CHAPTER ONE: Introduction                                                                    1

1.1      Background to the Study                                                                  1

1.2      Statement of Research Problem                                                        4

1.3      Research Questions                                                                          7

1.4      Aims and Objectives of the Study                                                     7

1.5      Significance of Study                                                                       8

1.6      Scope and Limitation of the Study                                                    8

CHAPTER TWO: Literature Review                                                          9

2.0      Introduction                                                                                     9

2.1      Conceptual Clarification                                                                  9

2.1.1   Concept of Marriage                                                                       9

2.1.2   Yoruba Traditional Marriage                                                            12

2.1.3   Marriage Ceremony in Yoruba Land                                                 16

2.1.4   Concept and Perspectives of People on Westernization                      18

2.2      Theoretical Review                                                                          20

2.2.1   Diffusion Innovation Theory                                                            20

2.2.2   Modernization Theory (Lewis H. Morgan, 1877)                               22

2.2.3   Application to the Study                                                                   24

2.3      Empirical Review                                                                            24

CHAPTER THREE: Research Methodology                                               28

3.1      Research Design                                                                              28

3.2      Study Area                                                                                      28

3.3      Population of the Study                                                                    29

3.3      Sampling and Sample Techniques                                                     29

3.4      Source of Data                                                                                 29

3.5      Method of Data Analysis                                                                  30

CHAPTER FOUR: Data Analysis, Results and Interpretation                       31

4.0      Introduction                                                                                     31

4.1      Demographic Characterization of Respondents                                  31

4.2.2   Perception of parents on westernization of Yoruba marriage patterns     34

4.3.3   Ways by which indigenous traditional marriage be restored in

          Yorubaland                                                                                      42

4.3      Discussion of Findings                                                                     44

CHAPTER FIVE: Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations                     47

5.0      Introduction                                                                                     47

5.1      Summary                                                                                         47

5.2      Conclusion                                                                                      48

5.3      Recommendations                                                                            49

REFERENCES                                                                                          50

APPENDIX                                                                                               53

Marriage rites and family lives form a big part of the cherished Yoruba culture. Yoruba culture is the aggregate of the ways of life of the Yoruba – speaking peoples of south –western Nigeria and their kiths and kins elsewhere in the world. There have been different opinions on influence of westernization of traditional marriages. Some of these influences are good and desirable, some are in conflict with African culture. Marriage is one of the institutions, through which contact that African had with Europeans had changed. This study therefore examined the impact of westernization on marriage with focus on the negative and positive impact on westernization on marriage; it highlighted the influence of western culture on marriages; it examine the perception of parents on the westernization of Yoruba marriage patterns and proffered possible ways in which indigenous traditional marriage can be restored in Yorubaland.

          The population for the study was drawn from Ijebu-North Local Government Area of Ogun State. The sample of the study comprised of four hundred and nineteen 419) couples who are above 50 years of age. Snowballing sampling techniques was used to select the sample size of the study. 419 questionnaire were distributed and 406 were retrieved from the participant selected for the study. Data generated was analyzed using descriptive statistics.

          The findings of the study showed that Yoruba marriages have been influenced by westernization, and people no longer take marriage important like the olden days; religion is another external factor that has encourage the influence of westernization on Yoruba traditional marriage; and marriage without the consent of parents has also been on increased while some parents don’t regard marriage as a compulsory issue.

          As shown in the study, it was concluded that marriage in traditional Yorubaland is being encouraged in order to restore it cores value. Among other recommendations is that parents, couples and other agencies involved in marriage planning can adopt the better side of westernization and add it to traditional marriage but nothing should be left out on the presentation of traditional marriage like the way it is being done in the olden days.