Asaba: Inter-Marriages Within A Quarter, A Proposition

Chris Odu

Looking back through our admirable rich history and cultures, the formation and transition into modern day era of Asaba, specifically in respect of various Ogbes (villages), Quarter (Ebo), family linages, settings and other interesting aspect of interests. We may have at some point in the past permitted to engage into marriage within the same Quarter or but not from the same village in the past or not.

Change is constant; societies evolve with the ability to reflect modernity and new era without losing core values and their identity. Both South or across the River Niger and various regions of Nigeria and African, the young men and women are allowed to choose their life partners (wife and husband) as long as the other party is not from the same family linage or Ogbe (village).

Example: A man from Ogbe-Ogo choosing a wife from Umuonyia or Idumugbe village, even if both are from the same Quarters?

Asaba tradition and culture does not currently allow for such inter-marriage within the same Quarter or Ebo. The moral point here; have we now reached the stage whereby we can make this change and possibly allow our young men to choose their love and life partners from the same Quarter but not from the same village or parents linage? Have we not been too restrictive on our younger lovers, as long as such lovers are not equally from the same parental linages?

What seems to be the argument against such shift from norms and in line with modernization or are we attributing this purely on fear factor of making such transitions? Such inter-marriages have not harmed other societies traditions and cultures in other towns, cities in Nigeria or Africa so far.

We seem very happy to marry into Iyagba’s offspring but yet will not allow Iyagba full autonomy?

Just thinking..............