Our Traditional Marriage Gathering

Hi Steemians,
It’s nice seeing everyone, here again, I was privileged to take part in the last contest and it was a nice time for me and I’m so happy to take in this contest again.

Talking about gathering in my place was a bit difficult for me because I am an indoor person, I hardly go out to places except for school programs, Church programs, etc.
But recently I attended a traditional Marriage my aunt and it was quite an interested one I actually learned a lot, as a single young man I’ve learned how traditional Marriage is been done in my place and I’ve equally learned the need to attain programs and other gatherings because it’s a great avenue to learn new things.

I’m from Akwa Ibom in Nigeria and traditional marriage in our place doesn’t really require much depending on the tribe and the family. In some tribes, marriage rite is quite expensive and that end so many young people in wrong marriages whereas in some tribe it is quite affordable.

First of all the man has to know the family house of his intending wife so as to meet the father and mother of the lady and declare his intentions. Then he will now fix a day to come with his kinsmen to pay for the dowry.

After all the dowry was paid a date was fixed for the general gathering of the Traditional Marriage which is always at the bride’s compound it’s always a day of celebration everybody will come with traditional attire. If space is not enough in the bride’s family compound some do take it where there is space like in my place, we normally use primary school. During the traditional marriage, we the bride's family cooks different kinds of our tribal food to show the groom's family what his soon-to-be wife will be cooking when they eventually be together.

As our tradition demands, the bride’s family called for the groom and he came out dancing as the music was going on. After a lot of dancing, the moderator stopped the music and interrogate him, when he successfully answered all the questions, the bride was also called upon to introduce her husband to be and she will be interrogated also, she will be if she is really ready to marry the man, it was quite an interesting time for me.

After all set and done the groom and his kinsmen will have to eat the food that was prepared after eating a brief prayer was made and they were officially declared as husband and wife, then it was time for people to bring gifts for the new couple, they were equally given marital advice and how to build their home.

Thanks for reading my post
I’m @timgrace