Popular Customs & Traditions of Nigerian Weddings

Nigerian wedding traditions are steeped in long-established cultural beliefs. Traditions of Nigerian weddings vary according to the tribe’s unique customs. With over 300 ethnic groups making up Africa’s most populous nation — and each group having their own marriage tradition they strictly follow — you can expect something fascinating to always happen before, during, and after a Nigerian wedding.

Before the Wedding

Family Introduction of the Bride and Groom

The wedding preparations kick off with a formal introduction of the bride’s and the groom’s families. Usually, this event is the first time the two families get to meet face to face. The practice of exchanging gifts is observed, and the groom receives a list of items and things he should do to prepare for the wedding from the bride’s family.

Marriage by Seniority

In Nigeria, one cannot get married unless all the older siblings have gotten married first; this is especially true for the men. Traditionally, younger siblings wait until every older brother or sister is married before even planning an engagement.  Sadly, there are instances when the potential groom moves on from the marriage plans when the bride-to-be expects a long wait for older siblings to get married.

Finding the Bride

Igbo tribes follow a bride identification ceremony just before the wedding. Three women, with their faces and features completely hidden, will be presented to the groom. It’s a curious Nigerian wedding tradition where the guy has to guess which of the 3 ladies is his bride. If a wrong choice is made, the wedding can be canceled altogether. To be fair, the bride has to go through a crowd to find her husband and give him a cup filled with wine before the wedding ceremony.

The Bride’s Dowry List

A man marrying an Igbo woman must be prepared to loosen — or even completely remove — his purse strings. The bride’s family presents the groom with a dowry list that symbolizes the bride price or value. It is expected that brides who have successful careers or who have attained a high level of education come with a more extensive – and expensive! — dowry list. However, adjustments to modern life have some brides’ families relaxing this custom to a degree, with a toned-down dowry list that won’t bankrupt the groom.

Women Rule!

Women hold a highly-esteemed position in Nigerian society, and this is evident in wedding planning. The ladies in the bride’s family are the ones to determine if the groom has satisfactorily met or completed the dowry list. These women have the power to literally make or break the wedding engagement, which can only proceed once the dowry’s monetary value has been met.

Pre-Wedding Pain

As Nigerian wedding traditions put it, the Hausa and Fulani tribes follow an old and rather cruel tradition.The groom is subjected to 100 lashes in public, which should be endured without any sign of pain, discomfort, or complaints; otherwise, the wedding will not proceed. This Sharo tradition of public lashing is a test of the groom’s bravery and tenacity that is supposed to prove that he is a decent man who can marry the girl.

Flat on the Ground

One of the most interesting Yoruba traditions is the practice of the groom and his friends lying prostrate, completely flat on the ground. With this ritual, the groom can express how much he respects the bride’s family. He is expected to do this 4 times during the wedding ceremony.

Color-Coordinated Outfits

In a Yoruba traditional wedding, the bride and groom are the ones to make a decision on the color scheme for the clothes of their family members. The color-coordinated outfits during the wedding day make it easier for guests to be distinguished — whether they come from the groom’s side, or the bride’s. This tradition is known as Aso-Ebi, which literally means family clothes. The couple also decides, which fabrics can be used for the outfits.

The Big Day(s)!

Wedding Day x 2

Following Nigerian wedding traditions and customs, the wedding ceremony is celebrated twice in a span of several days or weeks. The cultural wedding is typically celebrated first, followed by the religious one. During the religious ceremony, some brides often opt for a more common attire in the Western countries — the white wedding dress. However, some brides choose the traditional way with their wedding attire and wear a bright and colorful dress following their tribes’ wedding customs. The colorful outfits can even be a combination of the bride and groom’s tribal traditions.

A Guest List without Limits

As there is no formal guest list during a Nigerian wedding, the bride and groom will not have the problem of choosing which family and friends to invite – and which ones to leave out of the festivities. The hosts should be ready for a great number of wedding guests. Everything has to be taken into account — from the size of the venue to the amount of food and beverages.

Giving the Bride a Lift

One of the Nigerian wedding customs and traditions that the Yoruba tribe follows is the groom carrying the bride. This lifting symbolizes the groom’s capacity to support his bride during their marriage.

Money Dance

One established Nigerian wedding tradition is to throw money at the bride and is typically observed by older guests. This custom is only done to the bride while she is dancing but can still be done at any point during the festivities.

Music & Dancing

Music and dancing are non-negotiable inclusions in the traditions of Nigerian weddings. The most popular songs and dance tunes — such as the Skelewu and Azonto — are played to make the celebration livelier, encouraging guests to showcase their dance prowess for all to see.

Feasting on Nigerian Cuisine

Authentic Nigerian cuisine plays an important role in traditional wedding customs. It is usually a responsibility of the bride’s mother to think about catering. For sure, she can ask dozens of relatives for help. To show the connection of two families, the newlyweds and family members from both sides exchange food.

After the Wedding

The Virginity Test

The virginity test is one of the oldest wedding traditions followed by the Yoruba tribe. The groom has to show everybody a blood-stained cloth that is supposed to prove that his wife has been a virgin. His family sends gifts items to her family. No proof of virginity results in a yam being sent to the bride’s family instead.