A man’s mistress is called Osho, their child Omosho. If a man has no male child, his daughter, usually the 1st (called his Ehale “Forehead”) wouldn’t marry but remains at home & have kids with any man of her choice. She becomes known as Arebhoa.
The children from this sexual relationship are deemed to be the legit children of her father. A son can be betroth as a baby to a wife (usually a baby too). before the boy matures, the girl, which matures faster can have sexual affairs & children with other men of her choice.
The children from these affairs are regarded as the children of her betrothed and are known as Abiekhe “born to wait.” An impotent man can give his wife licence to have sexual relationship with any man of their choice except his Egebele (kindren) to have a child for him.
This is done to the knowledge of his Egbele & the child is recognised as a legitimate child of the impotent man. A childless man/woman can adopt an enslaved child to the knowledge of his/her Egbele. The adopted child called Adebhomon has the full legitimacy of a legitimate child.
Esan tradition encourages marriage between two women. This is different from same-sex marriage. A childless but rich woman who does not want her property to go into the hand of a stranger, and desires a very well-befitting burial ceremony can “marry” a young girl.
The rich woman would “marry” the girl by paying her pride price and bring her to live with her. The married girl is then allowed to have sexual relations with any man of her choice. All the children from this relationship are deemed the children of the rich woman.
The children will be entitled to inherit her properties whenever she dies, but they must perform her burial ceremony before they are entitled to inherit.
The eldest female (female head) of the family is OjeAda.
The head of the Esan extended family is the Omonijiogbe “1st son of the 1st sons.” He is the head of a family genealogical tree & must ve performed the burial ceremony of his father. In Uromi, he must further perform the Ogbe ceremony but in Ekpoma, the position is based on age.