What is the relationship between Igbo and Yoruba people?
Does Igbo marry more than one wife?
Does Yoruba marry more than one wife?
Yoruba families are customarily patrilineal and patrilocal in nature. What constitutes the nuclear family and what are the roles of members in it? The nuclear family comprises the father or baba, the mother or mama/Iya, and the children or omo. Polygamy is practiced among the Yoruba, men can marry more than one wife.
Response from an Igala woman representing the Yorubas.
She expressed that in today’s modern world, Igbo people are beginning to marry individuals from other tribes. However, she believes that many Igbo men lack education and wisdom in this regard, and are solely focused on making money. Once they’ve achieved financial success, they often choose to return to their village to marry. Nevertheless, she acknowledges that things are changing as more Igbo men are pursuing education and encountering people from diverse backgrounds.
The Yoruba people value more than just money; they also desire education and the opportunity to travel abroad and experience different cultures. This is why it’s common to see Yoruba men marrying white women, while it’s less common for Igbo men to do so.
RESPONSE FROM AN IGBO WOMAN
When discussing the tribe that was ranked as one of the smartest, most intelligent, wealthiest, and most educated in Nigeria and Black Africa in 2015, it is illogical to suggest that Igbo men did not attend school in “those days” and only pursued money. Furthermore, the assertion that Igbo men do not marry White women due to a lack of education is also not supported or proven by evidence.
First of all, everything she said is false because Igbo men did go to school and have also been known to marry white women. Additionally, Igbo men and women are open to marrying individuals from other tribes. It is important to acknowledge that tribalism exists in various tribes, and some people still adhere to certain traditions or customs.
For instance, there are many Yoruba tribes that refuse to consider marriages within their own tribe, let alone with other tribes. People often choose to marry within their tribe because they may find it challenging to navigate cultural differences and values. Some Igbo men may prefer to marry within their tribe because they want their children to be taught the same culture and values handed down by their own parents. It could also be that Igbo women possess certain qualities that attract Igbo men and Yoruba and Hausa men, which leads to intertribal marriage.
However, this does not mean that Igbo men are prohibited from marrying outside their tribe or are exclusively limited to marrying from a particular tribe. It is also possible that Yoruba girls may exhibit more tribalistic tendencies and resist the idea of bringing an Igbo suitor home. I personally have encountered numerous Yoruba girls who refuse to be friends with Igbo guys, let alone consider dating them.
Women have a time frame within which they often feel pressured to get married to the most eligible suitor. A woman can only marry a man who pursues her, courts her, nurtures a relationship with her, and eventually marries her. If an Igbo man fails to do any of these things, but a Yoruba man shows interest and follows through with all the necessary steps, then it is likely that the Igbo lady in question will marry the Yoruba man.
In general, people tend to have a strong connection to the environment in which they were raised. This is why many Igbo men who grew up in villages choose to return there to marry their fellow villagers. It is not necessarily an indication of tribalism. Similarly, those who grew up in other states or countries often choose to marry someone from that particular place.
IGBO WOMAN: Hossana.
IGALA WOMAN: Sarah.