Bassa Nge Traditional Marriage in Nigeria

The Bassa Nge People

The Bassa-Nge is an ethnic group in Nigeria that links its history back to 1805. They originally inhabited Gbara which was formerly the capital of the Nupe Kingdom.

The Bassa-Nge migrated from their homeland to Bida due to a political feud in about 1820. They are the largest of Nupe groups, with a population of about 15,000 in 1820 before they dispersed throughout Nigeria.

Source: NdaFoto

Their language is in the Nupe group of languages along with Kakanda, Zitako Dibo, Kupa, and Cekpa, which all belong to the Niger-Congo and Kwa group of West Africa Languages.

The Bassa-Nge People have their traditional ruler at Gboloko and the traditional ruler’s title is called “Etsu Bassa-Nge”. 

Traditional Marriage in Bassa Nge in Nigeria

Culture forms the bedrock of many African tribe fundamentals, especially the BassaNge people. Among other several traditions, the BassaNge marriage tradition seems to be another unique and distinctive.

Marriage among the BasssaNge is an elaborate affair of joining young men and women in the union to become one (couple) 

This discourse shall centre on traditional marriage ceremonies and processes among the BassaNge including different types of marriage available to the culture.  

There are various types of marriages in BassaNge land. These are; Parent Arranged Marriage, Couple Arranged Marriage, Marriage by recommendation, Marriage by Gift (Sadaka), and Marriage by Completion (Kpolaci).

Parent Arranged Marriage

As part of a tradition in BassaNge land, parents arrange marriages for their children either directly or indirectly. The parent of the intending groom meets the girl directly asking for her hand in marriage for their son.

A parent can as well delegate someone to assist in searching for a spouse for his son, giving out inherent details and qualities needed for his son. In this type of marriage, there will be no difficulties in getting parental conscience.

Couple Arranged Marriage

In this case, the couple meets on their own volition and agrees to marry each other. Most times, the couple meet at social events especially in the evenings and during the moonlight period in the village. Such events could be youth meetings, the eve of festivals (Amadza), etc.

When a relationship is defined and established the boy tells his peer group and the girl is accorded respect where ever they meet.

During the courtship, both couples get their respective family informed with both families carrying out their investigations independently for approval. When the investigation is proved positive by both families then the marriage will be approved.

Marriage by Recommendation

In this situation, the activity of a lady’s social interaction and her behaviour is closely monitored and noticed by someone who in turn recommends her for a very hardworking and promising young man.

It has always been expected of grown-up ladies and men to behave well so that they may be commended and recommended. Although this is an antiquated type of marriage among the BassaNge people it is barely practised among a few little enclosed communities.

Marriage by Gift (Sadaka)

 This occurs when a man gives out his daughter for marriage to an acquainted family to establish a relationship or strengthen existing relationships due to the status of the family.

In a rare situation, this also takes place when a man doesn’t have the means or what it takes to marry. Such a man can be given a wife as Sadaka (gift).

Marriage Continuity (Kpolachi)

This is another type of marriage where a woman who lost her husband is been given out by the husband’s family to the late husband’s brother to continue the relationship and to carter for the children left behind.

Kidnapping of Bride

The kidnapping of the bride was part of the marriage tradition in BassaNge culture. This was a socially approved method of collecting what already belongs to you when you are denied access to it. This is not allowed until when all necessary obligations have been done and the bride’s family refuse to release the girl.

She can be kidnapped usually on her way to market or stream, most usually on market days. In the olden days, it was an accepted approach all through BassaNge land.

Stages in Traditional Marriage

Decision-Making Stage

When a young man identifies a young girl that he is interested in marrying, he proceeds to make a background check of not just the girl but the family as well.

He finds out if the girl is of good character, if she is hard working and if she is well cultured and behaved.

He also finds out the history of her family, if they have a criminal reputation, whether they have witchcraft, or whether they have a history of bareness or any other health history that will be useful to the would-be groom in decision-making.

In the process, the would-be groom in those days, would consult the help of an herbalist or fortune teller to look into their future if the marriage would succeed together. Thereafter, he moves ahead to propose.

Making Proposal/Advances

Loving advance is made by the young man to the girl when she is going to market, stream, farm or at any youth gathering. If the advances look positive, a middle woman known as Nna-em (usually a married woman) is sent to approach the girl if need be.

A further step is then taken by sending delegates led by the Nna-emi who will be the middle woman to the parent or guardian of the would-be wife.

If the offer is accepted by the family, then it marks the beginning of formal interaction and cordial relationships between the two families.

