MARRIAGE INSTITUTION AND THE CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: CASE STUDY THE NWANGELE PEOPLE
CHAPTER ONE
BACKGROUND TO STUDY
Introduction
    Marriage is a veritable rite of passage where by a man and woman come together from different families for the purpose of living together, procreation and to ensure the continuity of community life1. Marriage also serves a purpose of providing mutual interest and understanding of spouses. Human needs for affection are better served through marriage. Apart from ensuring Economic and Financial security, Marriage serves the purpose of regulating relationship between the sexes as it give rise to legally and socially approved sex partners and thus check indiscriminate sexual activities.
    In western society, Marriage is regarded as the end product of heterosexual, dating, courtship and engagement. It is culturally limited to the nuclear family in the African setting2.  However Marriage is not between a woman and a man, but largely concern of the Kin’s both in its contraction and maintenance. In other words, marriage goes beyond the immediate partners involved in it, to the members of the whole family on both sides. However whether western or African in nature Marriage is regarded all over the world as an important phase of life worth celebrating. The truth of this assertion can be found in the popular belief that of the three crucial ceremonies that are celebrated namely, Naming ceremony, Marriage ceremony and Burial ceremony, the only accounts for one namely; Marriage. Little wonder therefore that the prospective husband and wife eagerly look forward to the day of their Marriage. Indeed it can hardly be over emphasized that in the timeless words of Tullius Cicero “the first bound of society is Marriagre”3. As stated earlier Marriage is a significant aspect of people’s culture worldwide. Many people often find it difficult to understand other people’s culture on account of its own seeming strangeness to their own.
    The people of Nwangele in Imo state in the south eastern part of Nigeria holds the traditional value of Marriage to be sacred to their cultural value. Dr Iroegbu described the key elements of Igbo traditional marriage using prevalent in Mbano area of Imo state, which a number of principles underpins marriage institution one of them is that Marriage in Nwangele is not between one man and one woman, but rather it is between families and to a great extent between clans or villages. In the typically tradition the first step in marriage take the form of introduction between families involved. The Nwangele arrangement takes place in an event which is called “Igba Nkwu Nwanyi N’ala” it involves the payment of an amount agreed upon families which is known as bride-price and it is usually accompanied by other gift items such as Kolanuts, Palmwine, Tobacco, Local-gin etc. The presentation of these and the payment of bride price is followed by certain ceremonies after which the girl is usually accompanied by her relative and age groups to her new home taking along some household utensils which will enable her setup her own home.
    Another principle is that Marriage is sacrosanct. Divorce or Separation is not rampant and in event of a Divorce which rarely happens among the Nwangele people, part of the bride-price is usually refunded by the bride’s family depending on the custom. In other words it is said that marriage among these people holds realistic and priceless value to them. However in extenuating circumstances (which include flagrant abuse and neglects acts, likely to cause illness, promiscuity etc) the Marriage maybe set aside in accordance with the values, rules and practices prevalent in the locality. A third principle of Igbo Marriage institution is that dating or any kind of relationship between the man and the girl before formally married is not encouraged.
    This Study therefore examines the cultural significance of marriage among Nwangele people in Imo state4.
Aim and Objectives of the Study
    The aim of this study is to examine the culture of Nwangele people in regards to Marriage and its significance and its objectives include:
To highlight the importance and benefits of Marriage institution among the people
To examine the Cultural significance of Marriage among the people
To examine the role Marriage plays in solidifying relationship that enriches the communities
To examine the role Marriage plays, acting as an incubator for the raising of balanced socially functional children.
To examine the process of how marriage is contracted among the Nwangele people.
Significance of the Study
    Marriageis anideal set for children to be raised in to functionality as a contribution to the community. Marriage is a journey through life which enhances and enriches the entire community. Marriage is a strong and important institution among the people of Nwangele, this is because it unites not only two individuals but two their families and communities. The relevance of the study is to investigate the cultural significance of Marriage. It provides additional knowledge in inter community relations in Nwangele. With a case study of Marriage institution it reveals various cultural marriage practices which have been playing tremendous roles in strengthening the relations of the communities in Nwangele
Scope of the Study
    The scope of the study is about the Nwangele people with a focus on Marriage institution and the cultural significance it has on Nwangele local government.
Methodology
    In the course of research, relevant data and information were obtained from the main sources. These were primary and secondary sources.
Primary sources:source utilized in the course of the research were made from observation (which includes getting a firsthand view as to what marriage institution entails in Nwangele), telephone interviews face to face surveys etc, after gaining an insight into the research by reviewing the secondary source and previously collected data.
Secondary sources:source which were consulted in some Universities and public libraries in the country which include textbooks, Journals, Articles, Write ups and newspaper reports etc. These sources helped to provide data for a critical analysis of marriage institution among the people of Nwangele local government area in Imo state.
Literature Review
    There is not much academic work on cultural significance of Marriage among the people of Nwangele; there is however certain literature that deals on relevant aspects of marriage institution among the Igbo people in general. Reviewing the works of other scholars an attempt to undertake a related task has been a common routine among researchers. Thus without the views of intellectual predecessors and mentors, no product is considered.
