Woman-to-Woman Marriage in Igbo Tradition - Yes, there is an answer to this question. In Igbo nation, it is customary for a woman to pay dowry on the head of another woman and call her her wife. However, the same custom bans a guy from marrying another man.
Igbo tribes are ethnic groupings with distinct customs and traditions. Men are the leaders in Igbo nation. Men have dominion over women. In certain critical topics, they are seen but not heard.
In Igbo culture, no matter how exposed a woman is, there are some things she is not authorized to do.
Some of these items are enshrined in Igbo tradition and passed down from generation to generation. However, there are minor variances in some Igbo places.
Men in Igbo culture are allowed to do anything except one thing. Men are not allowed to marry other men, but women are. A woman can legally marry another woman and refer to her as her “husband.”
Men can do everything they want without being questioned, but not this one. Our grandparents were taught that their husbands could cheat and get away with it. If a married lady dares to do so, she will be punished and returned to her parents.
Why are males not allowed to marry other men in Igbo culture?
The solution to this question is straightforward. It requires common sense to provide the proper answer.
In Igbo tradition, a guy cannot marry another man since every male in Igbo territory is an ObiObi stands for a head or a captain.
A man is already an independent lineage the moment he is born. He is needed or expected to reproduce his ancestors.
As a result, a captain or an independent Obi cannot be relocated and subjugated to a new Obi. Two captains cannot be on the same ship at the same time.
Again, many Igbo societies do not give a kid born outside of marriage to the biological father. A man is obligated to pay a brideprice to a lady before he may claim progeny from the relationship.
As a result, because men lack the ability to create offspring, marrying them is pointless because there is still a need to marry a woman who will bear children.
In a word, a guy cannot marry another man since every man in Igbo nation is a lineage.
In Igbo tradition, why do women marry their fellow women?
The necessity for procreation is the primary reason why a woman marries another woman. Aside from that, I don’t believe the practice will be necessary.
Because I am a product of woman-to-woman marriage in Igbo culture, I am in a position to offer truthful answers.
A woman who did not bear a child to her husband before his death is historically authorized in Igbo culture to marry a wife for herself with the backing of her husband’s agnates. The woman will have children in her late husband’s name.
In many circumstances, the lady will bear a kid for her husband but will not bear male offspring. The new bride is now getting married in the hopes of bearing male offspring who will carry on the lineage of the deceased husband.
A lady who is maintained in the family (iha nwanyi) in the name of her father to carry children is another group of women who can marry their fellow women. If such a lady is unable to produce children or does not have male offspring, she may marry a woman who will conceive in her late father’s name.
Who is in charge of procreation in a woman-to-woman marriage?
In a typical Igbo society, the man who would be responsible for procreation in a woman-to-woman marriage is chosen by agreement. Before paying her brideprice, both ladies will negotiate an agreement.
It is either the woman who marries such a woman, or she chooses from among the capable young men in her husband’s family or from outside. Alternatively, the wife will select the father of her children.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Woman-to-Woman Marriage in Igbo Culture
In Igbo culture, the main advantage of a woman marrying another woman is the desire for continuity (Aha m efula). She bears offspring who will carry the family name.
Another is to prevent lineage extinction.
In an Igbo society, the disadvantages of a woman marrying another woman are subtle. It promotes promiscuity. It has also ruined many natural households since some of the men picked to execute the labor abandoned their primary family to focus on the concubine and the children.
Sexually transmitted diseases and infections proliferate. This is because the wife of a guy frequently decides to jump from one man’s bed to another.
In Igbo tradition, woman-to-woman marriage is an open invitation to ‘public feasts.’ Some unscrupulous woman-husbands sell the defenseless ladies to several males.
Is Igbo woman-to-woman marriage a kind of lesbianism?
No!
So, what’s the difference between lesbianism and a woman marrying another woman in traditional Igbo culture? The distinction is what lesbianism represents.
Women engage in sexual relationships with one other in lesbianism, but not in Igbo Tradition woman-to-woman marriage.
They walk outdoors to find sexual partners, who are always men.
Summary:
We asked the topic, “Can a woman marry another woman in an Igbo tradition?” and we have offered the solutions.
Yes, there is an answer to this question. It is customary for a woman to pay dowry on the head of another woman and refer to her as her wife. We also stated that the same custom bans a guy from marrying another man.
We attempted to address why it is banned for Igbo men to marry other men in the body of the article. We discussed why it is permissible for a woman to marry another woman and who is competent to do so.
We didn’t stop there; we compared Igbo woman-to-woman marriage to lesbianism and concluded that they are not the same.
We also sketched the advantages and disadvantages of woman-to-woman marriage in traditional Igbo society.
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