Representatives from the would-be husband are usually sent to the family of the would-be wife to ask for the hands of their daughter in marriage. The young man (the would-be husband) may or may not go with them.

The wooing stage

The wooing has no specific time. It depends on the situation on the ground and how long it takes the would-be bride’s family to be convinced. Wooing is not just winning the heart of the girl to be married but also winning her heart and that of the parent and in some cases, some of the relations.

In BassaNge traditional marriage, parental consent is a strong determinant for any marriage to be consolidated. A couple does not go ahead to marry when the parent’s consent is not given. 

Obligation/Commitment

The groom is also expected to carry out some obligations during the wooing stage as part of the process to satisfy the parents/ guardians of the would-be bride to release their daughter. The obligation includes convincing the would-be bride’s family that the man and his family are committed, caring and responsible.

Such obligations include the intending groom, his friends and brothers going to farm for the parent of a would-be wife.

Other obligations may include joining them in building and construction works and others as may be accepted by them. Gifts are also presented to the parent of the would-be bride during noticeable occasions and festivals.

Since not all men and friends are in the village to go and farm for their would-be wife’s parents, it has been recently monetized. The money is collected during the presentation of items as Awo Agbe Nna and Awo Agbe Nda.

Amgo (Acceptance or Introduction)

This is the first formal gathering of the immediate families of both the intended bride and groom.

The objective of the meeting is for the would-be groom to publicly declare his interest and for the would-be bride to also publicly accept. At this stage, the would-be bride is asked if she will agree to marry the young man. 

According to tradition, the intending bride will mention the amount to be collected for her bride price. In some cases, the bride price will be paid at this stage while some are paid during the traditional marriage.

The amount ranges from family to family. Some families may ask you to pay what you have, as they are not going to sell their daughter. Some may even collect and give you back.

Items Presented to the Bride’s Family.

After the acceptance of the proposal, is set the next stage where the groom’s family comes along with dowry and another marriage list which includes; basins (Tarabi or Agbogi), 10 tubers of Yams, a white cock and a white hen, foodstuffs, Guinea Corn, Palm Oil, Groundnut Oil, Goat, bags of Rice and 200 pieces of Kola nuts and cloths for the girl.

While the white cock will be cooked for the husband and wife after the traditional wedding, the hen will be kept for her to reproduce.

They also bring a stipulated amount of money for the young girls in the family, the young men and money for the mothers in the family. The mothers consist of the bride’s aunties.

The Marriage Ceremony

The marriage ceremony varies from family to family and community to community. If the family is wealthy and commands high status, it will also determine the calibre of men that will be in attendance.

In those days the wealth of a man is measured by the size of his farm, the number of wives and several children.

Customarily, the ceremony is done by an Elder from the Bride’s family by breaking of kola nut before the start of the ceremony.

The Nna-em (representative of the would-be groom) will come out to say that they have seen a flower or a ripe Mango in their compound which they have come to plug.

A song will then be raised like “chigban na sun na 3x u dokun na ma na dabo. (Out of many fruitful trees there are delicious ones among them).

While the family of the Bridegroom will be feasting, drinking, singing, and dancing waiting for the arrival of the Bride.

In most cases, the entourage of the Bride normally sends an advance message to the Bridegroom that an obstacle is preventing them on their way, which required the Bridegroom to send money or gift items to remove the obstacle.

Even though the bride lives inside the compound, after paying the money, the sister or friend will be brought out twice as the bride before the real bride is finally brought out. Each time the wrong person is brought; money will be collected for return transport.

The marriage ceremony used to take 7 days. The ceremonies take place with feast and dancing going on simultaneously in both the bride and groom’s houses.

The main joining together is done on the 5th day, some of the days are set out for just singing and dancing including leg dance by the groom’s friends.

On the 7th day, the groom is expected to go and greet the bride’s family in the company of his friends. The bride while leaving her house will go with some of her friends to her husband’s house where she gets unveiled.

Nuwo-Kanwo (Ritual Bathing)

For this ritual, the bride is taken to a bathroom on the eve of the wedding where she will be bathed on a mortar with pants by experienced elderly women while music goes on.

At the end of the bathing of Nuwo-Kanwo, there is a real cleansing bath with good water after which the bride breaks the calabash. This bathing signifies the washing away of every bad luck that she carries.

The virginity of the bride will be tested on the first night with the husband. If she is confirmed as a virgin, her parents get honoured for that. It will become a thing of shame if it otherwise

Abara Ceremony (Matrimonial Blessing)

At this point of the ceremony, the Abara which is a ceremony of blessing where the elders join the couple and blessed them is conducted. Before the advent of modernization and religion, sacrifices were usually made to appease the gods.