In Igbo tradition, women who are married into the family are not usually respected or considered as ‘senior’ based on their age.
The bride’s seniority is based on whose bride price was first paid.
For instance, if the first son starts cohabiting with a woman and they both have children afterwards,
And they are living like husband and wife without fulfilling the traditional rites.
If the last son finds a woman and pays her bride price, The wife of the last wife automatically becomes the senior wife of the family.
If anything is to be shared amongst the wives, the wife whose bride price was paid first would pick first, regardless of whether the other wives are older than her.
This is why in most Igbo families, the parents usually encourage their children to marry in line with their age, to avoid conflict amongst their wives.
Marrying the first son does not make the bride the senior wife…..Seê _ Morê
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