Urhobo is among the 371 ethnic nationalities in Nigeria with a population estimated almost two (2) million people and ranking the fifth largest ethnic group in the country. It is the largest ethnic group in Delta State of the Niger Delta Region and lives among its neighbors of Isoko, ijaw, Itsekiri and Delta Ibo.
Marriage Arrangement:
When a man is matured to marry; he meets a girl of his choice which the parents may not know of initially but which they would later be informed, or in the olden days, the parents would do the courtship on his behalf as the case may be. Both family then gets involved and if they agree, plans are made to solidify it with traditional rites before they go to either church or the registry for the legal marriage.
At this time, both families usually meet at the stipulated day for marriage rites after the formal introductions. On this very day, the bride’s family would welcome them and drinks, kola nuts even with money would be presented to the visitors referred to as the Groom’s people.
After the initial customary entertainments, the visitors are asked of the purpose of their visit through a spokesman. The visitors will tell them that they have come to marry one of their daughters for their son, who may even not be around or present as the case maybe.
After the bride’s family accepts the explanation, another traditional protocols of identifying the particular daughter ensues. The visitors are told that they have many daughters and do not know which one their son would like to marry.
Urhobo bride will now be introduced to the groom’s family during a traditional marriage ceremony. At this instance, about three to four girls are made to pass through their front which they would keep rejecting until the main one comes out. The rejected ones are usually given some money as compensations.
Once the preferred comes out and her consent sought & given, which is mere formality as they may have known themselves before, the dowry will then be paid which had been negotiated and agreements reached before now.
The Urhobo traditional marriage usually culminate with the bride’s father or his representative, pouring a liberation drinks using a native dry gin known as (Ogogoro) which may be substituted with Gordon gin and kola nuts.
After the prayers by the bride’s father to bless them, the bride will sit on the husband’s lap while the blessed drink is given to the husband who drinks first and gives to the wife, she takes little and hands it back to her husband to finish up.
At this juncture, of the tradition procedures, they are declared husband and wife and the occasion turns really hot with music, dancing and gifts exchanging hands while the couple are showered with gifts of money sprayed on them. There is the last part of the marriage rite known as “Esuo:” This is the escorting of the newly wedded back home with prayers and goodwill. Usually, not less than ten women from the bride’s place escort the bride to her husband’s house accompany with a little girl. It is expected that the little girl will assist the bride to do domestic shores for seven days, as the bride stay indoor. At the end of the seven days, the little girl goes back to her parents.
However, at the husband’s compound, a special ceremony is performed to evoke the spirit of the husband’s ancestor to receive the new wife and bless them with the fruits of the womb and to remain with her husband till death in a ceremony which usually last till dawn. Usually, a goat is use to perform this ritual for the blessings of life.
The extensive protocols of Urhobo traditional weddings are what usually make it to appear as if it is on the high side per se but which is not really so. The major issues involving marrying an Urhobo woman is that the groom cannot deny the fact that some things had definitely gone out him both emotionally and financially which makes adequate preparations a must!.
Below are what to be expected on the list of an Urhobo traditional marriage list and their purposes.
(1.) One bottle of hot drink. This serves to state the mission of coming
(2.) Another bottle of hot drink with N500.00 for commencement of marriage formalities
Acceptance of the marriage proposals also goes with it’s own requirements and these includes but not limited to the following:
1. N2,000 for the youths of the bride’s family both male and female
2. N2,000 for the bride’s mother and the wives in the family
3. N1,000 with a bottle of hot drink
4. N1,000 for the presentation of the bride and spraying of the bride’s mother by the groom’s family
5. Prayer for the couple by the bride’s father goes with one bottle of hot drink, a plate of native kola nut, and N400.00
6. N6,000.00 with a bottle of hot drink to accompany it for the bride’s price which is usually determined by the bride’s father.
Then for the bride’s father, the following gifts:
*1 Traditional hat
* 1 Traditional men’s wrapper
* 1 Traditionally made walking stick.
Then for the mother:
* 1 Traditional head-tie * 1 Traditional blouse
