TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE RITES OF BENDEGHE EKIEM OF CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA, 1900-1999

Abstract

African traditions are rarely taken seriously nowadays not because they are of no use but merely because of wrong impressions already created in the African over the years. Most young men and young women, for reasons of ignorance and lack of courage simply write off their cultures/ traditions and choose to grow in utter confusion instead. Yet some traditions are highly unavoidable, especially marriage activities. Traditions must be studied and understood before assessing how dangerous, destructive, or even supportive such traditions could be. Lack of documentation introduced confusion in Bendeghe traditional marriage rite. This work studied the traditional marriage rite of Bendeghe Ekiem in Cross River State with the purpose of letting the original method interact with modern marriage activities. The instruments of study included mainly primary sources of oral interview and discussion. Secondary sources in form of published articles and books were also consulted, and information gathered proved useful. The results were eye opening, and mind blowing to know that much of the present practices in Bendeghe Ekiem marriage activities represent a distortion of the old. The study was concluded by highlighting the original aims and practices of Marriage in Bendeghe Ekiem.