Humanist

“On 9th July 2024, Papa Emorimor fulfilled the second stage of the four-step Iteso traditional marriage process, known as pre visit (Aitodiar), at his wife’s ancestral home in Kasipodo Village, Kanyoro Sub County, Tororo South County, Tororo District. According to popular Teso news website, Teso news Network, Iteso traditional marriage consists of four stages: 1. Asapan (Initiation into Adulthood); 2. Aitodiar (Pre- Visit); 3. Emali (Appreciation for good parenting); and 4. Epeta Lo ateker wok (Traditional Wedding Ceremony)” Teso Vibez on Facebook.

Indeed, among Iteso of old, marriage was taken seriously as that which binds together Iteso of different clans. In his book, The Iteso, pages 93 -98, J. C. D. Lawrence describes in detail Iteso marriage rituals, traditions and ceremonies that are in two major stages – the preliminaries before marriage and then the marriage.

The Preliminaries included:

• Informing the Parents
• First Visit – boy’s relatives to girl’s relatives to discuss bride-price.
• Engagement – when the bride price is agreed on during the first visit and the bride may wear an iron ring on her arm, to signify she is engaged.
• Second Visit – girl’s relatives to boy’s relatives to see the cattle
• Bride-Price Approved – If an agreement is reached, bear is drunk and the boy is thereafter called amuran (son in law).
• Third Visit – girls relatives to boy’s relatives to receive the cattle at their kraal.

The Marriage

• Smearing day and initiation of wife to the taboos of the husband’s clan
• Escorting the bride to her home with jubilation and pomp
• Near her new home, she and her entourage don’t enter the home until certain conditions are met, including the bridegroom himself coming out and ‘negotiating’ with his wife.
• Marriage is consummated that night
• Morning visit from father of the bride and relatives
• The breaking of the iron to solemnize the marriage

It would therefore appear that the four marriage stages that Teso Vibez reports Teso News Network has having described are either unique to the Iteso of Tororo; or they are the copied ones from Buganda.

Indeed, as Ajakait Joyce Ekwaput Nyeko has challenged:

“Iteso Cultural Union (ICU) has a lot of work to do to revive and preserve Iteso culture.”

I am on a mission to revive our genuine Iteso marriage ceremonies, so please, my sons and daughters out there wishing to experience the true authentic Iteso Marriage, ija is here for you.

Profiled📷 @ Teso News Network via Teso Vibez