Different strokes for different folks if you ask me. So where are the eligible bachelors in the house? now is the time to go this village in Kadunna,, who knows? You may see your missing rib there and she will become yours with just N 550
All right enjoy this report culled from Daily Trust Newspaper and don't forget to share your thoughts with us!
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| Governor Yero Of Kaduna State |
Marriage in Gnami, a community in Kagarko Local Government Area in Kaduna State, which shares boundaries with Bwari in the FCT, comes with simplicity because of the existing unity in the community.
While some communities accept thousands of naira, it cost male residents or visitors alike just N550 to get married to a woman of their choice in the community.
The amount called gbepe, according to the village head, Chief Ibrahim Yarima, is the most important part of marriage rites in the community.
The community leader, who is versed in the culture of the community, did not mince words as he took our reporter through the wedding rites of the residents, which he said has outlived many in the community and it is held in high esteem despite the civilisation that has crept into the tradition of the community.
Chief Ibrahim Yarima stated that once the N550 is paid, the man holds claim to the woman, adding that the money, gbepe, has already paved way for the man and woman to be called husband and wife even if they decided against further ceremonies.
“Once you pay the gbepe, your wife can move in with you while no one dares go near her in the community,” he told Aso Chronicle.
The community head, who took our reporter through the wedding procedure in his chamber situated in the heart of the community, said a relative of the man approach the family of the woman with a local drink to register their intention.
He called the local drink jebe adding that it is the only acceptable drink for the purpose. He said that the acceptance of jebe crowns the quest of the man for a wife.
“The family of the lady now expectedly demand a short period to seek the consent of the girl on the request. If she nods to it, then the family will send for the man’s relative who will now give little amount of money that we call gbepe.’’
Though the community head said the money used to the between N5 and N10 which would be given to the mother of the woman to signify the intention of the man to take her as his wife, he said it is now N550.
“With payment of the money, you have marked her and nobody dares go to her again,” he said.
After all these have been completed, the elders would have to sit once more to allot and explain how the dowry would be paid, “but that gbepe that you had earlier given is the major thing.”
He added that gbepe is to signify interest while the dowry would be paid later. He explained that depe and gbepe are the two significant steps in the wedding rite.
“The parents have the right to give you their daughter even if you cannot afford to pay the dowry sum. The moment you pay the money [gbepe] and brought the wine [depe], she can move in with you immediately; she is your wife and has no right to go and marry any other man,” he further explained with a smile.
“But if the man can afford the dowry, the proper wedding can be held. The wedding is also in two phases, just like engagement and wedding that is done nowadays,” he said
This means of marriage, the village head added, is enforceable and applicable to any man, who intends to marry from the community as residents sternly frown at any acts outside their way of marriage. “If you do not do it as I have earlier stated, then you have to find your wife elsewhere,” he explained.
The village head said the method of wedding adopted in the community has helped in discouraging promiscuity among residents.
Similarly, infidelity is not condoned in the community, the village head explained. Any man that engages in extra-marital affairs is considered as enemy not only to the husband of the wife but also to the entire community.
“If you are caught to have had an intercourse with another man’s wife, you have an enmity with the husband, so you will be taken to the chief, who will in turn punish you accordingly,” he said.
The punishment, he further added, is a presentation of a male dog to the village elders. “The person that did such an act will come with the dog to resolve the enmity with the husband. So the dog is used to cleanse you of the offense and restore the friendship between you and the husband and as well free the community from likely dangers of the act.
“If the wife wishes to discontinue the marriage, then he can file for a divorce through the elders, but until then, the woman is not allowed to see another man once the gbepe has been given to her mother,” he said.
Don’t you think the punishment is trivial, asked our reporter. “You might think it is very small but then it is also very big because we do not tolerate it. If someone should have sexual intercourse with someone’s wife, we need to shed the blood of animal to cleanse the land or something bad will happen to the residents. Something bad like sudden deaths, so we have to block it.”
He said that the village chief has no further punishment to mete out on the offender aside the dog, adding that such women involved in the acts are taken to the hospital for medical tests, including HIV/AIDS and pregnancy tests.
Chief Yarima then said that the community is faced with many challenges topped by deplorable roads.
He said the roads that linked the community to neighbouring areas are in bad shape thereby discouraging the movement of people, especially conveying of farm products by the residents, whom he said are mostly farmers.
The road, he added, has also made accessibility to healthcare centre difficult by the residents especially during the rainy season.
He said some years ago, residents had to wait at home and in most cases administered herbal medicines on the sick because their road was bad.
He therefore called on the authorities of the local government to renovate the roads in the community.
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