Marriage among the Tiv
For the Tiv, marriage is the joining of two families and lineages, not only of two people. It is closely tied to the idea of family (tsombor). A child inherits rights through the father's lineage (ityo) while keeping close ties with the mother's family (igba), so each marriage creates lasting links between the families involved.
From exchange to bride price
The earliest Tiv form of marriage was yamshe, exchange marriage, in which families exchanged sisters or female relatives instead of paying a bride price. Because many young men had to wait years for a relative to exchange, other forms grew up beside it. These included marriage by elopement (kwase ngohol), which elders later regulated through peace covenants between communities known as iye. Over time yamshe gave way to kem kwase, bride-price marriage. In kem kwase the groom's family presents gifts and a bride price, traditionally in instalments, and the obligation to the bride's family continues long after the wedding.
Customs of the past
Some customs recorded here belong to history rather than present practice. Marriage through the purchase of an enslaved woman (kwase u sha uika) was rare, limited to wealthy men, and disappeared with the end of slavery. Widow inheritance (kwase dyako) placed a widow and her children under the care of her late husband's brother or another close relative. It is now seldom practised. These customs are documented for the historical record, not presented as practices to follow.
Marriage today
Many Tiv families now combine traditional rites with a church or civil wedding. They keep the family introductions, the bride-price negotiations, the blessing of elders, and wedding dress in anger cloth. The rising cost of kem kwase, as it has come to be paid more and more in money, is itself a subject of debate within Tiv society, and one article below traces that change.
Start with the brief history of Tiv marriage, then read about each form in turn. Customs differ from clan to clan, so if your family's practice differs from what is described here, please share it through the contribution form below.