ProWriters Hub (W4)|How Traditional Marriage is performed in my Hometown by @chiomavia

Editedwithpixellab

Marriage is a union that joins a man and a woman as husband and wife. Tradition marriage is a cultural ceremony that joins a man and a woman as husband and wife.
As culture demands, traditional marriage differs from one tribe to another. Every tribe or community is diverse, hence has different ways in which they perform traditional marriage.

---

How traditional marriage is performed in my hometown

I am from Amaibo Nguru, Ngor Okpala in Imo State, the Eastern part Nigeria. In my hometown, there are some steps that should be followed before the main traditional marriage ceremony.
I will enumerate and explain the steps involved in traditional marriage.

1. Marriage Introduction(iju ese)
2. Seeking Umunna/kinsmen consent.
3. Bride price payment.
4. Traditional marriage ceremony ( igba nkwu)

---

Marriage Introduction (Iju ese)

In my hometown, marriage does not just join a man and a woman together, it joins two families together. When a man and a woman agrees to marry themselves, they cannot go ahead without the consent of their families, hence the need for marriage introduction.
The bride-to-be will tell her family about the man asking for her hand in marriage. Then the family of the groom-to-be and the family of the bride-to-be will fix a date to formally meet each other .

On the introduction day, the groom's family will come to the bride-to-be's house. Then they will introduce themselves and state their reason for coming. The bride to be will be called out by her parents to seek for her consent before collecting the wine their visitors came with.
Her decision with determine if the second meeting will be fixed. After, the introduction, the bride's family will begin their investigation about the groom's family. They would want to find out everything about the groom's family, from their background history, bad behavior, hereditary sickness, family death, divorce and so many others.

---

Seeking Umunna/kinsmen's consent

Marriage is communal in my hometown. The kinsmen must be consulted before a man and a woman is officially announced as husband and wife traditionally. The groom's families will come with palmwine, yam, goat, kolanut and soft drinks to meet with the bride's kinsmen. They groom's family will state their interest again before the kinsmen. The kinsmen will approve after hearing from their daughter. Then, the marriage list will be given to the groom family.

---

Bride Price Payment

What is expected of the husband to be.

In my community, a marriage list is given to the husband-to-be. The marriage list which some people tag 'very expensive' because of it's content, though It is not compulsory that the husband-to-be will provide everything written in the marriage list. There is an Igbo adage that says 'anaghi alucha nwanyi alucha' which means ' you can never finish they payment for a bride'

The main bride price is not really expensive, it is usually bargained between the groom's family and the bride's family. On the day of bride price payment, the bride's family will prepare some food to entertain their in-laws.

The husband-to-be is expected to provide what is written in the marriage list. He is also expected to buy the outfit of his parents and that of his parents in-laws for the traditional marriage ceremony.

---

Traditional Marriage Ceremony (igba nkwu)

How the actual marriage is performed.

On the day of the traditional marriage ceremony, known as Igba Nkwu in igbo Language. The bride's family will prepare a very large feast for the groom’s family and the invited guests. The marriage ceremony begins with,

• The arrival of guest.
• Introduction of the MC.
• Welcome speech by the chairman of the occasion.
• Welcome of guests by the bride's mother: The mother of the bride will make the first entrance to welcome the guests. She will dance while spraying powder/perfume to the guest.
• First entrance of the bride: The bride will be accompanied by her Asoebi's to welcome the guest. She will dance along with the asoebi's , as she is being hailed by the guests.

Source

• Second entrance of the bride: After the first entrance, the bride changes her outfit for the second entrance. This time she will dance to meet her father. Her father will then give her a glass of palmwine to go search for her husband in the midst of the guests.

She will dance around the sitted guests searching for her husband. When she finally find him, she will present the glass of palmwine to the man she want to spend the rest of her life with while kneeling down. The husband will drink all the palmwine in the glass cup and put some amount of money in the cup.

Then, the husband and wife will dance to meet her parents. The father of the bride will bless the new couple. Wishing them fruitfulness and bliss. After this the real fun and merriment begins

The type of Food Served

They village women will prepare and serve various delicacies, such as Jellof Rice, Nkwobi, Ugba, Ofe owerri, Ofe Egusi, Vegetable Soup, Nsala Soup, pepper soup , all these soups will be served with Fufu/Eba.
Drinks such as palmwine, beer, wine, malt and soft drinks will be served too.

Music played.

High Life music, Bongo, and afro music will be played. They would also hire some traditional dancers to grace the occasion. Some time live band will also be provided.

Couple's outfit.

The bride is usually dressed in a traditional Igbo attire which is a blouse, a double wrapper, a red coral bead necklace and a head tie know as gele.
The groom is dressed in igbo native attire. Which is isi agu with red cap and trouser.

At the end of the day, the bride will follow the groom to his house. And she will be given a grand welcome by the groom family.

---

Conclusion

Traditional marriage is a wonderful ceremony. I really can not wait to have mine. This girl is so ready to dance on her big day but she still dey find Man oh😂😂🤪

Thank you all for reading my post.