INTRODUCTION TO OUR TRADITIONAL WEDDING CEREMONY
In my country, Nigeria, I come from a very different region. I represent a sub-tribe of the "Igbos," one of the country's most powerful clans. I am Delta-Igbo, most of our traditional practices are similar to those of the major tribe, "Igbo."
Our weddings in Nigeria are not ordinary affairs, regardless of ethnicity; they are major occasions for us. A typical "Naija" wedding necessitates meticulous planning, plenty of merriment, traditional cuisine, and impeccable music.
Traditional marriage is the last of a series of events that would have occurred in my culture. As a result, I decided to construct a list of the steps leading up to the wedding and the wedding itself.
KNOCKING OF THE DOOR OR IKUAKA
The title of this traditional process makes it clear: the first step in a traditional marriage begins with the guy who desires to marry walking to the supposed bride's family door with his father or a high-ranking member of his family.
It acts as a means of telling the bride's family of your plans to marry their daughter; the groom's family members are responsible for speaking to the bride's family on behalf of the groom. The most commonly used pickup line is
"We were traveling by your house the other day when we noticed a very lovely paw-paw in your compound, so we came to pluck it."
The groom's family is anticipated to arrive with gifts including alcoholic beverages, palm wine, and, most importantly, "Kola Nuts." Kola Nut's significance cannot be overstated.
UMUNNA OR GENERAL FAMILY MEETING
The bride's family has to check the groom's family history or background to see if there was any bad history in the family. The investigation will determine whether or not the traditional wedding will take place.
The groom's family would have conducted this investigation before knocking on the door. Following this, there will be a larger gathering between the groom's family and the bride's extended family for a formal introduction, receiving contents, receiving bride price list, and the bride's formal acceptance of the intending husband.
IME EGO OR PAYMENT OF BRIDE PRICE
The payment of the bride price is very symbolic to the traditional marriage, and it is the step that means a lot. If the bride fee is not paid in full, the marriage will not take place.The bride's family compiles a detailed list of presents that should be brought to the wedding. When compared to the number of presents to be received, the bride price is really inexpensive.
The cost of the gifts is negotiated between the groom's and bride's families. Typically, the bride's family demands that everything be paid in full. It may be a stressful or lengthy process. Eventually, a compromise is achieved.
WINE CARRYING CEREMONY OR IGBA NKWU NWANYI
We've reached the conclusion of the traditional wedding rites. It takes place at the bride's home, with her family throwing a great party.The bride is dressed appropriately in her native costume, with the Ichafu or headtie done to perfection, a double wrapping, and large neck ornaments.
The most amusing part of this ceremony is when the bride searches the throng for her fiancé while holding a cup of Palm wine, with other suitors requesting that she bring the drink to them.
She ultimately finds him and kneels in front of him with the cup in her hand. He then lifts her up and carries her to the bride's family for blessings, after which the couple drinks from the cup, representing their marriage.
At a traditional wedding, there are a few other things to keep a look out for.
GETTING READY FOR A WEDDING
In this culture, women are expected to appear bling bling. A coral crown necklace is required, as well as high-quality wrappers. The men must dress in "Isi agwu," or lion-headed attire. Couples are required to change clothing twice.
If you're a tourist or a guest, you must look great in a variety of native styles, all of which must be ASO-EBI compliant.A unique cloth chosen by relatives and friends to be worn is referred to as ASO-EBI. There isn't a wedding that doesn't include an aso-ebi train. These fabrics, combined with superb make-up and hairstyles, are used to produce the best fashions.
MONEY AND ENTERTAINMENT ARE REQUIRED
Everyone at the wedding is anxious about the live band and the cultural group invited to play; there is no traditional wedding without entertainment. During the wedding, a variety of traditional music is expected to be played.
The quality of the music and performance is crucial since it influences the quality of the dance. Traditional weddings are known for having a lot of Naira notes on the ground. We perceive it as a way of praising the couples when family members, friends, and guests spray a lot of money on them while they are dancing.
TRADITIONAL FOOD
It's always exciting to see what a traditional wedding menu entails. There are a range of local dishes available for everyone to enjoy. The main meals are swallows, pounded yam, Fufu, Garri, and various soups. The famous Jollof Rice is also available. We don't mess around with the cuisine at a traditional wedding.
