Traditional wedding is one of the few things that have kept our culture and traditions standing till today. Some of us have abandoned our traditional ways and have subscribed to the western ways of life. We have abandoned our dressing, food, music, greetings and so on but thanks to the traditional wedding ceremony, we could still do things that paint a picture of our culture.
DRESSING
The traditional wedding in the Southwestern part of Nigeria is always colorful. The couple-to-be are always dressed in traditional attire. The bride and the groom parents with their families are seen in their best outfits. The groom is adorned in flowing agbada robe with cap. The bride adorns buba (top), iro (wrapper) and gele (headtie). A clothing which is referred to as ‘Iborun/Iboju’ is also used to cover the bride’s face at the beginning of the ceremony. The husband and wife may also style their attires with beads (in the neck/wrist). It is just a ceremonial clothing accessory of the Yorubas.
CEREMONY
This is handled by a master of ceremony called ‘Alaga-Iduro’. He/she is in charge of the order of the day. They are usually outspoken, smart and jovial. The groom must have brought a list of food items such as yam, palm oil, sugar, salt, fruits (orange, sugarcane etc) and so on.
Drinks are also provided out of which wines are used for prayers. The groom would be called out by the master of ceremony. It is at this moment he would be joined by his friends who will join to ask for her mistress (the wife). They would prostrate to show they have pleaded to get the lady. It is of the best scene in the ceremony. They would have to bail themselves to leave their posture (lying).
The bride who has been kept somewhere would eventually join the gathering after the groom’s rites. She will be accompanied by her friends who showed their dancing skills to songs and beats by the talking drum. The covered face would later be revealed with the alaga-iduro asking for some amounts before she’s allowed to do so. Another beautiful moment is when the groom is asked to lift her wife. Literally marriage, which is ‘Igbeyawo’ means to ‘take possession of your wife’. It is now left to you if you can’t lift your wife depending on her size.
The wife also shared the laps of her husband’s parent while the husband does the same. It is a symbol of integrating themselves into their new families. The wedding ceremony is never complete if the wife didn’t show her culinary and feeding skills. She must feed the husband and vice versa.
A Yoruba traditional marriage is an avenue to display their different types of food. Amala, ewedu, gbegiri, oka, efo riro, egusi, aadun and so on are on the menu to be served in the ceremony. This kind of traditional ceremony is the one popularly called ‘Owambe’ that you won’t want to miss. The Yorubas are surely fun loving and party goers.
