CULTURAL TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE CEREMONY IN MY TRIBE:: A THING OF BEAUTY::

NEW WEEK'S BLESSING TO YOU ALL

I am really pleased to be making my entry for this very interesting topic. It is quite a common thing in our locality these days though, although it is very cultural and hence adds value and brings more respect to both parties who are involved in it.

Marriage is a good thing, in which everyone is supposed to feel the joy that comes from it. I have gotten quite a number of people around who have been able to have this cultural rite done on them.

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literally, in my place, the traditional marriage is a rite that comprises of both the grooms and the bride's people. Hence, there are two parties involved in this but more of the responsibilities go to the groom.

There are traditional/cultural rites that are needed of the man before he can fully call the woman his wife and before this is been done, there are therefore the things needed of him to take to the bride's parent/family members.

THESE ARE THE REQUIREMENTS NEEDED FROM THE GROOM TO THE BRIDES FAMILY

Every custom/tradition has what there required of the man, so these are therefore some of the things needed in my mom's tradition.

Knocking Drinks: This is usually needed on the first visit of the man to the wife to be family. The families normally choose what this might be, either in cash or in other valuable items.
Prayer drink: This is usually needed for the blessing of married couples.
Drinks for Intention Declaration: This is needed from the man to show his interest in marrying the woman.
The Bride price is also required of the man: This is usually dependent on the father how much he will like to collect.

Once all the required items are hence brought by the man intending to marry the woman, and there are acceptable, then it is left for the groom and bride to chose a date comfortable for them both to when they will openly do the marriage celebration.

This usually becomes the hardest part of it all reason being a lot is been put in place for the success of the occasion. Arrangements are henced made under various aspects to enable them to entertain the visitors who are coming to witness the occasion.

Musical sets are hired, food arrangements are made, traditional dancers are hired, M.C is called upon who will anchor the occasion.

Hence, with all these things in place, on the fixed date for the marriage, a family meeting will be held which will be brief at this time all other things will be set in motion to the success of the occasion. The order to which the activities of the occasion would have been drafted out. Which may include some of these interesting activities.

Opening prayer: This is very important and always the first.
Opening speech by the chairman
Groom Matching In The groom is usually the first to come in, this customary, for the groom have to wait for the bride.
After that the Bride will then match in: On several occasions, they usually bring in the wrong person, like this is done to create fun and generate money.
Change of custom by the bride and also matching another matching in After the groom might have chosen his rightful bride, she will then go back in change into a cultural attire and song will be played and hence she dances in. To some point, everything is being paused so the husband has to use money in making a walkway for his bride.
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Fasward............
- The cutting of the cake comes in.
- Dancing by the groom and bride
- Refreshment for everybody.
- The time for gift comes up: Everybody now comes in line to give what ever there brought for the the bride/groom.
This is quite an interesting event to witness. Though I was not opportune to witness my ... own but had to watch the Movie made from it. It was really an interesting one to say.