Wedding in Kano

We were all invited to the wedding of one of our country representatives’ sons.  Actually as we learned later, the invitation was to one of the receptions held for the bride.  The Hausa marriage process is an interesting one which involves separate events for men and women. 

Earlier we had been asked for our measurements and color preferences. To our surprise, outfits were made that we were asked to wear to the reception. Except mine wasn’t quite ready for the Sunday afternoon event.  I wore a traditional dress given to me as a gift by the ladies of Yankari Block in Bauchi.

We walked to the house and found the event in progress.  There were women and children all over, sitting in chairs in the back yard, sitting on the ground under a tent, sitting in every room of the house.  Outside an all female group from Niger played wonderful traditional music.  We were served food in take away type containers, but other groups of women shared large plates and bowls of rice and stew.

Then we danced...and were showered with Naira! What fun! I thought it was the bride who was showered, but the bride never came out of the room where she sat demurely on a stool in the corner of a room surrounded by her entourage.  We were invited inside to meet the new bride and to take have pictures taken with her.  She is a lovely young woman who graciously accepted our congratulations.  Because of what I know about her in-laws, I’m sure she’ll be encouraged to seek professional opportunities beyond producing as many children as possible, which often seems to be the primary expectation of women here in the North.

The group finished playing and packed up to leave and the celebration seemed to be coming to an end.  We thanked Nafisa for the invitation and her hospitality and walked to the front of the house only to find a (all male) band was setting up in the front yard for the party to continue.

This type of traditional wedding is a multi day affair which I believe started on Friday.  Even the following Monday there was an exchange of gifts between the in-laws.  The groom provides clothing (including underwear), yams, kola nuts and other foodstuff and livestock along with a dowry to the bride’s family to secure the union.