The traditional marriage between a man and a woman in the Igbo culture is usually a unique one to witness. Each tribe in Africa has different ways of celebrating marriages according to their culture, but today I will share with you how Igbos celebrate their marriages using my younger sister, who just got married some days ago, as an example.
The first step in taking action when a man and a woman agree to marry each other is to make their intention known to both families. After which, the families will do a background investigation to be sure that the family they are giving their daughter or son in marriage does not have any bad records. When this stage is over and all parties are satisfied, a date will be fixed for an official introduction. This will be a mini-event, with a few elders present to witness the event. Some people pay dowry on this day; our culture accepts this too, and so my sister's dowry was paid on the day of her introduction. The big day for her traditional marriage and white wedding was fixed, a day where the public would get to know her and many would gather in the house of the bride to witness the marriage ceremony. For some people, they have both church weddings and traditional marriages celebrated on different days, but for my sister, she celebrated hers on the same day. However, the church wedding was just low-key; it ended in the church, while the traditional marriage ceremony took over her day and was celebrated in grand style.
Few highlights from her church wedding
The latest couple
A night before the bride's wedding
>Myself, my baby sis and my elder sis
Now, the traditional marriage ceremony proper
The first stage is welcoming the groom with his friends and family, but there is usually a rope tied in a way to block their entrance. It's part of our tradition that before the groom's family has access to the bride's home proper for the event, he will need to send some money to the bride's maid; the money is regarded as transport money to go get his bride herself. When the bride comes, she will have a traditional bouquet and a traditional cap to wear to greet the groom, then cut the rope after the groom has sprayed some reasonable money on the bride. See the shots for the warm welcome 😃
Here, my sister wore the husband a traditional bid, both in his hands and neck and he danced in excitement 😊
He put on the traditional cap as well as a sign of welcome.
At this point, the groom was jumping and dancing knowing well that he is much welcomed but my sis refused to cut the rope still 😃...the groom became confused and kept spraying her more money 😅 including his friends inorder to have access to the event. Of course it was a deliberate act from my sister just for fun 😊
At last, she gave them access by cutting the rope 🪢. The ogene group (music group) did their very best at this stage. They were playing very hot. Traditional songs and the whole place was buzzing.. people were dancing in excitement of the access they have...it was a very interesting session to witness.
The traditional music group
After cutting the rope, she welcomed him with a hug but I missed the shot, bad photographer 😂
They were now dancing together to the main venue for the occasion
When everyone must have settled down, there will be a short romantic session where the bride will feed the groom with an egg 🥚. The cooked egg is usually being sold by the bride's made to the congregation while the bride peel one and feed the groom in the midst of everyone....I couldn't stop laughing at their drama here...lol
If you notice, each stage requires a different traditional attire by the bride. After the feeding session, there comes a stage where the clan will invite the bride for questioning. The eldest of our clan asked my sister publicly if truly she is in for the marriage and if the public should take drinks on her head and she answered a big yes. This question is a must, even if it's obvious that she wants the marriage, she must tell the witnesses same before proceeding to feeding the wine to the husband.
Here the eldest gave her palm wine to go search for the husband wherever he is seated, feed him with it a bit while the husband feed her as well and then both will come back to the elders for blessing of their marriage.
The questioning time as explained above
Issuer of the palm wine to go search for the husband
The searching session accompanied with the bridesmaids and the traditional music group at the background.
The feeding of the wine by the bride
The feeding of the wine by the groom.
Here, they knelt down as the elders bless their marriage as they returned the cup with money inside of it..a must tradition.
Now the most important part of the ceremony just passed and the next was cutting of the cake. This is a beautiful cake designed traditionally by my twin brother's wife. She is a baker and good at her job.
The couple had another romantic session here while cutting their cake. They made some promises to each other and had their cake cut together in love and in excitement 😊
They were in the stage for dancing session while the congregation spray them money 🤑💰...it was another interesting part where I got everything in video form.
That's me on glasses..lol
That's me spraying them money in the stage.. hehehe, hive dollars 💰😂
Wow...at this point, the occasion was almost over and the last lap was meant for the two families. The handover stage, where the bride family will handover their daughter to the groom eldest son with a word of advice to help take care of my sister and encouraged them to live in peace ✌️🕊️. This stage was also emotional as both the groom and the bride hugged each with tears of joy and with the saying "finally,we are married" ...they have wanted the marriage for few years now, glad it is done.
So this is basically how traditional marriage ceremony is being done in my tribe Nsukka in Igbo culture, Enugu state Nigeria.
Thanks for your time in my blog, I hope you get some info on our culture today.
Please note, all pictures are mine
Are you telling me the bride's groom does not have transport fare 😂, what if the bride refuses to cut the rope does that mean groom have to keep spraying money😂😂, wow I think I need to start saving up in case me and my Igbo gf decide to take things serious thanks for the heads up.
You look great in Glasses, I think this is my first time seeing your full picture, you look amazing in that dress, let me stop here before it sounds like flirting 😂😂.
Those cakes looks like a log of wood for real, the Baker is really good, if you did not say it was a cake I wouldn't have noticed.
