Yoruba people like party. As in! If you've been to any Yoruba wedding ceremony, you know what I mean. It is usually nothing less than flamboyant. I hear it is the same process everywhere.
I attended one for the first time in my life, and believe me, it was beautiful.
Yoruba Traditional Wedding
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| Bunmi, the beautiful bride. |
Girl, aren't those accessories gorgeous?!
I love weddings. I have proved it here, here, and there.
At every wedding I have attended, the bride is always the star of the day. I wasn't surprised to see Bunmi looking gorgeous and shining brighter than a diamond on her traditional wedding day.
I have known Bunni for 6 years and counting. We attended The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Training School together. So I was automatically part of the "Awon ore iyawo" (which translates as "friends of the bride").
It is an experience I don't want to forget. Hence my writing about it . . .
In a Yoruba traditional wedding, the bride is usually the last person to arrive. Everyone waits for her to get dressed and dance in like a queen that she is.
The first part of the whole ceremony is where the groom goes with his family to meet the bride's family, and to pay the bride price. I missed it. :(
I miss the first part because the girls (which includes me) were with the bride. so I cannot even boast that I know what a typical Nigerian Yoruba wedding looks like just yet. However, I have promised myself to witness the beginning part of the next one I'd attend if I ever get to.
I wish I have an idea of how much exactly the bride price was, but it included items like: bag of sugar, bag of rice, large number of bitter kola, bag of salt, kolanuts, a bible, keg of honey and about forty large tubers of yam.
Did you know the money was given back to the couple? Shocking. In the part of the country where I come from, that cannot happen lai lai. When there are umunna's here and there. Hahaha. . .
In Yoruba traditional wedding, there is usually two Alaga's (who we call MC's), each represents the two families. One is Alaga Iduro (for the groom's family), and the other is Alaga Ijoko (for the bride's family).
For some reasons, I concentrated more on the Alaga's. Maybe because as a host, I could relate to what they were doing - anchoring the event and making sure everyone was having a nice time. Trust me, they made the wedding very interesting.
Their presentation was really good. The Alaga's could also sing and dance so well!
Plus, these Alaga's know how to collect money. Kai!
Enough about the Alaga's. Let's talk about when the bride danced in:
Plus, these Alaga's know how to collect money. Kai!
Enough about the Alaga's. Let's talk about when the bride danced in:
Bunmi, the beautiful bride arrived majestically with her friends dancing behind her. I really danced. You should have seen me sweating. Lol.
While the bride danced, money was sprayed on her.
Then she went first to her parents and knelt before them. They prayed for her, then she sat between them and kissed each of them.
Then she went first to her parents and knelt before them. They prayed for her, then she sat between them and kissed each of them.
After that, we escorted her to her in-law’s seat. She knelt down before them, they prayed for her, and then they opened the veil that was on her face. Aww! I loved that moment.
The bride sat with her inlaws for a while and dashed the groom's parents some kisses.
The bride sat with her inlaws for a while and dashed the groom's parents some kisses.
Don't forget that while these processes were going on, Awon ore iyawo were dancing behind her and following her.
Then it was time to go to her husband's house. Oh . . . I mean it was time for the bride to go meet her groom where he was seated majestically.
Some other things happened afterwards but I have to stop here, please.
I'm tired of writing this post just the same way I was tired of standing on my 6-inch silver shoes.
Immediately the ceremony was over lasan, I ran to change into a more comfortable piece and footwear. I cannot come and go and kill myself!
I had already changed my outfit when she called me to take a picture with her. Don't blame me. Lol.
Yoruba traditional weddings are very interesting. But I consider they have less "drama" as compared to Igbo traditional wedding ceremonies.
Culture is indeed a beautiful thing. The end.
Do you think traditional weddings are overrated? Ever been to a traditional wedding (probably, of a different tribe)? What was the shocker for you?
Written by Nwamaka Ajaegbu
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