Marriage as a Contested Moral Space: Tradition, Modernity, and Social Change in Igbo Society
Conference: The 23rd Annual International Conference of the Igbo Studies Association (ISA) (2026)
Presenter(s): Maria Ukamaka Umenyili
Presentation Date: May 14, 2026 @ 14:38 PM
Tags: Awka Nigeria 2026 Anambra Independent Researcher Maria Ukamaka Umenyili
Abstract
Marriage in Igbo society has historically functioned as a central institution for social organization, moral regulation, and communal continuity. Rooted in deeply embedded customs such as bride wealth, kinship obligations, extended family authority, and gendered role expectations, Igbo marriage has long served as a stabilizing force within the social order. However, contemporary social transformations—driven by modernization, urbanization, formal education, Christianity, economic pressures, legal reforms, and globalization—have increasingly placed this institution under intense moral and cultural scrutiny. This paper examines the evolving tensions between tradition and modernity in Igbo marital practices, framing marriage as a contested moral space where cultural authority, individual agency, and changing values intersect. Drawing on secondary literature, customary norms, and emerging empirical observations from Igbo communities, the study interrogates key areas of contestation, including bride wealth practices, gender relations, marital authority, divorce, cohabitation, and the influence of statutory law on customary marriage systems. The paper argues that rather than representing a simple decline of tradition, contemporary changes in Igbo marriage reflect processes of negotiation, adaptation, and moral re-interpretation. By situating Igbo marriage within broader debates on African modernity and cultural continuity, the study contributes to scholarly discussions on family, morality, and social change in postcolonial African societies, while offering insights relevant to policy, conflict mediation, and gender-sensitive legal reforms.
10 views