Nigerian Traditional Weddings Part3

In Igbo Land, bride's price differs, just like in Imo State, but not all, especially Mbano and Mbaise areas do place an exorbitant bride price on their daughters, but not in all parts of Imo State! Culling from an experience, Ideato North and Ideato South have a moderate bride price! Anambra State, Enugu State, Abia State and Delta regions are good to go because they have a cheaper bride price on their daughters! But some parts of Ebonyi State do require a cow in place of a bride price, especially within Abakiliki axis!

After when the man has paid the bride price, the young lady and the man will engage in a courtship which will reasonably last for months, meanwhile in the interim, the young lady will be preparing for a three weeks stay at the man's house, and this is tribally called "izu-na-ato" in Igbo terms. After when the lady had finished her three weeks stay at the man's house, she will come home with gifts bought for her by the young man that paid her bride price. After that the young man will be preparing to pay a visit to the lady’s house so as to collect the list of what will be needed for the Traditional Marriage Ceremony fondly called "Igba-Nkwu". The list will include what the lady’s kindred Umunna, females from her kindred who are married Umuada, her fellow females Umu-agboghobia etc will require.

The requirements are usually kegs of palm wine, tribally called "nkwu-elu" or "mmanya-ngwo", Kola nut "Oji Igbo", Alligator pepper "Ose Oji", cartons of beer e.g. Star, Gulder, Harp, 33", Hero (Ooompa!), Legend, Guinness Stouts, Bottled or Canned malt, Soaps, Textiles etc depending on their demand. Some towns like Achina, Umuchu, Akpo, Umuomaku, Enugu-Umuonyia, Nkpologwu, Amesi, Uga, Ekwulobia, Oko, Umuona, Oraeri, Ezinifite, Onitsha, Ichida etc usually have a cheap bride price! When the young man have met the following requirements either in cash or physically presented, then the day of the traditional marriage ceremony will be negotiated between the man, the lady's family and her Kindred (Umunna).

After the negotiation of the ceremonial date, the next is for the young man to venture into printing of invitation cards for the marriage ceremony. This invitation cards will be used to invite people to the Traditional Marriage Ceremony, but some people, especially close relatives, will receive oral invitation, while some will be treated with specialty. The young man will also be preparing for the traditional marriage outfits too. The outfits will include traditional bridal attires (as pictured above), Ashebi girl's attires etc. A day before the D-day, some special preparations will take effect, such as erection of canopies, decoration of the whole ceremonial arena with balloons and fabricated nylon tapes etc. On the D-day, species of food will be prepared for the guests, buying of items like grinded groundnuts "Okwu-Ose", garden eggs "Anara", Alligator Pepper "Ose-Oji" and so on, which will be used for prayer and refreshment purposes. On the same D-day, a special seat, normally a cane weaved seat will be brought to the ceremonial arena, and to be positioned within the High Table circus. This ceremony is to be ignited with musical plays; sooner the music will be brought to a halt and will be preceded with a special prayer by an elder from the family using a cup of palm wine, kola nut and alligator pepper. This prayer is deemed to seek the protection of the Almighty God in the Traditional Marriage Ceremony, and as well to guide the bride and bridegroom in their marriage.