Cheers to Tuesday! We happily continue our Knowledge sequence as we examine a Nigerian tribe renowned for its skill in hair-making and significant agricultural contributions.
The Ebira is the name of this Clan. They have primarily resided in Nigeria’s Middle Belt state of Kogi. They are a group of people who have a strong sense of community with nature and are farmers at heart.
Here is how the traditional bridal rite is carried out by the Ebira people.
Traditional Ebira marriage norms dictate that a man never goes to his future in-laws to express his interest in their daughter; rather, his parents and, often, older ladies from his family do so.
They introduce themselves and the situation when they go see the girl’s parents. They also have a responsibility to fully investigate the lady’s family history.
When all requirements are satisfied, a date is chosen for the “Ise Ewere” or formal introduction of both families. During this occasion, gifts are presented to the bride’s family, including 42 yam tubers, hot beverages, various wines, soda, Kola nuts, etc.
The engagement ceremony comes once this phase is complete and all conversations have come to a conclusion. The groom might not even need to be there because his family can take care of everything.
In order to properly introduce both families, the bride’s family hosts the groom’s family and provides them with food and beverages. In the meantime, the groom’s presents are distributed to the neighbors and extended family in order to ask for their prayers and to let them know that the lady has been engaged to a guy of her choosing.
The bride price is often determined by the girl’s parents and is based on the groom’s financial capacity. In addition to the initial bride price, there are other costs that must be covered, including the following:
“OTANUVOGEI,” which translates as “joining hands,”
“OZEMEIYI,” which translates to “I am drawn to her,”
“IDOZA or The farming price,” is what the groom pays in place of physically working on the farm for his father-in-law as in the past.
On the wedding day, women from the groom’s family can be seen dancing to the bride’s house while bearing yam tubers on their heads. As soon as they arrive at the bride’s compound, the event begins.
It begins with a religious leader and the couple‘s parents praying for the union to be successful. Then the normally lavish and colorful event would come to an end. The bride’s possessions are then delivered to her new residence while she is accompanied by a few other women and her friends.
For the Ebira kinfolk, this is how a typical wedding ceremony is conducted. As opposed to other tribes we have studied thus far, we must admit that this was rather simple. The Ebira community appears to be made up of individuals who move quickly to complete tasks.
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