Wedding traditions of Lagos
A city of owambe parties, where guests dress in matching aso ebi cloth and money is sprayed on the dancing couple.
Lagos weddings are large and bright. Families often hold a traditional engagement in the morning, with a list of gifts and a formal introduction, then a church or mosque wedding and a party that lasts through the night. Guests of a family wear aso ebi, matching cloth chosen by the hosts, and women tie a tall gele headwrap.
A wedding here
In a Yoruba engagement the groom's family brings gifts, such as a Bible or Quran, yams, kola nuts, salt, honey and drinks. The bride dances in and kneels or prostrates to greet her elders. Jollof rice, pounded yam and soups are served. A live band and a master of ceremonies lead the night.
Law and change
Nigeria has statutory, customary and Islamic marriage. The Child Rights Act sets 18 but applies as a state law, and many northern states have not adopted it. Bride price is customary and legal, and often symbolic in cities. Same-sex marriage is a crime under the 2014 law.
Wedding customs of Lagos
Also part of it, and being written: Owambe (The party.), Yoruba people (The culture.).
A wedding trail idea for Lagos
- Balogun Market A large market for lace and wedding cloth.
- Lagos Island Marriage Registry Where couples sign a statutory marriage.
- Tafawa Balewa Square A civic square and event ground on Lagos Island.
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, venues and wedding-season dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
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Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Aso ebi: SUPREME LACE, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Gele: Royalesignature, CC BY-SA 4.0, source