A Socio-Religious Appraisal of Marriage Institution

This book is a research work that offers a close view into some marital practices by the Tiv people of North-central Nigeria at the heart of Africa. Which includes the processes involved in choosing a partner,courtship, the marital rites like bride price payment and the marriage ceremony. The work shows the importance placed on marriage among the Tivs and its societal values. However this discourse evaluates the effect of the problem of imposition, problem of polygyny, immorality, economic burden, lack of intimacy and exploitation from the marital practices. The work revealed that, despite the many challenges and effects associated to how the Tiv society practice marriage, it is still something of sacred obligation and any adult that refuses to marry is seen as abnormal or cursed. The work brought to knowledge and availability, previous and present documentation of marriage institution among the Tiv. The findings, thus establish the possibility of negative effect that the western acculturation into the Tiv marital culture might pose. The thrust of the work is the recommendations by the researcher that would help to maintain the sacredness of the Tiv marriage institution.