The Chikezie’s Family Compound in the beautiful town of Umudurunna Abba, Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State, on Thursday, 31st March, 2016, hosted friends, family and well-wishers from different parts of Nigeria to the traditional marriage rites between Miss Ngozichukwu Favour Chikezie and Mr. Kenechukwu Ijeoma Oyeka, a member of staff of NICO, Lagos Office.
Amidst the blast of indigenous music on a cool breezy evening, the wife-to-be was accompanied by maidens as she searched in the crowd for her bridegroom with a cup of palm wine, as is typical of Igbo marriage settings.
This was followed by a shout of joy from the crowd when the bride, on her knees, offered the cup of palm wine to Kene, whom she identified as her husband-to-be; the bride and bridegroom then moved towards the High Table for the traditional parental blessings. Thereafter, the young couple walked round the arena to greet family members, friends and well-wishers before dancing to the delight of all present.
The bride price negotiations commenced and were concluded between the two families, as demanded by the customs and traditions. Subsequently, food and drinks were rolled out generously in a grand show of African hospitality; this merriment continued for long as the food and drinks were not in short supply.
The colourful ceremony had to come to a close, eventually, like all marriage occasions, for Kene, the new husband, had to take his wife back home same day. He had travelled in search of love for over a hundred and fifty kilometres from Amichi Town, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State and must begin the journey of marriage immediately, according to Igbo tradition.
From the 14 members of staff of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) from Lagos Office and NICO Training School who witnessed the ceremony, as well as Management and Staff of the Institute, we wish Mr. and Mrs. Kene Oyeka a happy married life.
Corporate Affairs Unit
NICO, Lagos