Traditional marriage Rites in my village.
Hello friends and family members on this amazing steemit blockchain.Once welcome to my blog as I share with you people .How traditional marriage rites is perform in my village the “Nso land” . Located in the northwest region of Cameroon . It’s always an excitement when a matured girl child in the family found someone as spouse .Who is ready to get married to her and she has showed a concern of accepting to married the man .
The traditional marriage of my villiage demands some rites .Which is very unique to all the girls who want to get married in my village. This rites are claimed to be perform to appease the “gods” of the the Nso land referred as “ancestors”and plead for the final blessings from God the father our creator. To bless the union of the couples .
When a girl finally chooses to get married and need do the traditional rites needed . The husband to be or spouse comes to family of the girl to seek her hand in marriage . The family of the girl is just there to give the go head by accepting the man. To go to the big family compound of the girl’s father compound seek her hand for marriage . The head of the family compound called a chief is in charge to finalized or offficially accepts if the girl can get married to the husband to be or not .
From there some list of items is given to the husband to be to provides the things needed for the traditional rites . It should be noted that thesame way the girl’s mother was diary .It will be thesame way the daughter will be diary .That is , the list of things given to man provides for his wife to be .For example as a girl child of my father the big man of the compound can ask the man to provides two bundle of zinc, a20litre of palm oil and 20litres of palm wine . Tradition demands my husband will provide the same things for me for traditional wedding rites to be fulfilled.Also, for the family too accepts us couples .
When these lists of things for the traditional wedding rites is given. If the man is ok with the list .Now a day will be arranged for proper traditional wedding rites .It should be noted that if the man is from my village or comes from a different tribe . There is no discrimination with demands of traditional wedding rites items for a man to diary a lady, It still remain thesame .
The final day of traditional wedding ceremony which is usually put in days called “country Sundays “. In each week in my village we have two country Sundays .These particular days are banned from carrying out farming activities or weeding grass nor harvesting crops .As the tradition demands .There is that traditional belief that those people who force themselves to carryout farming activities .Terrible calamities can happen to them soon for going against the tradition of the land .It can be in form of sickness and is untreatable or traditional rites needs be perform for you to be treated
On this special day performing traditional marriage rites by both spouses. It take place in the girl’s father’s family compound. Where family members, friends and relatives are invited to attend the traditional wedding rites . The Bride and the groom and even the guest dresses in traditional regalia of the Bamenda the reflects the culture and tradition of Nso land . Headed by the chief or big man of that compound . The first thing before the traditional rites begins the man presents . All the things that was given for him to bought for the traditional rites .Which is usually palm oil, salt , rappers, bundle of of zinc ,coconut, etc. .These common things are mostly asked by the big man of the compound to men who want to get married to their daughters.There are exceptional cases where a token is asked to put in an envelope.
From here, there is a delegation in the big compound that crossed check the things the man has really brought.All what was demanded to be provided for the traditional right. The big man continues with the traditional rites .At this point there is always few incantations made by the big man of compound called family heads .to Appease the gods of the land to bless the union of the couples .
Next, serval talks is always given to the family of the groom and groom .To make sure he should take good care of their daughter and same for the bride.After, a palm wine is put inside a traditional crafted cup . For the woman to move around and show the wedding guest, the family
the husband and gives him palm wine to drink.As a sign they have accepted to married each other .
The bride to be always moves around with her best girls in search of the husband .The husband is always in the midst of the crowds to be spotted by the bride .Immediately, the bride sees the groom . She moved closer and hand the palm wine to him to drink .As he drinks everyone is happy , this sign shoe the groom drinking the palm wine as he has accepted to married the women.
After, the bride and the groom moved directly where the big man of the compound is seating . For him to bless their marriage by laying his hands on their heads and declares words of wisdom of blessing and prayers to bless their home .
What comes next is celebration, dancing, eating and entertaining wedding guests . It should be noted some of the things given by the grooms family for traditional rites .Will be shared to the big mothers in the big compound .
I have come to the end of my presentation, how traditional marriage rites is performed in my village. I hope you all enjoyed reading my post .I will love to learn about the traditional marriage rites of other tribes .You can feel free to share with me in the comments section .
Thanks for the support @drhira and the team