Kem Kwase)
The bride price is a cornerstone of Tiv marriage customs, symbolising the groom’s respect for the bride and her family. It also serves as a form of compensation for the loss of a valuable family member.
Process:
- The bride price is discussed during a formal meeting between both families.
- Items may be in the form of cash, livestock (sheep, goat, or cow), foodstuffs, palm wine or other local alcoholic-related produce, and the like.
- Negotiations have to be taken with certain responsibility because excessive demands are not entertained so the groom should be in a position to support the bride when they are already married.
Cultural Significance:
- This means that the bride price does not encase the bride; rather, it formalises the union and good intentions.
- It is a way of paying honour to the bride’s parents for raising her up to that particular age.
5. Pre-Wedding Rituals
Several pre-wedding ceremonies are carried out that prepare a couple for marriage before they start the married life.
Key Rituals:
- Blessings from Elders: In both families, they perform some religious activities like praying for the new couple.
- Traditional Counselling: It is the elder woman, including the bride’s mother, who rebukes the bride on her marital responsibilities, such as respecting, loving, and managing the home.
- Fertility Rites: At other times, it is done as a sign of fertility and a proper marriage between husband and wife.
6. The Wedding Ceremony
The Tiv wedding, as is characteristic of most traditional African weddings, is a colourful event with music, dancing, and food.
Highlights:
- Traditional Attire: The couple and their families dress in colourful Tiv anger cloth, a signature black-and-white striped fabric. This symbolises pride and identity.
- Procession of the Bride: Normally, the bride is ferried to the bridegroom’s house in a glamorous procession featuring singing, drumming, and dancing intricately choreographed.
- Exchange of Gifts: Both families exchange gifts to show a sign of hope and togetherness.
- Cultural Dances: Members are entertained through traditional form of dance such as the Kwagh-hir, making the event a happier one.
7. Post-Wedding Practices
Several rites are followed after the wedding in order to bury the bride into the new family and also to strengthen the bond.
Key Practices:
- Introduction to In-Laws: The bride is officially presented to the groom’s relatives and friends from the community in another way.
- Household Duties: The bride begins her new role by engaging in domestic activities, symbolising her commitment to her new family.
- Family Feast: A reception that is organised by the groom’s parent to welcome the bride and kick-start the marriage ceremony.
8. Challenges and Modern Influences
While Tiv marriage customs remain deeply valued, modern influences and socio-economic factors have introduced changes.
Challenges:
- Urbanization: Younger generations in urban areas may deviate from traditional practices due to exposure to different lifestyles.
- Bride Price Inflation: Rising demands for bride prices can sometimes create financial strain, deterring potential suitors.
Modern Adaptations:
- Some couples opt for a blend of traditional and Western-style weddings, incorporating elements from both cultures.
- Communities and elders are working to address issues like excessive bride price to ensure the tradition remains accessible.
9. Significance of Tiv Marriage Customs
Tiv marriage practices are more than ceremonial—they are a cultural institution that upholds values like respect, family unity, and social order.
Key Values:
- Respect for Elders: The involvement of elders in every stage highlights their role as custodians of tradition and wisdom.
- Community Spirit: Marriage ceremonies bring together extended families and the larger community, fostering unity.
- Preservation of Culture: The rituals, attire, and music associated with Tiv weddings serve as a living expression of Tiv heritage.
Conclusion
Like most traditional societies Tiv people follow certain marriage rituals that embody their existence, love, family and tradition. These practice remain prominent today; this is an indication that at the heart of modernity, Tiv traditional practices endure uninfluenced. The Tiv takes their customs as a sign of pride which should be passed on to the future generations.
