Return of Bride price in Ezzama in Ebonyi State.

By Ifeanyichukwu Sanctify

How the Ezza Nation do return Bride price in a failed marriage is different from others.

When a marriage fail for whatever reason, provided that both have agreed to separate.

1, the groom people or the bride people will meet to feast a date, were both the groom and bride will be present.

2, the groom with his people will come according to date and time. Both will proceed immediately. The bride father or eldest among his people will give a cola nut and must be (oji igbo na ukpara) and two gallons of Pam wine to the groom father or eldest among them, he will pray with it which is called (i gó ófó) after which the bride or eldest among them will call one to lead in prayer after which he will do his own (ófó) one among the bride will be call to share the drinks, while the drinks and cola nut is going on, the bride father will ask the groom father what they want from them.

The groom father after some parable will tell them what brought them here.

The bride family will ask the groom father what they paid, and the necessary wages.

The groom father will list what they paid for and the amount paid for 

1, Efi Igbo.        And the prices.

2, Ewu ukpara

3, Ewu obata na ulom

4, Ewu nnaji

These are the Four most important thing anyone who wishes to marry from Ebonyi State will never miss.

They will mention all and the monies paid for each.

The bride father and his people will go for a secret meeting which they will ask and deliberate on the prices from the groom family to confirm if it is true, after an agreement among the bride family they will come out to join the groom's family.

They will present the money to the groom father or eldest among them, if they have it at hand, but if not the groom family will go for secret meeting to find other ways to solve it, while the bride family also go for secret meeting also after both will come together with solution.

The groom father or eldest among them, will ask the groom if he have anything to say, maybe there is secrecy among them before the break up. If the groom said anything contradictory to what already discussed. The bride and the mother will be called and the groom will be ask to repeat what he said so that the bride and her mother will hear it.

The bride will be ask to confirm what the groom said, should any confrontation between them both will go for secret meetings on how to solve it. After both are settled, food and drinks will be served. 

            The real business of the groom.

The groom will be served food and drinks. The food must be pounded yam and separate drink.

His father or eldest among them will serve him food he must finish and drinks he must finish.

After eating and drinking, he will be given cola nut he must finish, and after praying with the cola nut (ófó) he will sworn an oath after he will stand up and leave the compound without looking back nor looking at anyone. The end of everything between them.

Both the bride and groom must be present unlike others that will send delegates to return it back. Ezzama is beautiful people with beautiful culture.