Marriage is one universal culture that is recognized by all peoples of the world. In some cultures, the process leading to the final completion of marriage rites sometime is too complex or and fairly demanding on the part of man, while other cultures take it in the simple way making the man to marry without stress. Generally, in traditional African societies, the process of marriage usually take months and sometimes it extends into years. This is mostly because, the family (parents) of the lady must be satisfied in their own assessment of the behavioral conduct of the man, the cultural implications of the man’s culture on their daughter, and the root of the family which the man is coming from. On the other hand too, the man’s parents consider a lot of things most of which are similar or the same to those of lady’s parent. In Ibo land, for example, there are certain sections which do not inter-marry. They believe that if one gets married to either a man or woman from such section, he or she is doomed to suffer certain things in life. These are some of the things that often stand between individuals of different sections, tribe or culture.
However, the coming of civilization in the name of modernism has offered peoples of different cultures and nationalities a renewed way of approaching issues of marriage. For instance, most people of those days, used to favour prejudice against love and allow their true feelings to be marred by negative beliefs held against a particular people within a particular cultural group. Today, however, people normally have a personalized approach in considering issues of marriage. In this way, a Yoruba man not like the culture of the Ibo, yet marry their daughter if there is great understanding between them.
In Nigeria at present, most ethnic groups have come to terms with reality of living, staying and working together in one country. This has opened new horizons in their approaches to marriage issues which is completely different from the negative stereotypical beliefs initially held against each others’ culture. There is hardly no tribe or ethic group in Nigeria now that has not experienced one form of inter-marriage or the other. Even in the high-society circle, marriages between ethnic groups is no longer opposed as in the past. The online which is still acting against the marriage proposals between groups now is family wealth/resources. Most rich or wealthy families find it difficult to give their daughters out in marriage to poor families or allow the sons to marry from poor families. Ironically, most poor families are quick to receive or accept to give the daughters to rich or wealthy families. Above all Nigeria as a nation just need a century to harmonize her cultures. This is possible through inter-marriage.
*** Art in Disguise ***
