Everything About Nigerian Wedding Ceremony

Table Of Contents[ Show ]

1. Occasion
2. Bride Price
3. Igbo Nigerian wedding
4. Yoruba Nigerian wedding
5. Hausa wedding
6. In Conclusion

Nigerian Wedding Ceremony – Nigerian weddings

Nigeria is a melting pot of languages, religions, cultures and traditions. Nigeria has an estimated 370 ethnic groups, three of which are Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba.

In Nigeria, marriage is more than just a celebration of joining the lives of two people together. It is then that two families come together as one. Nigerian wedding is a perfect setting full of vivid colors, tactile music, and ancient traditions. Usually, everyone is invited, your outfit can depend on which side of the family you come from.

When it comes to Nigerian wedding traditions, this starts with an Introduction, where the two families meet perhaps for the first time. They exchange gifts with each other and the bride’s family will present the bridegroom with a list of what he will need to give to the family in order to accept the engagement.

Nigerian Wedding Occasion

There are many layers in marriages from all races, e.g. the proposal. For Igbo and Yoruba people, a traditional wedding is to take place first, followed by a church ceremony often called the “white wedding” because of the color of the bride’s dress.

Both celebrations can be divided into days, weeks, or months.

White weddings are usually held in a church, but modern couples prefer non-religious venues. The most striking feature is the motto of Nigerian weddings, which often exceed 250 guests.

RSVPs are often useless and marital discord is a de rigueur so additional visitors are made first. Nigerian weddings are a public celebration where family, distant relatives, neighbors, and people who want the best of any kind are expected.

Next, let us take you into deep knowledge about Nigerian weddings

Bride Price

It is common in many Nigerian nations for a man to provide an agreed-upon set of brides’ family before marriage. This is known as Rubu Dinar in Hausa, Eru Iyawo to Yoruba, Bride Price(In English meaning).

This does not mean that a woman is being sold, but rather that it is a symbolic act to prove that a man can take care of himself and his new family financially.

In truth, this also compensates the bride’s family for the loss of money or the work he takes out of the family by marrying her and going with him. “This can sometimes be extreme and the price goes up if a woman has a university degree.

The groom’s family delivers the requested items and once the requirements have been met, the event can continue. ” Lobola is often a combination of money and gifts ranging from clothes, furniture, food, and sometimes animals.

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Igbo Nigerian wedding

When an Igbo man is ready for marriage, he goes with his father and other male relatives to knock on the bride’s family door, this is called Ikuaka or “knocking.”

It is usually the man’s father (or uncle, older brother, or eldest living male relative) who declares his intentions to marry the woman.

The men came with gifts such as kola and alcoholic beverages, which Nigerians sometimes call “hot drinks.”

The second stage of the Igbo marriage is Ime Ego, which is the payment of lobola (bride price). The last traditional festival is called Igba Nkwu or “carrying wine”.

In this tense event, the bride has to look for her future husband who is hiding within the crowd. She dances happily as she scans the room. She should identify the person he is going to marry well and give him a cup of wine, from which he should drink to show that he is truly her husband. The couple is then said to be married, furthermore, there is another change of dress and a burst of joy dancing.

Yoruba Nigerian wedding

Traditional Yoruba weddings are large and healthy with between 200 and 1,000 guests. The ceremony is hosted by two MCs known as alagas.

They are usually older women and are on each side of the family. Alagas are rebellious, kind characters, and add humour to the day. They go with the perfect talking drum of the event, pumping with more energy and excitement with each beat.

The Yoruba people have a custom called Ìdobálè where men kneel, prostrating their bodies, as a sign of respect. The bridegroom and his friends should kneel before the bride’s family and the chest should touch the floor completely for the greeting to end.

When the men prostrate, the bride’s family asks a few questions, the groom sits down and the bride comes in with her ladies dressed in the same aso-oke.

After this, she puts the hat on the bridegroom’s head, and thereafter he carries her. This is known as Igbeyawo. He then puts a ring on his finger, and they are said to be getting married. ”

Hausa wedding

Marriage among Hausa people begins with the payment of a lobola called Kayan Zander. The low bride price is said to have brought great blessings to those who marry. Once this has been paid for by the bride’s family, a wedding can take place. Fatihah is the real wedding day when representatives from both families exchange vows before a religious priest and not the couple themselves.

The third event, Wuni, is for women only. Here, the bride enjoys the occasion with her female friends adorning their hands with henna. In the time of Kamun Amariya, the groom’s relatives then played in consultation with the ladies in order to “liberate” the bride from the reception. Finally, the bride is taken to her new home by a process called Kai Amariya.

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In Conclusion

Marriage is a milestone celebrated by those getting married as well as their parents who will be proud to invite as many people as possible to participate in the success of their children.