Tor Tiv sets N100,000 cap on marriage rites, approves legal inheritance for women
Tor Tiv Introduces Major Reforms to Tiv Customs
MARKURDI, Nigeria — The Tor Tiv, James Iorzua Ayatse, has announced significant reforms to traditional Tiv customs, a move many regard as a pivotal change in the community’s customs and practices.
The announcement was made during the Ijir Tamen, the supreme assembly of the Tiv Nation, which was chaired by Ayatse and attended by traditional leaders, elders, and representatives from both Nigeria and the diaspora.
The newly adopted measures aim to foster unity, promote discipline, ensure financial responsibility, and enhance gender equality among the Tiv people worldwide.
One of the most notable resolutions addressed burial practices. The assembly mandated that all funeral activities must be completed within three days and limited participation to immediate family members. Lavish ceremonies and prolonged celebrations were strongly discouraged, with burial anniversaries and memorial events prohibited due to the financial strain they impose.
Additionally, the new directives exempt married women from mandatory contributions to funeral expenses for their husbands’ families, unless they choose to assist voluntarily. In a significant move toward gender equality, married Tiv women will now possess full inheritance rights, supported by legal protections and enforceable court measures.
In an effort to curb excessive expenditures during marriage ceremonies, the Tor Tiv established a cap of N100,000 on marriage-related expenses. The assembly also banned cake-cutting at traditional weddings and abolished the “kwase kuhan” festivities, typically held at the father-in-law’s home.
The council also expressed a firm stance against domestic violence, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy that applies to all individuals, regardless of gender. However, the Tor Tiv reaffirmed that the leadership of the traditional kingship institution remains male-only, ruling out any potential for female succession.
The cultural reforms apply to all Tiv individuals, no matter their location, reinforcing the authority of the Tiv traditional institution across geographical boundaries.
In a bid to maintain order, the assembly prohibited the consumption of ogogoro, a local gin, throughout the Tiv Kingdom. The Tor Tiv further announced plans to launch Tiv Television, designed to promote and preserve Tiv heritage globally. Initially, the platform will operate on Facebook before transitioning to full broadcast television.
Moreover, the assembly approved a women-focused financial initiative named BAM, aimed at providing loans and enhancing economic empowerment for Tiv women.
While security issues affecting the Tiv community were discussed during the assembly, no specific resolutions were publicly disclosed.
