by Superb Nwandu
Recently, there have been lots of traditional marriages going on at all Igbo communities in diaspora around the world. It is the mark of the growing up of second generation Igbos in diaspora and fantastically good for the continuation of our presence in other parts of the world. Significantly, such marriages will reduce the rate of divorces that have been going on in diaspora. Igbo folks at one time recorded nearly 75% divorces among married couples in the USA alone.
Second generation marriages could be recognized as true marriages because the couple get to see and date each other prior to marriage. Many Igbo folks in diaspora went home to marry a spouse through arranged marriages. Those arrangements were mostly based on the affluence of the spousal parents and in many cases unite 2 people from different walks of life. The spouses from home, mostly wives come here expecting more than their husbands could dish out. Some husbands go home and tell their prospective wives of their made up profession in the diaspora so as to convince them in marriage. In many cases, the husbands are old enough to be the wife’s father and the Dollar won’t wake up the Buruntashi as their things have been jacked up by the American women that they have been dating prior
I have heard of guys telling their prospective wives that they are “environmental specialty technician” instead of just telling them that they are janitors. Some call themselves; “logistic engineer” at the major international airport instead of Taxi drivers or “Ogbata ekee”. Some even use the term, “overall safety inspector” instead of security guard or “Mee guard”. With such lies, the wife comes over here, pump out some kids at first and then attends a nursing school to become an ATM for the husband. Such unity always end up in divorce as one spouse begins to rise above the other. Many of them end up in fatality as the husband’s demands could not be met any longer in this professional based society.
Conclusively, I must say that the current traditional marriages taking place every where is the best thing that have happened to our communities in diaspora in a long time. When you are old and can’t see up, not to talk about getting up, do not go home to marry a young girl to spoil her growing up by using her as security to pay your bills. Bravo to all newly weds even though none had ever invited me to the occasion.
