<![CDATA[This study is a conscious interrogation of the transformation, encompassing both change and continuity, of the traditional marriage institution among the Efik of Calabar during the colonial era. The research is anchored on three theories: Structural-Functionalism, Womanist Theory, and Acculturation and Cultural Hybridity Theory. Using these theoretical lenses, the paper reveals that pre-colonial Efik marriage maintained social order through lineage alliance, reproduction, and labour, all predicated on the fulfilment of marriage rituals. The research further underscores the role of Efik women in shaping their societal economy, challenging colonial narratives of female subordination. Acculturation and Cultural Hybridity Theory, in particular, helps the work to unveil how the colonised Efik adapted, blended, modified, or resisted imported practices within the marriage institution. The investigation establishes that marriage, as an alliance between lineages, was regulated by bridewealth, polygyny, and the active economic roles of women. Colonialism, however, introduced new legal codes, Christian marriage ordinances, Western education, and monetary economies, which undeniably disrupted certain aspects of Efik marriage. Yet, many traditional structures persisted through adaptation and negotiation. The study concludes that Efik marriage in colonial Calabar was neither wholly displaced nor entirely traditional but existed in a state of negotiation, hybridity, and social change. Data sourced from primary and secondary materials were analysed qualitatively and thematically.]]>