    According to Elechi Amadi in his book, The Concubine6 he states “the importance of marriage relations guiding during negotiations of marriage between Ahurole and Wigwe. The book depicts what marriage relation brings to two communities involved in the contraction and he gives an idea as to their order of importance more especially the bride-price”. Also in his book “the Slave”7, Elechi Amadi portrays what “marriage activities means for the Erekwi youth, in girls were taught the secret of marriage during Mgbede as it ends with the finding of a worthy wife to be, the case of Wizo and Enna”. In Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”8 marriage was seen to bring household lineages and even towns together. The Igbo believed that every adult male and female must marry and build their households, Children were valued highly and marriage was a requisite first step.
    Marriage observed by Mbiti in his book, African Religion and Philosophy9 focused on existence, “Marriage is a duty a requirement for the corporate society and a rhythm of life in which anybody must participate”. Also F. K. Nukunya “Tradition and Change: an introduction to Sociology”10 states that “marriage is a basic institution in ever society. It is the recognized social institution not only for establishing and maintaining the family but also for creating and sustaining the ties of kinship. This statement centre on the importance of marriage among the Igbo tribes. In Chukwu’s “Traditional Igbo Marriage in Nigeria”11 novels even compare traditional marriage to drama “in every normal person is an actor or actress and nobody assumes the position of an audience”. Indeed the enthusiasm that often overwhelms the very being of a young one when it comes to marriage is always unparallel.
    According to C. Mitchell in A New Dictionary of Sociology12 she defines “marriage as a socially sanctioned sex relationship involving two or more people of the opposite sex whose relationship is expected to endure beyond the time required for gestation and birth of Children”.   Utibe Ukos “marriage the Igbo way”13, explains “marriage has a foremost place in the Igbo social economy. It looks upon the horizon of any maid and youth as an indispensable obligation to be fulfilled with as little delay as possible after reaching the age of puberty”. A. Nwoye in his book “Marriage and Family counselling”14 defines Marriage as “a sacred and permanent contract which is enacted when two people (a man and woman) decide on their own accord and in the presence of their family or witnesses to exchange the formal consent to live a life promoting their mutual growth and welfare as persons in their journey together through life”. While commenting on the socio-cultural relations of the Igbos, Obaro Ikime in his book “Groundwork of Nigerian History”15 used marriage institution between communities. While on the other hand, J. C. Anene observed in “Afigbo’s Ropes of Sand”16 that even though artificial boundaries separated ethnics, social cultural factors continue to bring them together in form of inter-marriage. C. C. Ifemesia’s, Traditional Human Living among the Igbo’s: an historical perspective17, on his study of south Eastern Nigeria, he maintained that there was early inter-marriage between the Igbo and Bonny.
    However in as much as there equally existing cultural uniformity, there equally cultural differences among the people of Nwangele regarding marriage institution.
Chapterization    
    This project is divided into five chapters:
Chapter One: Background to the study
Chapter Two: Geography and Traditions of the Nwangele people
Chapter Three: Traditional marriage practices in Nwangele
Chapter Four: Significance of marriage among Nwangele people
Chapter Five: Conclusion
Endnotes
Ogbeide Victor, “wine carrying and bridal train: A portrayal of Traditional Igbo marriage in Elechi Amadi’s”. The Concubine and the Slave, submitted to Department of English and Literature, University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, 2011, p.103
Alik Shahadah, “African Marriage: the most important ceremony in Africa culture” in African Holocaust, Vol 2, 2011, p.1
Geddes and Grosset, A Dictionary of Quotations, Scotland: David Dale House Publishers,1994 p.80
Patrick Iroegbu, Marrying wealth: Marrying Poverty: Gender and bride wealth Power in a changing society, Canada: Trafford Publishing Company, 2007, p.182
Chris Chiwetelu, “Igbo traditional marriage” in Masterweb, Vol 1 September 2012, p.3
Amadi Elechi, The Concubine, London: Heinemann Educational Books ltd, 1976, p.121
Amadi Elechi, The Slave, London: Heinemann Educational Books ltd, 1978, p.23
Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, London: Routeledge Publishers, 1972, Pp 30-32
J. S. Mbiti, African Religion and Philosophy, London, Heinemann Educational Books, 1921, p.133
F. K. Nukunya, Traditional and Change: An Introduction to Sociology, Accra: Ghana Publishing Company, 1992, p.2
E. Chukwu, “Traditional Igbo marriage in Nigeria”: novels, unpublished Long Essay to Department of English, University of Ado-Ekiti Nigeria, 2004, p.55
C. Mitchel, A New Dictionary of Sociology, London: Routeledge and Keagan Paul Books, 1978, p.213
U. Uko, “Marriage the Igboway”, This Day Newspaper, July 26, 2002, p.15
A. Nwoye, Marriage and Family Counselling, Jos: Fab Anieh publication Nigeria, 1991, p. 23
Obaro Ikime, Groundwork of Nigerian History, Ibadan: HebnPublishers, 2010, p.84
A. E. Afigbo, Ropes of Sand, Ibadan: University Press Publisher, 1981, p.13
 C. Ifemesia, Traditional Human Living among the Igbo: An Historical perspective, Enugu: Fourth Dimensional Publishers co, 1979, p.15