MARRIAGE RITES AND CUSTOMS OF THE TANGALE PEOPLE OF BILLIRI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA FROM 1904 TO 1960

ABSTRACT This study examines the evolution of marriage rites and customs among the Tangale people of Billiri Local Government Area in Gombe State, Nigeria, from 1904 to 1960. The research explores how traditional Tangale marriage practices, deeply rooted in spirituality, communal values, and social hierarchy, responded to colonial administration, Christian missionary activities, and modernization. Employing a combination of historical and qualitative methods, the study draws on oral traditions, archival documents, and ethnographic accounts to reconstruct the historical trajectory of Tangale marriage customs. The Tangale conceive marriage as a binding alliance between extended families and lineages, emphasizing communal solidarity, ancestral continuity, and collective identity. Traditional marriage rites, including courtship, formal introduction, negotiations, gift exchanges, and ritual obligations, served multiple functions: regulating sexual behavior, establishing legitimate households, redistributing resources, and creating social conditions for childbearing. Sesame (ridi) played a central symbolic role in these transactions, signifying prosperity, respect, and cultural authenticity. Colonial intrusion and missionary influence introduced significant changes, gradually reshaping Tangale marriage practices. The British administration's emphasis on individual consent, monetary bridewealth, and Western-style marriage ceremonies challenged traditional communal norms. Christian doctrines, promoted by the Sudan Interior Mission, further eroded indigenous customs, particularly polygyny and ritualized bridewealth. Despite these pressures, the Tangale demonstrated cultural resilience, selectively adapting external influences while retaining core elements of their social and cultural identity. This research contributes to the preservation of Tangale cultural heritage, filling an existing academic gap in the historical analysis of marriage practices among Nigerian ethnic groups. The study highlights the dynamic interplay between tradition and change, demonstrating how Tangale marriage customs adapted to historical transformations while maintaining their cultural essence. The findings underscore the importance of documenting indigenous practices and cultural traditions, particularly in the face of globalization and modernization.