Traditional wedding
Before the colonists came to influence how the norms were perceived in weddings, weddings were definitely no exception when it comes to celebrating. Gathering of people, music, food, and the lively atmosphere was what these weddings brought to the village.
In the pre-colonialism period of the Ibo culture, arranged marriages were the tradition and women did not have much of a choice of whom they married. These arranged marriages were set up with ladies in their teens to be married off to much older men (Countries and Their). The potential groom visited his potential wife in her father's obi, or hut but before an agreement can be settled for the marriage, a bride price must be paid by the suitor. Bride prices can range from cowrie shells to goats. During this negotiation, food like foo-foo and soup are given out to everyone in the obi. Kola nuts were also eaten and palm wine was the drink of choice for the night. The potential bride will be presented at her best with cam wood rubbed all over her skin with black patterns made by uli (Achebe 71).
If both families of the groom and bride agreed on continuing with the marriage, their wedding was prepared. Families, friends, and even villages came to witness the wedding and it was definitely an event. The women and girls would start cooking from early in the morning while the men would did things like pound foo-foo or split firewood (Achebe 113). Then the celebration and wedding followed. Songs were sang, dances were danced, and everyone in the village celebrated along with the bride and groom.
Once wedded, the bride spent seven market week with her suitor's family and the couple lived in separate homes with their children living with their mother. Many men had more than one wife for having many wives symbolized how rich you were (Achebe 119) along with how successful he was as a farmer (Gender & Power).
In the pre-colonialism period of the Ibo culture, arranged marriages were the tradition and women did not have much of a choice of whom they married. These arranged marriages were set up with ladies in their teens to be married off to much older men (Countries and Their). The potential groom visited his potential wife in her father's obi, or hut but before an agreement can be settled for the marriage, a bride price must be paid by the suitor. Bride prices can range from cowrie shells to goats. During this negotiation, food like foo-foo and soup are given out to everyone in the obi. Kola nuts were also eaten and palm wine was the drink of choice for the night. The potential bride will be presented at her best with cam wood rubbed all over her skin with black patterns made by uli (Achebe 71).
If both families of the groom and bride agreed on continuing with the marriage, their wedding was prepared. Families, friends, and even villages came to witness the wedding and it was definitely an event. The women and girls would start cooking from early in the morning while the men would did things like pound foo-foo or split firewood (Achebe 113). Then the celebration and wedding followed. Songs were sang, dances were danced, and everyone in the village celebrated along with the bride and groom.
Once wedded, the bride spent seven market week with her suitor's family and the couple lived in separate homes with their children living with their mother. Many men had more than one wife for having many wives symbolized how rich you were (Achebe 119) along with how successful he was as a farmer (Gender & Power).