Forms of marriage in Nigeria: The act of marrying occurs when a man and a woman decide to merge their lives according to the law. Marriage is a legally recognized union. It transforms the two sweethearts into a husband and wife relationship. Nigeria recognizes a number of different types of marriage. Only women and men will be discussed in this section, as partnerships between people of the same gender are illegal in our nation.
In Nigeria, there are four types of marriage that are practiced. They fall into the categories of statutory, customary, religious, and traditional practices. Several characteristics distinguish the wedding procedure from other sorts of celebrations, and each form has its own set of characteristics.
Civil or statutory marriage
This is the legal marriage as defined by the official Marriage Act of the United Kingdom (this document specifies all the requirements necessary for an official marriage celebration in Nigeria). Currently, it is only feasible between men and women, and the relationship is monogamous. What exactly does it mean? A statutory wedding is a voluntary union between two individuals who are in love, performed with the exclusion of all other persons for the entire time period during which the marriage is legally valid.
There are certain crucial facts about marriage that are detailed in the Marriage Act. First and foremost, there is an age restriction. Only men and women who are 21 years old or older are eligible to marry without the consent of their parents. Citizens who marry when under the appropriate age and do so without the written consent of their guardians or parents may face a two-year prison sentence if they are convicted. The statutory marriage also specifies additional standards and rules that must be followed. Anyone who has already been married to someone is prohibited from marrying another person under state law unless they obtain a valid divorce from their previous spouse through the court system.
The Marriage Act allows for the consideration of extraordinary circumstances in some cases. All of these scenarios, on the other hand, can only be reviewed with the Judge and approved by him or her. The statutory wedding ceremony can be performed by a minister from any official church. If the couple can show their marriage certificate or license, it can be performed at legitimate houses of worship or at the Registry.
Customary marriage
Wedding customs and traditions celebrated by different ethnic communities in Nigeria are diverse and fascinating to learn about and observe. Customary marriage is the term used to describe such celebrations. While each ethnic group has the right to maintain its own traditions, there are some traditions that are universally acknowledged by all people of all backgrounds. In this style of wedding, the couple, as well as their family, come together to form one unit. Even though her spouse is not acknowledged as a member of her own family in the same way, the customary wife is accepted as a legitimate member of her husband’s family. Despite this, the two families have maintain a strong bond.
Customary marriage is distinct from a statutory marriage, which is considered to be monogamous by law. In contrast to the latter, the polygamous marriage arrangement is recognized under customary law. In other words, a customary husband can be married to more than one wife at the same time without violating the law. Marriages under customary law, have no restriction to the number of wives a husband can have. The fact remains that many couples prefer to marry under both customary and statutory laws, which means that their union can only be monogamous in nature.
Typically, the future husband presents his future wife’s family with a variety of gifts according to their tastes. It could be in the form of money, jewels, property, or something else else. There is even a concept known as the ‘bride price,’ which refers to a type of payment that a prospective husband and his family must make to the woman’s family in order for the customary marriage to take place.
The mutual agreement of the couple, as well as the consent of the couple’s parents, are two requirements for the traditional wedding ceremony to be legalized. In Nigeria, the customary marriage law does not establish any restrictions on the age of the couple getting married. This indicates that under this law, it is possible for a child to be legally married. Until 2003, this was a significant issue in the country. In that same year, the Child’s Right Act became law for the first time. According to this crucial document, the only sort of marriage permitted in Nigeria must be between two people who are at least 18 years old at the time of the marriage.
Religious marriage
Religious weddings, which are one of the four types of marriage recognized in Nigeria, can be divided into sub-forms based on the religion being practiced. It could be a Christian or Islamic marriage, for example. Each type has its own tradition and set of regulations that are carefully governed by religious and legal principles. For the purpose of providing a more accurate description of religious marriage in Nigeria, let’s go over the many sorts of marriages under Islamic and Christian law.
Islamic marriage
The religious form of the wedding shares some characteristics with the traditional form of the wedding. Polygamy is permitted in Islamic marriage, with a husband having the option of marrying up to four wives. Such a right does not exist for a wife. It is possible for the family’s father to exercise his ijbar right on occasion. This is the marriage agreement that he enters into on behalf of his female children, despite the fact that they have not given their consent. The Maliki law contains a detailed description of these rules. The grown-up child, on the other hand, retains the right to reject any such marriage contract.
The Islamic marriage demands the approval of both parents, as well as the presence of two Muslim witnesses. In addition, the bride’s family receives the ‘bride price,’ which is the sum of money paid by her future husband’s family.
Christian marriage
This ritual differs from the Islamic wedding ceremony in several ways. The Christian marriage is characterized by monogamy. Important elements like as intimate family relationships, the processional and prayer are all included in the features. The ceremony is frequently attended by a large number of individuals, including the couple’s parents and grandparents, as well as relatives and friends. The processional and a prayer that is performed openly in front of all of the guests are the two most important aspects of the ritual. The priest is the one who officiates during a Christian wedding. The bride and groom exchange wedding rings after promising to support one another forever. They also share their own wedding vows. After then, the pair is blessed and they exchange a kiss. The newlyweds can now celebrate their wedding with their guests outside of the church.
Traditional marriage
This type of marriage differs from the traditional wedding in a number of ways, yet it also has many characteristics with it. For example, the groom and bride are required to dress in their traditional attires for the occasion. Their wedding ceremony is conducted in accordance with all of the traditions of the couple’s tribe, state, or ethnic region.
Introduction Ceremonies are always held, during which the family of the groom pays a visit to the home of the bride and accepts a large list of items known as dowry from her family. This list can include items such as wedding apparel, jewelry, shoes, food, and beverages, among other things. All of these gifts are to be brought to the engagement ceremony by the groom’s family in order to indicate to the groom that the bride is extremely valuable to him. It’s interesting to note that all of these presents can be turned down by the women in the bride’s extended family. If this occurs, the engagement can be postponed until another time.
The traditional wedding ceremony is frequently attended by a large number of people, including family and friends. Marriage is celebrated with the participation of siblings, parents, and other loved ones, and the location is determined by the bride’s family. The ceremony might span anywhere from a couple of hours to seven days, depending on the circumstances. It all depends on the traditions followed by the two families that are attempting to bring their children together in a beautiful love-based marriage. There will be dancing, eating, and drinking involved in the celebration. Aside from that, the traditional wedding is usually followed by the actual church wedding ceremony.
In Nigeria, every traditional wedding is a major celebration. It is significant to both families, which is why the ceremony is usually a large celebration with a large number of guests.
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