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.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Aso oke: Wolf D., Public domain, source
- Aso ebi: SUPREME LACE, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Gele: Royalesignature, CC BY-SA 4.0, source