Tor Tiv bans lavish burials, approves women’s inheritance right, fixes N100,000 marriage cap

The Tor Tiv, James Iorzua Ayatse, has rolled out comprehensive reforms to long-standing traditions in Tiv land, marking what many see as a bold redefinition of cultural governance in recent times.

The announcements were made at the Ijir Tamen, the highest decision-making gathering of the Tiv people chaired by the paramount ruler and attended by traditional leaders, elders, and Tiv representatives from across Nigeria and the diaspora.

The resolutions are geared towards strengthening unity, encouraging responsible spending, advancing gender balance, and reinforcing moral standards within Tiv communities worldwide.

Among the key decisions is the enforcement of new burial regulations.

The council directed that funeral rites must be completed within three days and handled strictly as private family matters, discouraging flamboyant or noisy ceremonies.

It also outlawed burial anniversary celebrations, citing concerns over unnecessary financial strain.

In another adjustment, married women will no longer be obligated to shoulder burial costs in their husbands’ families unless they willingly choose to contribute.

In what many observers consider a historic development, Tiv women have now secured full inheritance rights.

These rights are to receive legal backing and recognition in courts, a development expected to deepen inclusiveness and fairness within the traditional system.

To address rising expenses associated with customary marriages, the Tor Tiv approved a cap of ₦100,000 on marriage requirements.

The council further prohibited cake-cutting during traditional weddings and abolished “kwase kuhan” festivities held at the residence of the bride’s father-in-law.

The assembly also issued a firm ban on domestic violence, declaring zero tolerance for abuse by either gender.

While introducing progressive measures, the Tor Tiv reaffirmed existing custom that restricts kingship in Tiv land to men, maintaining that the royal stool remains exclusively male.

The monarch stressed that the revised cultural codes are binding on Tiv sons and daughters globally, reinforcing the reach and authority of the traditional institution beyond geographic borders.

As part of broader efforts to instill discipline, the traditional council placed a ban on the consumption of ogogoro (local gin) across Tiv Kingdom.

The Tor Tiv also unveiled plans for Tiv Television, a platform intended to preserve and project Tiv heritage globally.

The initiative will commence on Facebook before expanding into a full broadcast outlet.

Additionally, the gathering endorsed the creation of a women-oriented financial support programme known as BAM, aimed at providing loans and fostering economic empowerment among Tiv women.

Although security challenges confronting Tiv communities were deliberated upon during the session, specific resolutions were not made public.

Overall, the resolutions of the Ijir Tamen reflect a deliberate effort to harmonise age-old traditions with contemporary realities, promoting discipline, equity, and cohesion among Tiv people at home and abroad.