Ejeh Olivia © I am Benue 2020

Q. Do The Igede People Marry Tiv People?

Culture, Stories 13/08/2020 by Olivia Ejeh

The question I hate being asked as an Igede lady. I mean I can’t even say Yes, No, Maybe… I just laugh and walk away because I don’t even know and can’t tell why.

We all belong to one human race… To me, that’s all that matters

For all I know, the tribal or communal or whatever crises the Igedes have against Tivs have from day one meant nothing to me. I grew up in a Tiv man’s land and I can boldly say the Tiv have nothing against the Igede people, they are willing to marry an Igede lady anytime anyway but their so-called tradition won’t take their blindfolds off their eyes.

I eat Tiv dishes, I cook them well, I speak it if not more than I can speak Igede language, I write and read well in Tiv, I’ve grown to have Tiv friends and I feel even more accepted and comfortable with the Tiv people than I do with my own…

I have a cousin who has three kids with a Tiv lady, his dad swore his son wouldn’t end up with a Tiv woman yet he took the kids, very inhuman…

I don’t mean to make any Igede person especially those obsessed with their tradition feel bad but like seriously! Can we just stop pretending we’re alright with this and do something already…

I didn’t choose where to be born, it chose me… but if my our forefathers chose tribal crises over humanity then I choose it not! We all belong to one human race… To me, that’s all that matters. My forefathers have lived their lives and made their decisions, its time for me to live mine and make my decisions…

One Benue, I am Benue. I am the Founder of Olly’s Organic

17 thoughts on “Q. Do The Igede People Marry Tiv People?

  1. Apeh

    We all born of one parent just little knowledge and like of understand between us no need of killing ourselves we should learn to love one other one benue one Nigeria one middle beit

    Reply
  2. Hembadoon

    I love your view about the whole thing. Tiv and Igede people obviously have been living at swords ends because of reasons we couldn’t explain. But I think whatever the cause of disagreement is, it can be settled.
    I’d rather live my life than have some vows from people who are dead and long gone deprive me of mixing.
    I have Igede friends, and I enjoy their company, yes at least they haven’t given me reason to think I’m being treated as a non tribe.
    So my people, let’s go back to our roots. Imagine the joy of sharing our diverse cultural beliefs and practices, it will be harmonious . We’re all created by one God. Let love lead

    Reply
  3. Larry King

    I have done much research about this Igede-Tiv feud but am yet to put my hands on something concrete.

    However, its frightening that these do date, have children out of wedlock, accept them but refuse to marry…what a waste.

    With Prof James Ayatse and Chief Egbere Ogbu in place as paramount rulers of both tribes, I believe its a challenge on them to build unity and resolve whatever differences existed in the past for the progress of their younger ones.

    Reply
  4. Joe Abah ( Abuja )

    This issue is beyond the new generation of Igede people, it has something to do with the ancestors who vow never for an Igede person to marry a Tiv person. It all borne down to cultural practice/differences which a section of the society may perceived as abominable to them.

    The custodians of the igede culture can end it if the want to, but, it will come with a heavy price which no one will want to pay.

    The issue is a very serious one in igede land, generation to generation have come to learn about it, and keep it with pride.

    Reply
    • Justice Daniel Odeson

      Tiv people are good people accomodating people cheerful giver just like igede are. The reasons for their differences i do not know. But I still believe in God that he will help us in Jesus Name.. May God bless Igede and Tiv Land in Jesus Name

      Reply
  5. Kershio Godwin

    I lose my one n only love, the woman i want to spend the rest of my life wit cuz of this….. That nobody can explain to me why.

    Reply
  6. Nagu msugh Nicholas

    pl noease, let’s come together and reconcile.united we’ll stand but divided we’ll fall.BENUE ONE PEOPLE, BENUE OUR FUTURE.

    Reply
  7. Precious

    But please do you really know the cause

    Reply
  8. Benjamin Terngu Friday

    I think all we need to do is to forget about some of these things and unite to fight the Benue common enemy. We can’t be divided among ourselves and expect to conquer our common enemy. Fulani have not been Friendly with the benuelites for almost two decades now, and this has really stepped down the development of the the Benue valley. And for any reason why igede are refusing to marry us, I don’t know the reason, but I don’t feel it is strong enough, when I ask my igede friends, they always try to bend it towards culture, but I want you to know that Christianity and westernisation has come to erase some of these, you can’t get a good man or lady that meet up all globally accepted requirements of being and good husband or wife and refuse marrying that person because he is a Tiv person. Additionally my research has shown me that most of the igede natives that are so stiff with this are people that lived almost all there lives with only the igedes, they didn’t mingle to socialise with others, if they had, they will understand why all these reasons are not reasons enough.

    Reply
  9. Commy ochiwu

    What pains me most is when i see christain talking about this..see if you are in love with any igede or tiv person go on with the relationship Jesus came for this kind of law he said it is finished..if he said salvation is for everybody then who are you to say no am in christ Jesus so no condemination for me no matter the sacrife there did toward that the lord said who is he that lay a charg against God’s elect is God that justifie who is he that condemeth is Jesus that died..! when you know who you carry you don’t waste time on things that are not important..as for if my husband is from TIV LAND i will marry except his not from there an that what i will urg every lady or anyone to do we are one people in the hand of our maker..! May God bring peace to Tiv and Igede land.. if you follow well you will discover tiv loves the igedes than the other tribe sef..plsss my people let stop distroying ourself by ourself..my God help us in Jesus name..Amen

    Reply
  10. Godwin ajogi

    Am not trying to make things worst, but i really doubt if the tiv love the igede people.

    Reply
  11. BENJAMIN

    Let me start from the Christian point of view as a genuine born again Christian who is already on fire strongly believing acient law of the dead igene & tiv on marriage I call it a abomination,it’s a high time for the both Tgede & Tiv songs & daughters to bring this to stop before God such that God in return bless our land beyond human imagination by surmoning the both traditional rulers to contend against all the controversial topics concerning this abolished tradition we are one Benue & we need to be re unite in other to possess our land so help us God, in Jesus name

    Reply
  12. IKOGI STEPHEN OGBODO

    What so ever have beginning surely have an end!
    I believe that the end time to this mess will come.
    The major problem and the solution is in the hands of the RULERS
    If the Leaders/Rulers which to get this fixed they can, within a year life would’ve been better.
    The governor can equally set a reconciliation committee from both sides an get it fixed.

    If the Leaders/rulers w

    Reply
  13. ADIGO JIGHJIGH

    I truly love the company of igede people, I have alot of them as friends as a matter of fact my girlfriend is an Igede girl but going into deep research I discovered this ackward thing, we are one please, one Benue, the poeple of Tsar mbaduku in vandeikya local government Fight with Obudu people of cross River state on a regular but they give Thier daughters to us, then we that coexist in one state haba, the hate on us the Tivs is much, let United and be one pls. .

    Reply
  14. Terhile Joe

    I never mind what so ever they are saying! am strongly in relationship with Igede girl very beautiful,I will not let her to live me since she loves me much,
    I believe in God
    I can’t live my partner because of no reason

    Reply
  15. Emzor Moses

    Can someone who has an idea on the cause of the feud kindly share with us, so we are informed. A problem you dont the casue, you cant attempt to solve it.

    Reply
  16. Emzor Moses

    Can someone who has an idea on the cause of the feud kindly share with us, so we are informed. A problem you dont the cause, you cant attempt to solve it.

    Reply

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.