Ozikoro
OzikoroArchive

Subject

Elevated Status

1 record filed under this subject

The Solemnity of Iya: The Highest Form of Kalabari Marriage

Among the Kalabari people of the eastern Niger Delta, marriage is not just a union between individuals. It is a binding relationship between families, lineages, and the spiritual order. While several levels of marriage exist, none is as revered or socially prestigious as Iya, often described as the “solemn,” “complete,” or “highest” form of Kalabari…