How the Yoruba in Nigeria do their introduction (parental consents)

Hi everyone, I am a Yoruba guy. Yesterday morning I witnessed a Yoruba marriage introduction, so I want to share with you how the introduction is been carried out,you can comment if you observe any mixed up rites.

Flow with me.

I almost fell the "first of all... introduction" word again. However the Yoruba introduction ceremony better still I call it parental consents,it is a ceremony which is usually held after the proposal. It is usually done before the weeding and later leading to the weeding proper.

Though the introduction ceremony can be done in two ways, what I mean by two ways is that some take it simple by doing it in their living room where the intending couples, relatives, close family friends come together to introduce themselves as so and so's and the other way is making it elaborate in a way that aso-ebi is taken, canopies all over, loads of family, friend, relatives, acquaintances, cutting of cakes,in short the call it mini-weeding or weeding before the proper wedding, so much that you begin to wonder that are my in the right venue.

Now back to discussion.

The introduction ceremony is a formal meeting between close family friends, relatives and both families of the bride and groom to be,both families coming together to know the relative of the daughter in-law,basically before the weeding proper.

Some key members of and close family friends often come together to know the intention of marrying there daughter and you know they don't just come empty handed. They come with needful rites,( that is customary)like bringing some gift items (honey, wine,fruits, yam),that is symbolic.

Some people do say a typical Nigeria weeding introduction ceremony should be laced with playful banters,traditional music, excessively frequent money dropping, however, I don't think it's compulsory. You can make it simple or elaborate, as you wish.

This days a lot have turned it into mini weeding kind of.

Mostly, before that day the wife to be would have informed her parents of the other family proposed visit and if the two families are close enough or better still lemme say family friend (the know much about each other) they just fix a proper date for the introduction ceremony.

On the day of the ceremony,in most cases,they usually start with opening prayers,songs, the main reason why both families are gathered together, some bible reading, the affirmation of the groom and the bride, that is how they met each other,some word of wisdom from the wise,fatherly and motherly prayers, word of appreciation.

Lemme add this, on the introduction day the wife to be is dressed in her traditional attire, iro and buba with gele-headgear. She is expected to wear a similar outfit with the husband to be but not in all case,it is optional let me say.

During the course of the introduction ceremony the groom will be asked to state his intention and he greets his in-law to be by greeting them according to the Yoruba culture, I mean the groom lying on the ground and after his introduction and greetings the bride to be is been be asked some few questions by the moderator, saying;

•Do you know this man?

•Are you sure you want to marry this man?

And finally, after all this had been done,the rest of the day is been spent mingling together with other members of the family and during this time,some good food and drinks will be served to the guests.

All images from google

Thanks for reading