Originally, Kem Kwase involved gradual installment payments made in cash or kind as a symbol of appreciation to the bride's family. Over time, economic development, rising living costs, and increasing material expectations transformed the marriage process into one involving numerous customary payments and gifts. Unlike Yamshe (Exchange Marriage), Kem was regarded as an ongoing obligation rather than a one-time payment. A father-in-law (Ter Kem) could continue receiving gifts even after the marriage had been completed, especially following the birth of additional children. In some communities, these obligations continued even after the husband's death, with his children expected to continue fulfilling them. Although the exact customs vary among Tiv communities, the traditional Kem process generally includes the following stages: 1. Introduction and formal acquaintance with the bride's family. 2. Courtship. 3. Presentation of introductory drinks (usually not monetized). 4. Presentation of monetized drinks. 5. A monetary gift presented before the drinks are opened. 6. Gifts or homage presented to the elders of the bride's family. 7. Gifts given to younger in-laws to ensure a peaceful and orderly ceremony. 8. Meat (traditionally game, now often represented by money) presented to the father-in-law. 9. Clothing or its monetary equivalent presented to the father-in-law. 10. Miscellaneous customary payments. 11. A symbolic payment associated with the knife used by the father-in-law to cut the grass stalks representing the bride price. 12. The formal request for the bride and the symbolic payment marking the commencement of the bride-price settlement. After these obligations were fulfilled, the groom also met the requirements of the bride's mother, which traditionally included items such as a goat, salt, a table, a basin, a chair, an umbrella, and a measuring container for distributing salt among the women of the community. Once these customary obligations were completed, the husband was formally permitted to take his wife to her new home.

1. Wonov Mba Fan 2. Kwase Soor 3. Msorum ma Ndorom 4. Msorum ma Ombor 5. Ibughun 6. Mbaate Mba Nyoron 7. Asua Ayangen 8. Iviha i Ter Kem 9. Ikondo i Ter Kem 10. Uvegh Vegh 11. Ihyo Azenga 12. Kwase Sonun