MARRIAGE
Marriage is not an easy concept to define because it is a common feature of life everywhere and because even though it has some common qualities, it varies from one culture or group to another. It can be regarded as a union between a man and a woman such that children born into that union are recognized as legitimate offspring of both the man and woman. Marriage is a socially approved sexual union between two individuals that is undertaken with some idea of permanence. It is different from mating which is casual sexual relationship between a man and a woman with no familial responsibility attached.
The institution of marriage is a social institution which is virtually universal in human society. It is institutions that unite the members of different societies with diverse cultural background together.
Marriage union also creates new social relationships,roles,rights and obligations not just between the spouses or partners but between kinsmen on both sides of the marriage partners. Through marriage children are given a place
in society as members of particular lineage. Their rights and status within the lineage group are established through the the legal union between a man and a woman.The many societies especially patriarchal or patrilineal societies a child cannot inherit or belong to his father's lineage unless his parents have been married in the socially approved way.
The institution of marriage contributes immensely to holding societies together and giving them stability particularly in regard to simple,non-literate societies.