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This is the first full length Yoruba traditional engagement ceremony I’ve featured on the blog. I guess there is a reasoning behind it. Trying to blog about a traditional engagement, to me, is like watching a comedy show without the sound! You’ll find the expressions funny and you’ll smile along with the smiles but you might not have a full grasp of what is happening.

So I’m going to give you a little heads up

Waaaay back in time, in Yoruba-land, when a couple are in courtshipand the man decides he has found the girl of his dreams and has decided he wants to marry her, and of course she decides she wants to marry him too! (Phew, needed to clarify)! He will go to the bride-to-be’s house with his entire family and or village and have what is called an Introduction. At the introduction he brings along gifts, a letter of his intentions/proposal, accompanied by an MC known as the Alaga-Iduro, the MC helps to ease the way into the Bride’s Family home or Village.

On arrival, they meet with the Alaga-Ijoko, who is the receiving MC for the Bride’s family or village. Then the banter and the negotiations begins. This is usually funny as one MC tries to outwit the other.

Here’s my brave attempt at a little translation of some antics that go on during the introduction

Alaga-Iduro:- “We hail from the Upperland beyond the rivers and the valleys, and we greet you sincerely and just want you to know that we have come for our bride”

Alaga-Ijoko:- “You and who’s army? You’re feeling very brave, how dare you come into our prestigious village and demand to pluck our sweetest rose…. just like that! I am sorry oooo, you have come on a wrong day and we don’t even feel like receiving visitors!! So goodbye!”

Alaga-Iduro:- “Oh dear! I sincerely apologise, you see when our son (the groom) came back home a week ago today, he wouldn’t eat, he wouldn’t sleep, nobody was at peace in our entire village. When we finally got the issue out of him, he said he was in luurrrve! Aaah! luurrve ke! We proclaimed, not the time to be in luurrve, but he was having none of it. He insisted we marched down here today and get him his bride. We come bearing gifts of the highest order to be found nowhere else in the entire Yorubaland…..as that is how we roll! And if you find there is anything missing just let us know, and it’s sorted..wink wink nudge nudge!”

Alaga-Ijoko:- “Right! I need a moment to ponder on that! In the meantime, you see it is a tradition that any visitors that come into our home or village must bring something for all the wives of the village… you just cant be coming to take a bride and that is it! Sort them out with a little sumting sumting, while I ponder further!”

There is usually loads of dancing and singing…as it’s a time of joy and celebration.

As time goes on…(and trust..it can go on) and with gentle persuasions, the groom is allowed in at which he comes in with his friends to prostrate (hope i spelt it right) in front of the bride’s family and ask the entire family for the hands of the bride in marriage. On acceptance ( and no there is usually no refusal…at least none that I know of hehehe) the bride is brought out to his groom, she says bye-bye to Mummy and Daddy, to be unveiled and united as one with her Hubby. Next……. Nice day for a white wedding

Enjoy!

Peek-a-Preview:- A True Love Story