Adhere To Dos, Don’ts Of Uromi Traditional Marriage – Ojuromi Urges Sons, Daughters
By Our REPORTER
The Ojuromi of Uromi Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Zaiki Anslem Odaloighe Eidenojie II, has urged Uromi sons and daughters to always adhere to the doctrines of Uromi Kingdom as its relate to native law and custom of the kingdom, most especially traditional marriage.
The Eson of Uromi Kingdom, Chief Patrick Eron while speaking on behalf of Zaiki-Eidenojie II today during an enlarged meeting with sons and daughters of Uromi Kingdom at the palace of the Ojuromi of Uromi Kingdom, headquarters of Esan North-East local government area of Edo State.
According to Chief Eron, our dos and don’ts are paramount to us, and we must continue to re-emphasise these to our children whenever they are about to get married.
While enumerating the dos and don’ts of Uromi traditional marriage, Chief Eron pointed out that although the native laws and customs have been in existence, it is paramount to continue reiterating our traditional laws to our young sons and daughters who are at the age of getting married.
He noted: “It is an abomination for another man to touch an Esan married woman’s wrapper/clothing, else it is considered as though she has committed adultery unless the married woman raises an alarm at that instant or reports to her husband immediately.
“When a woman commits adultery, she will lose her children and her life as a consequence for the repulsive act, unless she confesses and as restitution, she is striped completely unclad, her head is shaved, a part of her private part is shaved, one of her armpits is shaved and both of her hands are tied behind her, while a basket full of trash is placed on her head. She is then paraded around the community by other women.
“It is taboo and abominable for a wife to claim that her husband who has performed all the necessary traditional marriage rites raped her. If any time such a false accusation arose, both must immediately report to their families within two days.
“If the above is not done and the woman goes ahead to cook for her children, her children will die one after the other including herself. lso, if her husband, out of love or pity conceals the repulsive act within himself without letting the families know and goes ahead to eat the food cooked by the woman, he will die within a week.’’
“It is also a taboo for another man to cross the outstretched legs of a married woman else it is considered as though she already had sex with the man.”
He further, Chief Eron added “A married woman cannot steal her husband’s money in Esanland as it is seen as an abomination. She must tell him about it.
“It is considered an abomination for a man to sit on the bed of an Esan couple as it is seen as a taboo.
“It is also an abomination for a woman to spit on her husband under any circumstance. If she does, she must sacrifice a fowl to appease the ancestors.
“The husband of a woman who just gave birth must stay away from her sexually for three months as she’s considered unclean because of the after-delivery blood she discharges.
“Children given birth after marriage must answer their father’s name since the man has perfected all the necessary traditional rites as the husband.”
The Eron enlisted the enlisted the items required for Uromi traditional marriage which include 1 Umbrella, 1 suitcase filled with clothes (box of wrappers), 2 bottles of hot drinks (schnapps), 1 crate of malt drinks, 1 plate of kola nuts, 1 bag of salt, 25 Liters of palm oil for the bride’s mother, 1 jar of palm wine and 1 carton of wine for sundry use (the groom should hold this).
Other items are 3 crates of malt for women of the lineage, 6 cartons of beer for men of the lineage (broken down into 2 cartons of small Guinness stout; 2 cartons of Star beer; 2 cartons of Guilder beer), 28 tubers of yam arranged into four groups of seven, 14 tubers of yam for the eldest man in the lineage, N1,500 cash for the dowry, N5,000 cash for the bride’s mother, N3,000 cash for the bride’s father, N9,000 cash for the men in the bride’s lineage and N6,000 cash for the women in bride’s lineage.
In Conclusion, Chief Eron on behalf of Ujuromi prayed for all the sons and daughters of Uromi, wished everyone a long life and prosperity and accorded everyone to do whatever is always right as the almighty God expected of us.
Some of the palace chiefs also collaborated Chief Eron on the dos and don’ts of Uromi Kingdom.