Contemporary Marriage Processes in Nigeria: Willing Love, Perilous Business, Post-Marriage Problems
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Date
2017-09
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Modern Research Studies: An International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences
Abstract
From immemorial, marriage has been regarded as the union of a man
and a woman to live together for love, procreation and social
acceptance (The Bible - Genesis 2:14, Ephesians 5:33, The Quran -
2:187, 30:21). In the African world, especially among Nigerians, this is
not different. Contemporary Nigerian marriage ceremonies, the subject
of this paper, reflect a link between tradition and modernity. The
process demands the new couple have enough finance to marry and to
see them through life the many months after the marriage ceremonies.
Steps involved in the marriage process are many and daunting. Each
involves huge sums of finance: Initial Introduction of the two families;
Engagement (Traditional Marriage); Registry (Court Marriage); Church
(Christian/White) Marriage; Mosque (Islamic/Nikkah) Marriage; and
Reception (for refreshment) amongst others. This paper contends that
the financial implications involved are so enormous that young men are
dilly-dallying over getting married. This situation is worsened by
economic situations in the country. Many eligible and willing men are
unemployed despite their academic qualifications. Therefore, many
young unmarried females are wasting away. It is averred that most effects are felt immediately after the marriage ceremony in the lives of
the couples. Using the descriptive analysis, this paper examines the
issue in view of the socio-economic and marital problems posed by this
situation (at the pre and post marriage positions). This paper submits
that changes must start to make the Nigerian marriage process and
marital life more welcoming, affordable, and attractive to the to-bewedded
and the newly-wedded.
Description
Staff Publication
Keywords
marriage,, popular culture,, contemporary,, economy