Ethnographic Study of the TarokTraditionalMarriage System in

Plateau State, Nigeria

By

Victoria Stephen Nimzing

Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies,

University of Jos

[email protected]

Abstract

Marriage, all over the world is a subject of rapid change, and Tarok land is no exception has become imperative and urgent. Human beings throughout the world are concerned with the need to get married. This is in realization that marriage is the basis for procreation. Among the Tarok, marriage is the discernible and most encompassing reality of life. It is not something contracted at the individuals wish and convenience, but as something of sacred obligation. Due to alien religions, most Tarok people prefer to be married in the Christian or Muslim way rather than marrying traditionally. This research aims primarily to examine the traditional marriage custom of the Tarok people of Plateau State of Nigeria with emphasis on Courtship, Pre-marital Requirements, the Marriage Proper and the Post Marital Matters.

Keywords: Courtship, Marriage Requirements, Change, Sacred, Tarok.