Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, and many other ethnic groups are inter-marrying despite myths, stereotypes weaved against one another
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Nigerians share experiences of what ethnic groups their parents forbid them marrying from. The chatter, which attracted more than 2,000 responses, was sparked by a question of a Twitter user, @MargaretObi1.
Although inter-ethnic marriages have improved in Nigeria with inter-ethnic contacts, some still resist it due to perceptions mostly informed by limited knowledge of others.
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Other reasons may be a false sense of ethnic superiority, transferred aggressions or the ethnic political chess games of politicians.
The responses
@brytophobia said: “My dad used to tell us that non of us should marry from agbor. I asked him why and he said they are wicked. Well, 7 out of every 10 agbor people I have come across seems to exhibit that trait. Will I conclude all of them are wicked? No. Am I open to a relationship with them? Yes.
@Yem_Yem21 said: “Igbo. My mum said once the husband dies they tell the wife to sleep with his corpse in the same room for 7 days. I don’t know how true it is but I love Igbo guys.”
@EhiGhattie said: “Igbo. And they keep coming my way. First boyfriend- Igbo. Toaster-Igbo. Side toaster- Igbo. I went to my state to study, mehn It’s still Igbo. Graduated and serving, guess what? One fine Igbo boy just messaged me few days back, he got my number from my friend. “
@OAfunmi said: “Abeokuta, Oyo, Osun, Ilorin particularly, Igbos and Hausas are also out. She basically wants me to marry her father.”
@temil_ajao said: “Anyone that isn’t Yoruba. Told my mum my boyfriend is from Delta, she said ‘ahh, Omo Igbo!’ I said no, he’s not Igbo. I felt the disappointment in her tone when she said “eshamarora” (just be careful).”
@AdeBadmus said: “Chai my mum really offended me while I was dating MY AKWA IBOM BABE, ENOBONG (Gift of God). Me with mum had a heated argument for years and I stood my ground protecting her, Mum is late now. She separated us WETIN she gains?? Am sad I really love her she’s sweet calm and loving. “
@warzpilot: said: “My mumsi said I should only date and marry Yoruba. All the babes I’ve had romantic something with have never been Yoruba. The Yoruba babe I met and said okay o, My Mumsi’s choice dumped me for one Ikoyi boy that’s above me in everything, money, connect, e even fine pass me.”
