I can't wait to see your father. My father has been asking me about my moves regarding our wedding. He really can't wait to have you as his daughter In-law.
Ola said to his girlfriend, Oyiza.
Both of them are lover birds. They are ready to take their affairs to the next level by tying the knots. In all of these, the only issue bothering Oyiza which she taught would obstruct their plan was the expensive nature of wedding in her tribe and family in particular.
It has been a topic of discussion across other neighboring villages, one of which Ola hails from. As a result of this, Oyiza is nursing some levels of pessimism in her heart.
Ola was a yam farmer. Though he wasn't wealthy but he was above the standard set by the community for a young man to reach before getting married. With other varieties of crops he grows in subsistence quantity yearly like vegetables and cassava, feeding himself and his potential family wouldn't be a problem. Yam farming was his major commercial crop just like it's obtainable with other farmers in the village. From his previous years farming, he had some savings in preparation to achieve his wish of tying the knot with Oyiza this current year.
The main season of yam harvest was from July to September with the peak being witnessed in August. It was in May when Ola discussed with his fiance to tell her parents that he would be coming for the first introduction (this stage of introduction involves only the intending groom). Immediately this is done successfully, it is followed by the next and final stage of introduction where the groom come with his relatives to seek for the lady's hand in marriage for their son. Oyiza was skeptical in allowing Ola start the process. She didn't want the situation where Ola would be heartbroken or subjected his family to ridicule if they are unable to foot the bill of the wedding. She decided to convince Ola to push the introduction till August. She did this in order to ascertain what Ola will be having in his account after harvesting his yam and selling it.
In an effort not to tell Ola directly that she was delaying the process due to uncertainty on how financially ready he would be, she told him that one of her Uncles who would serve as father for her in the event had travelled and would return in August.
Ola had no option than to agree with what his girlfriend told him. Though he wished it came earlier, they both worked towards the August date.
Few months later, Oyiza told Ola that her people had agreed for the first stage of introduction to be mid-August while the second stage would be two weeks later. Oyiza had projected that before the second introduction, Ola would have been sure of what he has financially and the stage would be set for a decision to be made if the second introduction should continue as planned or aborted.
In the tradition of the people, a list is made of what would be brought for family introduction and the wedding proper, and handed over to the groom the day he is accepted to bring his family for final introduction.
Following this, Ola went for the introduction on 15th of August. He took along some quantity of palm wine and cola nut as gift to his in-law.
He was welcomed with both arms and proper introduction carried out.
My son, Oyiza have said a lot about you and your family. It is our pleasure to have you. You have done the proper thing by attempting to climb a tree from the ground level. You will bring your people so that we'll know whom we are handing over our daughter to.
Oyiza's uncle addressed Ola while Oyiza's father and other relatives sat and watch.
He then called her older brother to bring the prepared list of introduction and wedding.
Here is the list. We will be expecting you to bring your people three markets from now (that's 13 days).
Ola collected the list with prostration. The introduction was successful and Oyiza was happy though she was praying that the items therein should be affordable to Ola.
Immediately, he got home and discussed everything that happened with his father, he handed over the list to him.
Read it. Let's know what is there.
Ola opened the sheet of paper and read out the items on the list.
Are they selling their daughter?
The father exclaimed.
I don't know what you are looking for in that village. You have been hearing of how expensive their wedding is. He continued.
In his response, Ola said
I have some savings. I will be havesting my yam for the next market day. When I add it up, I'll know whether to go ahead or to forget it.
The list I have here now will cost us up to 1000 Naira. Your sister that got married last month, what we demanded from her husband wasn't up to 200 Naira in value. Well, I heard you. We will reconsider everything in four days times after you sell you yam.
The father concluded.
For the next two days, Ola was busy with some other hired workers harvesting his yam. They harvested hundreds of tubers and a truck was taken to the farm a day before the market day to convey the yam to the market.
The yam was loaded and Ola with two of his workers followed the truck to navigate through the untarred road leading to the market from the farm. After about a kilometre journey, the truck got one of its tyres sunk into mud. All efforts to remove the tyre was to no avail. The more they adopted many techniques, the more the tyre roll and sink more into the soil. At this stage, the driver said that the only way forward was to offload all the yams, move the empty truck out of the mud and reload the yams before they continue.
They successfully offloaded all the tubers. This made the truck more lighter to lift or push. After about two hours efforts, the rolling tyre was lifted and stones arranged underneath. This stopped the rolling and with a push, they got the truck out of the mud.
They arrived at the market in the late hours of the day and the yams were sold the following day. He realised 500 Naira from the sales.
With the savings of 300 Naira, Ola was of the opinion that Oyiza should talk to her people to adjust the list so that the 800 Naira could take care of the expenses.
She talked to her people and she was told that Ola and his people should come for the introduction and tender their demands for the downward review of the list.
Ola and his people prepared early in the morning of the day and set out for the all important introduction. Oyiza dressed in her best dresses waiting for her fiance and his family.
They came and introduced themselves.
We have come to seek the hands of your daughter in marriage to our son. These are the introductory materials as demanded.
The spokesperson of the entourage spoke on behalf of the family as he presented the items to Oyiza's family. Continuing, he said,
We wish to also plead that the items on the list for the wedding be reviewed. Things are expensive, we beg for your understanding.
Responding, Oyiza's uncle told the visitors that that is how they roll in the family and village at large.
The expenses to get married to our daughters serve as assurance that the groom is financially capable of taking care of our daughter. That's the essence. We will give you time to prepare and come for the date of the wedding.
Ola's people left in disappointment.
Oyiza was angry with her people that despite her effort to manage the situation by informing them of the plea coming from her fiance, they told him to go ahead and invite them only not to listen to their demands. She was embarrassed.
I am not ready to get married to anybody else. It's either Ola or nobody. This is a young hardworking boy with a lot of plan for me. My uncle that was insisting on the complete list, did his daughter get married before being impregnated by her lover?. Papa, you have a say in my life. Don't allow family members or one old tradition mislead us. Allow me to marry Ola with what he is ready to provide.
Oyiza begged for her father's understanding while kneeling down. Her father reflected on everything and he told his people to allow Ola bring whatever they can afford.
That was how the wedding was fixed and the two lover birds got married.