The egg, what exactly does it symbolises as because I believe every event in Igbos traditional wedding has a meaning to it.
Nice pictures by the way🤗🤗
Pop in from #dreamport
Hahaha 😂😂
They have transport fare 😂, it's just for fun
Lol, the groom will either keep spraying money or plead with the bride to cut the rope 🪢. 😂
Oh..u have an Igbo girl friend 👍, start saving more money 🤑💰
Hahaha 😂
Thanks for the compliments about me
The baker did so well with the cake
The feeding of the egg is just a sign of unity among the couple and to encourage them to always eat together after marriage
Thanks for your well thought out comments
U are a true #dreemer
Oh now I understand.
Well, the write up was so captivating I find myself analysing every paragraph
Thanks for enlightenment, it is highly appreciated 🤗.
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I would actually prefer traditional marriage to any other kind.You can't be bored, it's colourful and full of life.The music and dance steps very exciting....
Hmmm!🙂 @nkemakonam89 Now I can see what your effort was all about! Kudos!
Hahaha 😂😂😂
My baby girl is here
I appreciate your feedback 😇
You helped in making the day a colourful one .. thanks for all u do sweetheart 😘
Well captured and exciting to read. There is no cutting of rope in Anambra tradition. All your sister's dresses are all beautiful. Happy married life to them.
Oh.. Anambra is missing out on that part .they should just add that and feel the fun 😊
Thanks for your nice compliment
Culture is so beautiful, I love attending traditional weddings, the outfits, the songs, the food and everything is beautiful.
Thank you so much ❤️🥰
I learned about the wedding tradition of another part of the world.. I noticed she change clothes several times 😅..
Glad I could help u learn other cultures through this article..thanks for visiting Jane❤️👍
Thanks for giving us a sneak peak into another culture and its customs. Thanks for the explanations and stories. The bride and groom looks happy and the look ass though they are enjoying every step of the ceremony. You sister looks great in all her beautiful outfits.
As the couple walk in there are white dots in the photo - please tell me what it is?
Smiles... thanks for your nice feedback momo
Indeed they were excited all through 😊
The white dots is just a spray by the bride's maid to spice up the dance and all the fun
It's not something serious
😂
You are welcome. Aww so that is what it is. I wondered whether it was rice.
Hahaha 😂😂😂
No, it wasn't rice.lol
Omo! You took a lot of pictures oo 😅 I was just smiling with different activities displayed here and I can see it was an interesting wedding and a success too.
I wouldn't want to do my traditional, court and church wedding on different days too, do all at once and forget jare 😌😁
It also saves cost too.
These are beautiful pictures and you and your baby sis look alike so much.
Princess planning on court wedding? I missed this . Several times I have thought of asking hubby but I don't know if he will misunderstand me so I forget it..but it's nice that u include it in Ur plans.
Thanks for the nice compliments, I took almost 100 pics 😂😂...was difficult to choose which to put here😂
Hahaha. I will do court wedding to be strongly legalized 😁😁
Hehehe...100 pics? It has occupied all spaces on your phone oo 😅
I thought I was an Igbo man, until I came to know about all this traditional stuff, Omo, I for don tire for all these traditional things ahhh. Chop egg, drink pammy, cut rope. Omo hahaha. Anyways I suppose it was a really eventually day.
I can't help but notice you and your sisters share a vivid semblance.
Hahaha 😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Hey Joe...this traditional marriage varies from state to state you know 😂, but most of the things done here is common in states in Igbo land. Our culture is simple and nice and I guess depending on the M.C, people are making it more romantic 😂😂
I am craving to witness Ur marriage soon
Very soon.now that the bull market is near right? 🤣🤣🤣
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Lovely pictures @nkemakonam89. I love attending weddings and this one looks so fun.
Although I do regret getting married myself. xD
Thank you so much @finguru 😇
Now , I am curious.. hehehe
Why regret getting married? It should be an exciting thing you know..
The best wedding for me is a traditional wedding. I have never been to a traditional wedding before, but with your post, I know a lot more. It's similar to a Yoruba traditional wedding in some aspects at the same time it's different. Changing cloths for the different stages is something, if Nah me I go don tire 😀😀 but it does make the tradition more unique. I wish her a happy married life
I haven't been opportuned to witness Yoruba traditional marriage but I will love to since I live in their land. The attire is another interesting part of the event 😂✅🎉
Thank you so much for your nice wishes
What a fun wedding!
There are beautiful traditions like this and you have explained very well how it is carried out in your culture. I thought the egg thing was so funny 😂 everyone looks so smiley and seems to be having fun. Thanks for sharing all this with us.
Smiles 😊...the egg 🥚 part was so fun, overall...it was a nice event
Glad you found the article beautiful
Thank you
Bravo 👏👏👏👏
Your Fifth picture is my favourite. Almost forgot a second that your not 25. And look at that smile 😁
Thanks for sharing a traditional and culture rich post with us on hive.
I had to go back to check your favourite picture.. 😂
Hahaha...this nkem is old already 😂
I really appreciate your royal visit
Thank you so much my friend 👍
Thank you 😍