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Igbo Wedding Ceremony

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Submitted By NadineAbdallah
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Igbo Wedding Ceremony What is marriage? Marriage is not between a man and a woman wanting to seal the deal of their love. To me, Marriage is a give and take. It is a journey taken by two people who are bound by love and joined in Holy matrimony. It is when two people become one, not just by words but by whatever challenges in life they are about to and will experience. It's also about understanding the other person's fault, sacrificing part of you and creating beautiful memories together.
But that's not all. Apparently though it may seem like weddings are celebrated in the same manner, people have their ethnic and cultural background that one has to follow in order for their marriage to be legal and accepted by one's community. I grew up in Nigeria, West Africa where marriage is quite different from everywhere else I have attended. And the one that I find quite interesting is the Igbo tribe in Nigeria, West Africa. It is common to get invited to a traditional marriage (Igbankwu) and certainly worth witnessing one. Marriage in Igboland is not just an affair between the future husband and wife. It also involves the parents, the extended family and their village.

The first step is the groom asks his potential partner to marry him. Assuming that she accepts, the groom will visit the bride's residence accompanied by his father. The groom's father will introduce himself and his son then explain the purpose of his visit. The bride’s father welcomes the guests, invites his daughter to come and asks her if she knows the groom. Her confirmation shows that she agrees with the proposal. Then the bride’s price settlement (Ika-Akalika) starts with the groom accompanied by his father and elders visiting the bride’s compound on another evening. They bring wine and kola nuts with them, which are presented to the bride's father. After they have

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