ABSTRACT The family unit is the bedrock of any society. Unfortunately, this unit is being attacked from within and without by problems like divorce, illegitimate children and widowhood rites which are rocking the very foundation upon which the society is built. The thrust of this work which is on the Obolo (Andoni) people seeks to examine the relationship between the marital status of a woman and the legitimacy it confers on her Obolo born child. In other words it seeks to answer the following questions: are there truly illegitimate children in Obolo land? How has Obolo customs and tradition treated the problem of illegitimate children over time? What prospects exist for such children in Obolo land? Recommendations were made on how to ameliorate these problems. Key Words: Obolo land, Andoni, legitimacy, Marital Status