I'm Gbagyi, a tribe in Nigeria known for carrying loads on their shoulders. they're indigene of Niger state and FCT Abuja. The Gbagyi has a unique style in displaying their culture in art, dressing, and marriage. These styles though began to change form with the introduction of modernization, some parts still practice the ancient method of espousing and giving the bride out for marriage and the marriage ceremony. I shall share a story told by my mother of how our culture celebrated marriages before now.
The Gbagyi marriage process
A man during the early 70s to 80s was forbidden to profess love to the woman he admired. It was only allowed for him to communicate this feeling to his parents who in turn tell the parents of the girl who afterward tell the girl. They had little or no choice when it comes to the selection of a suitor, the parents do the selection from among the number of suitors who show interest. During their courtship, the lady is allowed to visit the boy in an exposed environment but if the location is far from the hometown, there's a wrapper that is wrapped around the lady's waist and nicely tie in some special way, this is done to monitor the lady if the lady returns, they check the tied wrapper if it remained tied as it should be or not against the future.
There were no drums to get the classic sounds they generate now, what they do is fill some basins with water and put calabash of different sizes to get different beat. While the beating is on, some women make sweet noises of praises inviting the lady to come out while they dance around to the tune of the beating. After the lady comes out, the women set fire and fetch out flour that is used to cook out native dish then the lady is asked to do the cooking which she later feeds her husband with. If the food taste well then she is believed to be set for marriage else the husband decides if he can groom her at his place or is allowed to stay longer.
If the lady passes, the women make joyful noises and dance around her as a form of invitation into motherhood. But things had changed, modernization is taking over and changing everything, just a few remote areas still practice this but of the current, after the bride price is paid, and a wedding date fixed, the groom makes arrangements for cultural drummers who entertain the show. During the wedding ceremony, the lady is asked to prepare a meal called "Tuwo" in our dialect, this meal represents what the culture values and indirectly telling them to esteem the culture wherever they find themselves. The other events end with dancing and the introduction of the bride's and groom's parents. The bride's parents officially hand over their daughter to the groom publicly.
I invite @iyimoga @burlarj and @faith65 to join this contest.
Below is the link Contest link
thanks my man for the nomination...even tho i have no idea how it is being done in my village i will do some research
That will be great and will be an added knowledged. Thanks for accepting the nomination
Wow.. This is interesting.. You didn't say what would happen if the lady's food doesn't taste well after cooking.
I bet traditional marriage in your place would be very interesting and fun. I like how the marriage is run except for the part where you say if I have a feelings for a girl I am forbidden to tell her but only to my parents.. Thank God for modernization.
That has changed, men nowadays do propose directly to the lady. That practice is ancient. Thank you for the feedback
Nice! I like how detailed your marriage process is because I had heard like a short version of it before in my brief stay in Abuja.
Some of the Gbagyi people were early settlers in parts of Abuja. Or maybe those parts were carved out of Niger to form the present day capital city?
Ain't you glad we are in a time where we can choose our own spouse? Lol. Good luck in the contest 🍀
Lolz, God knows I wouldn't have allowed anyone to make a choice of spouse for me. Nice to know you have learnt a little about the Gbagyi people, thanks for your feedback
Thanks for participating in the contest.
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Que bonita forma de expresar lo que significa un matrimonio según tu cultura y religión. Yo feliz de haberlo leído.
Me alegro de que te guste. Espero leer de ti de la de tu cultura
There are Gbagyi people settled in Nasarawa state too
Interesting culture
yeѕ, тнey αre ѕeттled ιn мαny ѕтαтeѕ ιn nιgerια вυт тнeιr orιgιn вy αllocαтιon ιѕ jυѕт ιn nιger αnd ғcт
Good to know about these types of commitments of the couple before marriage and when they agree to be married. I did not know this way of marriage, thank you for sharing the celebration of your country, before modernity. It's good to know where your culture comes from @dwixer .
тнαnĸ yoυ ғor αpprecιαтιng тнe cυlтυre αnd тнe ĸιnd coммenт
Heey that's indeed a very interesting process, one has to cook well jesus! That's a bit rough but still interesting :) it's always great to find out this very ancient ways of doing things, always leave me thinking and imaging myself in there. I'd be scared at failing the cooking hahah
Nice post!
Cheers! :D
Hahahaha. You don't need to be scared if you know what you can do. Thanks for stopping by