The short story “ Marriage is a Private Affair”, by Chinua Achebe is a story of two young people who fall in love and decide to get married despite the odds that create difficulties for them in their married life. For several years, the marriage is not accepted by the boy’s father but eventually, the tough father-in-law has to bend before the power of the very love he defied in terms of his son’s marriage to the girl that he intensely loved. He is emotionally in conflict in changing has adamant stand of not meeting his son and daughter in law when he is informed that his grandchildren want to meet him. The story clearly reveals the theme that marriage is a private affair and that love in the family is very important in strengthening bonds amongst all members. Main Body Chinua Achebe’s story Marriage is a Private Affair is about two young people, Nnaemeka and NeNe, who fall in love with each other, but because they are from different tribes that have entirely different cultures, a conflict is created, especially in terms of the clash in belief systems of the older and younger generations. Despite the fact that Nnaemeka and NeNe are in love with each other, Nnaemeka’s father believes that there is no place for love in deciding one’s marriage partner and that his son must marry as per the traditions of his tribe. Nnaemeka is also not sure about his father’s response, which is evident when he says in the story, “Nnaemeka was silent for a while, and then began very slowly as if he groped for his words: I wish I were sure it would be happiness to him” (Chinua, 1952, p.1). Surely, the two lovers are caught in a conflict amongst the old and new. While NeNe is from the Ibibo tribe, an area in South-east Nigeria, Nnaemeka is from the Ibo tribe (Mezu, 2006). In fact, an age old tradition is violated when Nnaemeka relocates to Lagos, Nigeria’s capital to live with NeNe. Although NeNe is very eager to discuss her marriage plans, Nnaemeka is not very sure because of his father’s refusal to accept the marriage, primarily because NeNe is from another tribe. There is a ray of hope in Nnaemeka who believes that over time, his father will change his mind, but the old man is adamant and holds on to his decision that he will never meet NeNe. Under these circumstances, as Chinua writes, “Nnaemeka saw there was no hope along the present line of argument” (Chinua, 1952, p.1), Nnaemeka has no other option but to carry on with his plans without the required permission from his father, for he has to continue with life in creating a family by marrying the one he loves. The issue of love for the family did not surface for Okeke because till this time he was not aware of the importance of family and the bong tat unites family members. He refused to remain in touch with his son although Nnaemeka pleaded with him several times to visit him. At the same time, NeNe undergoes immense hardships in Lagos in coping with the prejudices of women who do not include her in their community because she does not belong to the Ibo tribe. After eight years, Okeke receives an unexpected letter from NeNe that surprised him as well as put him in a dilemma because he had to make a very difficult choice after reading the letter. NeNe wrote to her father in law that his grandsons wanted to meet him. Obviously, Okeke’s determination was broken because although he could maintain his tough stand agai