Editor’s notes: Oladele Hakeem, an editor looks at some of the factors responsible for high rate of intermarriage among Yoruba women.
Acceptance of Intermarriage
Inter-tribal marriage and inter-racial marriage are no more new things in the 21st century. Someone from a race or tribe may decide to go for another person different from his or her own orientation. There used to be a time when these types of marriages were seen as a taboo. This is because some races believe that there should not be inter-mixing of blood. This practice is still common in the name of consanguineous marriage. Some royal families have been reported to practise consanguinity.
In some cultures in Nigeria, the daughter does not have a personal choice to decide whom she will get married to. While, there is flexibility in others. For instance, in the Hausa tradition, it is not very easy for a girl child to decide of her own volition her future partner. It is only when her parents, especially her father consents to her choice that she could be given a go-ahead. Even sometimes, it is the father that decides who the girl will get married to. This is however reducing due to the influence of education and religious teachings.
The nature of the Yoruba family has made the girl child someone with a mind of her own. There is so much flexibility in the Yoruba setting, particularly those that live in towns and cities. Parents do allow their daughters to decide whom their hearts want. This in turn has made these girls to go for men of other tribes when they get to marriageable age. They hardly decline a proposal for marriage even if the man is not a Yoruba.
Some prominent Nigerians who have Yoruba women as wives are numerous. Some even have Yorubas as their mother. The list is endless, but a few would be mentioned to know how much Yoruba women see inter-tribal marriage as a normal thing. The wife of late General Murtala Rahmat Muhammad was a Yoruba. Her name was Ajoke. She was the Head of State’s wife during his reign between 1975 and 1976.
Other distinguished personalities that married Yoruba women include: The late Emir of Kano, Abdullah Ado Bayero; Ex Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; Former Governors of Benue and Bauchi states, Gabriel Suswan and Isa Yuguda respectively. Interestingly, the present governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson has a Yoruba mother who is an Ijebu from Ogun state.
Yoruba women do have some things going for them which are not easily found in other tribes. Certain things are actually responsible for this.
1. Independently minded
Yoruba women are liberal in their thinking. They have less influence from their parents. This has resulted in a situation whereby it makes rooms available for so much freedom in the choice of whom they decide to marry. If an Igbo man comes to them and shows interest in them, they do not look at his language or tribe. If it is a lady that is ready for marriage, she thinks about it and agrees to marry the man. They fall in love if they believe he is their dream man. This has led to scenarios whereby various women from south-western states marry other men that are not from their region.
According to culture.com, about 20% of Yoruba still practise traditional religion. It can be deduced therefore that 80% who practise different religions are giving their daughters the free will to marry whomsoever they desire.
2. Highly accommodating
Yorubas generally are highly accommodating people. Historically, Yorubas have been at the forefront of the tribes who welcome strangers. They do entertain their guests even if the person is not from a Yoruba-spoken town. This spirit of warmly allowing non-indigenes to live among them is why states like Lagos, Ogun and Oyo have almost all the different tribes of people in Nigeria residing in them. This good quality is not just limited to the men. It is across board.
Yoruba women believe that since they have non-Yorubas among themselves, there is nothing wrong in becoming the wives of men from other tribes. Therefore, a check on inter-tribal marriage has Yoruba women on the top list.
3. Adventure
This reason may come as a surprise. Yoruba women travel a lot. They travel for business, education and other reasons. In doing this, a Yoruba woman who is single before her trip might be fortunate to see a guy she likes.
It is very rare to hear an educated Yoruba lady say she would not marry a man from another tribe. The way she sees Yoruba men is also the same way she sees other men who are not Yoruba. There is no restriction in her choice of husband. She does not have a tribal biased mindset. She is ecstatic when she tells her parents that her fiancée is not Yoruba. She does not believe that this would erode away her culture. If a man who is her suitable taste comes to her, she accepts him. This is because she believes in discovering new things.
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A Yoruba woman in traditional attire |
Acceptance of Intermarriage
Inter-tribal marriage and inter-racial marriage are no more new things in the 21st century. Someone from a race or tribe may decide to go for another person different from his or her own orientation. There used to be a time when these types of marriages were seen as a taboo. This is because some races believe that there should not be inter-mixing of blood. This practice is still common in the name of consanguineous marriage. Some royal families have been reported to practise consanguinity.
In some cultures in Nigeria, the daughter does not have a personal choice to decide whom she will get married to. While, there is flexibility in others. For instance, in the Hausa tradition, it is not very easy for a girl child to decide of her own volition her future partner. It is only when her parents, especially her father consents to her choice that she could be given a go-ahead. Even sometimes, it is the father that decides who the girl will get married to. This is however reducing due to the influence of education and religious teachings.
The nature of the Yoruba family has made the girl child someone with a mind of her own. There is so much flexibility in the Yoruba setting, particularly those that live in towns and cities. Parents do allow their daughters to decide whom their hearts want. This in turn has made these girls to go for men of other tribes when they get to marriageable age. They hardly decline a proposal for marriage even if the man is not a Yoruba.
Some prominent Nigerians who have Yoruba women as wives are numerous. Some even have Yorubas as their mother. The list is endless, but a few would be mentioned to know how much Yoruba women see inter-tribal marriage as a normal thing. The wife of late General Murtala Rahmat Muhammad was a Yoruba. Her name was Ajoke. She was the Head of State’s wife during his reign between 1975 and 1976.
Other distinguished personalities that married Yoruba women include: The late Emir of Kano, Abdullah Ado Bayero; Ex Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; Former Governors of Benue and Bauchi states, Gabriel Suswan and Isa Yuguda respectively. Interestingly, the present governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson has a Yoruba mother who is an Ijebu from Ogun state.
Yoruba women do have some things going for them which are not easily found in other tribes. Certain things are actually responsible for this.
1. Independently minded
Yoruba women are liberal in their thinking. They have less influence from their parents. This has resulted in a situation whereby it makes rooms available for so much freedom in the choice of whom they decide to marry. If an Igbo man comes to them and shows interest in them, they do not look at his language or tribe. If it is a lady that is ready for marriage, she thinks about it and agrees to marry the man. They fall in love if they believe he is their dream man. This has led to scenarios whereby various women from south-western states marry other men that are not from their region.
According to culture.com, about 20% of Yoruba still practise traditional religion. It can be deduced therefore that 80% who practise different religions are giving their daughters the free will to marry whomsoever they desire.
2. Highly accommodating
Yorubas generally are highly accommodating people. Historically, Yorubas have been at the forefront of the tribes who welcome strangers. They do entertain their guests even if the person is not from a Yoruba-spoken town. This spirit of warmly allowing non-indigenes to live among them is why states like Lagos, Ogun and Oyo have almost all the different tribes of people in Nigeria residing in them. This good quality is not just limited to the men. It is across board.
Yoruba women believe that since they have non-Yorubas among themselves, there is nothing wrong in becoming the wives of men from other tribes. Therefore, a check on inter-tribal marriage has Yoruba women on the top list.
3. Adventure
This reason may come as a surprise. Yoruba women travel a lot. They travel for business, education and other reasons. In doing this, a Yoruba woman who is single before her trip might be fortunate to see a guy she likes.
It is very rare to hear an educated Yoruba lady say she would not marry a man from another tribe. The way she sees Yoruba men is also the same way she sees other men who are not Yoruba. There is no restriction in her choice of husband. She does not have a tribal biased mindset. She is ecstatic when she tells her parents that her fiancée is not Yoruba. She does not believe that this would erode away her culture. If a man who is her suitable taste comes to her, she accepts him. This is because she believes in discovering new things.
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