28/08/2025
🌸 The Difference Between Customary Marriage & Statutory Marriage 🌸(episode 2)
🔹 Customary Marriage
This is marriage conducted according to the customs and traditions of your people.
It may involve things like paying bride price, traditional rites, family witnesses, kola nuts, wine carrying, etc.
It is recognized by law, but it is customary law marriage — meaning if you want to end it, you can go to a Customary Court for divorce.
🔹 Statutory Marriage
This is marriage conducted under the Marriage Act (e.g., at the Marriage Registry or a Registered Church).
You and your husband sign a Marriage Certificate.
It is one man, one wife (monogamous).
If you want to end it, only the High Court has the power to dissolve it — not Customary Court.
⚠️ Many people don’t know this:
👉🏽 If you had a statutory marriage (with Marriage Certificate in a registered church or registry), you are still legally married until a High Court judge gives you a divorce decree — even if you went to Customary Court.
That’s why many women who think they are “divorced” are actually only separated, not divorced.
