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Weddings in Nigeria are not just for the intending couples but also for the guests to wine and dine as they rejoice and reunite at the occasion. I was thus excited to attend a wedding in Ibadan, a city in the south-west region of Nigeria, which is about 110 miles (roughly a three-hour journey) from Ilorin, Kwara State in the north-central region of Nigeria.
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My preference has always been to take public transport whenever I have to leave the border of my town, as this is usually cheaper and more fun, and there is always the opportunity to meet new faces and have both meaningful and meaningless discussions to while away time. I did not make new friends during this trip, but I enjoyed the occasional conversations that erupted as a result of scenes we needed to comment on.
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It is not unusual for occasions to start late, and this wedding event was no exception. The wedding that was slated to commence by 8 a.m. eventually started some minutes past noon. The same venue was used for the engagement, white wedding, and wedding reception, with a few rearrangements of the colorful venue—a design beautifully decorated to match the color code for the wedding. An interesting part of this wedding was that the bride is Yoruba by tribe (Yoruba is one of the three major languages in Nigeria and is domiciled in the south-west part of the country) and the groom is from Akwa Ibom State, which is situated in the south-south zone of the country. Referring to my post on inter-tribal marriages, I believe marriages between two different cultures should be encouraged.
HILARIOUS ACT BY MY FRIEND’S WIFE
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The bride happens to be my close friend’s younger sister, and I used the opportunity to reunite with them since we are all based in different locations. Just before the commencement of the wedding, my friend’s wife brought out a ring from her purse and dragged my friend’s hand to where she carefully placed the wedding ring. We all burst into laughter as the message was clear: she was marking her "territory."
"Tayo, bring your finger." Tayo's wife reached out for my friend's hand, much to the amusement of everyone close by. The atmosphere immediately reeked of laughter as we all watched her perform her act.
It is common for married men, especially younger men, to not use their wedding rings in public. Tayo is a handsome young man with chocolate skin color, of average build and a medical doctor who got married a year ago. He could easily be swayed by ladies who eagerly scouted for potential suitors at every opportunity. It was amazing and equally hilarious that my friend’s wife traveled with her husband’s wedding ring and inserted it at the wedding venue (hence, there would be no unnecessary conversations or communications with the pretty ladies usually at weddings).
The wedding went smoothly, as both families of the couple were very understanding despite the language barrier. The wedding was simple: about one hundred and fifty guests with enough food and souvenirs to go around as entry was strictly by invitation. I believe weddings do not need to be loud to be successful, and this particular one was a typical example.
I was hosted by a friend, @samiwrites who was kind enough to treat me to a restaurant where I ate some local dishes garnished with large portions of meat and fish, even after eating at the reception. I know, right? I will take my time to clear my bowels this weekend before resuming work. My journey back to Ilorin was uneventful, but it was worth the weekend.
