To some Nigerians, their believe is marrying an Igbo woman could be the most expensive thing in life. But that’s not true though. The wedding custom of the Igbos varies from place to place. But all of them have the same basic structure. If you have an Igbo bae that you want to marry, here are some of the steps you would have to take:

The Introduction (Iku Aka)

After you’ve proposed to your bae and she’s accepted, the next step is visiting her father to ask for her hand. The prospective groom comes with some of his relatives as well as friends to the bride’s father’s house to officially express his intention to marry the bride. The bride to be is called and her consent is asked. If she says yes, the drinks/gifts the groom and his family brought is accepted.



IMAGE: KETEKETE

The Investigation (Iju Ese)

The bride’s family then launches an investigation into the prospective groom’s lineage. Things like ancestral curses, madness, childlessness and other issues are investigated. The investigation also makes sure the prospective groom isn’t related to the bride to be as it is considered a taboo (alu) to marry someone you’re related to in Igboland. If the investigation turns up nothing, the prospective groom and his family are invited for the next step. It is believed the prospective groom’s family has already investigated the bride’s family before coming for the Iku Aka.
Igbo woman
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Visiting the Umu Nna (Extended family)

It is believed that when you marry in Igboland, you also marry the family. The prospective groom, more relatives and friends go to seek consent to marry the bride to be from her extended family (Umu Nna). The groom is expected to come with Kolanuts, palm wine, snuff, a goat and other things on his visit to the Umu Nna. Once consent is given, the bridal list is presented to him.
Igbo-bride
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Paying the bride price (Ime Ego)

This is usually the next step in the wedding process. The groom is expected to come with his people to pay the bride price of the woman he wants to marry. In Igboland, the bride price is symbolic. The groom’s father or his uncle presents the bride price to the bride’s father. Usually, the Ime ego is held on a different day from the Igba Nkwu ceremony but these days the two events are combined into one. If the Ime Ego is the same as the Igba Nkwu, the rest of the items on the bridal list is presented to the bride’s father.

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Igba Nkwu (The wine carrying ceremony)

This is the wedding day proper. The bride is dressed in the traditional attire for married women, that is a wrapper and blouse with red coral necklaces and a scarf (Ichafu). On the Igba Nkwu day, the groom comes with his relatives and more friends. He brings the items on the bridal list plus the bride price if the Ime Ego is also held on the same day. The bride is brought out and her father hands her a flute of palm wine. She is asked to go find her husband in the crowd of well-wishers. The groom and his friends usually wear similar attire so as to distract the bride from finding her groom in the crowd.
Igbo-couple-wedding
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Blessing the marriage

Once the bride finds her groom, she kneels and hands him the flute of palm wine. He drinks some of the wine and passes the rest of the wine for her to drink. The groom puts some money into the flute and follows the bride to her father to receive prayers and blessings. The couple will now be declared husband and wife. And merriment will follow.

IMAGE: BELLANAIJA