Marriage is an institution ordained and ordered by God.It is the only institution that was established before sin came into the world. A formal union, marriage is a social, and legal contract between two individuals that unites their lives legally, economically, and emotionally. The contractual marriage agreement usually implies that the couple has legal obligations to each other throughout their lives or until the decide to divorce.
There are three types of marriage
CIVIL MARRIAGE:In most countries, the marriage ordinance prescribe that a certificate must be acquired from the local or municipal authority, granting a three month period during which a couple must be married after their names have been published at the municipal council for three weeks.If no one opposes the marraiage within these weeks, the marriage may take place.A legal register must be sign by at least two witnesses.Parental consent is desirable, encourage and sought after,but not 100% essential if the couple is about eighteen. It is a crime to marry again while still married under the marriage ordinance.
CUSTOMARY MARRIAGE: In customary marriage especially africas, family get together and traditionally hand over their daughter after customary rites are performed. The rites vary depending on the family and tribe. In the eastern part of the country, dowry is as essential as the marriage itself. Chukweme okafor, an igbo chief, said that “the issue of bride price in Nigeria can never be overemphasized. In Igbo culture, the bride price is meant to prove that prospective husband can take good care of his family.”
In Owerri, Imo State, the amount of money spent during the preliminaries of the marriage may be worth over N20 000 before the payment of the real dowry.
In the north, the issue is not as worrisome as in the eastern part of the country. A prominent scholar in Adamawa State, Sheik Muhammad Awwal Aminu, said dowry is one of the most significant pillars of marriage, without which marriage cannot be consummated in Islam. He said in Islam, the minimum acceptable amount as dowry is one quarter of a “Dinar”, which is about N10,000. Some families consider this as merely an engagement, that is, an agreement to marry. The church does not recognize customary marriage as marriage unless it is blessed by the pastors.
image of a customary marriage in africa
RELIGIOUS MARRIAGE: In religious marriage, as acertain to christain, the church conducts the vows and blesses the couple. As far as the church is concerned, you are not married unless this is done. The church also publishes the names of all couples getting married, on its noticeboard for at least three weeks, so the if there is any objection to the marriage it may be voiced.
