ISOKO CULTURE: A BRIEF WALK INTO THE LIVES OF ONE OF NIGERIA’S FINEST TRIBE

 If the tribe of Isoko was a man, Urhobo would have been his twin brother.

For many years and still counting, Isoko as a tribe has been deemed as one with Urhobo by most people outside the shores of Delta State.

As a matter of fact, there are people who don’t even know about the tribe at all. And this is because, in terms of political aspiration and infra-structural development, Isoko seems to be lagging behind.

Nevertheless, the fact still remains that it is one of the finest tribe in Nigeria.

The typical Isoko marriage consists of three steps: First visit, second visit, and the paying of the bride price.

On the first visit, the groom to be will visit the bride’s home alongside his family members ( about 5 – 10) to introduce and make known their introduction.

Upon their arrival, they would be entertained by the girl’s father with kola nut and drinks. Additionally, the girl’s father will give his guest money for their trouble finding their way to his house.

In return, the groom’s family will reciprocate by offering the girls family their own drinks and kola nut. They will also pay back two times the money that was given to them by the girl’s father.

At the second visit, the groom to be will present his gift (different type of drinks and kola nut), to the girl’s father and the girl is summoned and will be asked if she knew the man and want to marry him.

The presented gifts will be accepted only upon her agreement to marry him. List of required items needed by the girl’s parent is given to the man to buy or pay the equivalent.

However, it is customary for the girl’s father to introduce the man to some of his family member about 5-10 and about 5-3 of the mother’s family.

The groom must visit these people one after the other and he must fulfill every request they ask of him. Also, list of required items needed by the girl’s parent is given to the man to buy or pay the equivalent.

Afterwards, a date for the bride price will be fixed. On this particular day, the families of both parties will come together and agree on the pride price after negotiation. And then celebration will commence.

Belief

Owing to the strong influence of Western civilization, the Isoko people have, predominantly, become Christians. Nevertheless, traditional worship still thrives among them.

And similar to the belief of other advanced peoples around the world, the Isoko people believe that death is not the end of a person and his relationship with family and loved ones.

 

Death to them is considered a change from a physical life form to a spiritual form.

The premise of ancestor worship is based on understanding that the course of life is cyclical, not linear. Those who are dead may not be seen physically, but are alive in a different world.

culled from www.pulse.ng