THE EFFECTS OF TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE CEREMONY ON THE YOUTHS

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to find out the effects of traditional marriage ceremony on the youths among Bini-speaking people of Edo State. One hundred and seventy questionnaire were distributed and one hundred and sixty were collected from both married men and women in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State and some youths. Percentages were employed in all analysis. On investigation, the researchers found out that rituals perform in traditional marriage ceremony is one factor that discourages the youths and makes them to turn away from traditional marriage ceremony. Traditional marriage ceremony also gave room to polygamy which is distasted by the youth especially the ladies. It was also discovered that the practice of traditional marriage ceremony is regarded as primitive by some youths and that it leads to over population. Some recommendations were also made by the researcher that the ritualistic aspect of traditional marriage ceremony should be modified to suit the modern society. The undue power given to men over the women in traditional marriage ceremony should be minimized.

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER ONE

Background to the study

Statement of the problem

Purpose of the study

Significance of the study

Research questions

Scope of the study

Limitation of the study

Definition of terms

CHAPTER TWO        

A brief introduction of this chapter comprising the sub-heading to be treated

Discussion of these relevant sub-heading by reviewing recent related works of other authors

A brief summary of chapter two

CHAPTER THREE

Procedure of study

Research design

Population of the study

Sample of the study

Sampling techniques adopted

Instrumentation

Validation of instrument

Method of data collection

Method of data analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

Data and discussion of results

Use of relevant tables or statistics to present and analyze the data

A discussion of the results derived from the data

CHAPTER FIVE         

Summary, conclusion and recommendation

Summary

Conclusion

Recommendations

BIBLIOGRAPHY

APPENDIX        

CHAPTER ONE

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

According to Egharevba (1998) claims that the Binis migrated from Egypt and eventually occupied the heart of the present Oredo, Orhionmwon Ovia North East and Ovia North West Local Government Areas of Edo State with their headquarters at Benin City, Abudu, Ehor and Iguobazuwa respectively. The Binis practice various forms of religion ranging from the traditional religion to Christianity, the traditional dresses and white clothe with coral beads as neck lace and in the ankles. The women dress in wrapper (Igbegbe) with coral beads as their neck lace. Today however, most of the men dress in buba and wrapper like the Yorubas. Although Christianity had influenced the traditional religion, it is important to note that it has not erased it from the society.

Traditional religion still exists and most things are still done in the traditional ways. Examples are the traditional marriage ceremony as it affects the youth in the society today can be said to be as a result of the influence of westernization and foreign religion. Their educational system created a great enlightenment among the people in the area of dressing, food, drink, music, language, their system of marriage etc. Because of this, the modern youths now have their own ideas about the day to day activities and the area of marriage ceremony is not left out. Education as an eye opener has made our youths to see the loopholes in our traditional kind of marriage for example, the involvement of too many rituals when is expected to be carried out by the couples before they are properly married.

Economically too, it is rejected on the basis that it consumes a lot of money. The bride price though this varies from one family to another is considered to be much the ceremony which usually takes up to the period when bride had fully settled in her husband’s house usually involve a lot of spending on the part of the bride groom. Sociologically speaking too, the youths especially the ladies abhor traditional marriage ceremony, the man is allowed to marry as many wives as he likes. This act is intolerable among our modern ladies, many of them have to drag their groom to the court6 or church in quest of one man, one wife out on this ground in the sense that the more wives, the more children and this bring about over population and other economic and social hazards to the society. Religiously too, traditional marriage is not welcomed by the youths in that it destroys their faith. According to Ogbonmwan (1995) the reason why the youths contact church marriage is that the church is an institution. It has her own laws and regulations among these are that Christians must marry in the church; he went further to say that marriage is a part of Christian’s heritage. He supported this by making reference to the beginning God made male and female and said for this reason, man   shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and their two shall become one flesh as they are no longer two but one flesh. “What God has joined together let no man put asunder”. To him Christians come to marry in the church because they are Christians.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Due to the avenue provided by the traditional marriage ceremony to have more than one wife, the ritualistic involvement of would be couples and the economy and social problem it has brought as a result of its polygamous nature, have made the youths to kick against it.

PURPOSE OF STUDY

The purpose of study is to find out these effects that traditional marriage ceremony have on the youths. It is to show how it is carried out, the general opinions on traditional marriage ceremony especially the youths’ opinions and to find out also the influence of family on traditional marriage ceremony.

HYPOTHESIS

In view of the problems of this study, the following hypotheses were stated.

1.     Traditional marriage ceremony gives the man undue power over the woman.

2.     There is the involvement of families in traditional marriage ceremony.

3.     The traditional marriage ceremony involves to many rituals.

4.     Most couples combine traditional marriage ceremony with the Christian or ordinance kind of marriage.

5.     Youths especially the ladies abhor traditional marriage as it gives room for polygamy.

SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

It will be of great significance to parents especially those that believe strongly in tradition to always allow their children to decide on the form of marriage they want as this will go a long way to affect their lives. It will also be very useful to the society in general in terms of the polygamous nature of traditional marriage ceremony has this often than not lead to over population and other social vices.

SCOPE OF STUDY

This work seeks to treat the effects of traditional marriage ceremony. It was meant to cover the whole areas occupied by the Bini speaking people of Edo State, but due to financial and time constraints, it will only cover the following areas in Benin City, Abudu, Ugo.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Community: this is an identified area being occupied and developed by a group of people at a particular time.

Igbegbe: a kind of wrapper tied by the Bini women.

Polygamy: this is the marriage of one man to many women at any given time.

Tradition: opinions, beliefs, customs launched down from one generation to another.