We’ll talk about a fascinating tribe and traditional wedding attire. In order to distinguish and comprehend these celebrations better if we are ever invited to one, we are interested in learning how the traditional Kanuri wedding is conducted.
In North-East Nigeria, in the states of Borno and Yobe, respectively, the Karuri set predominates. The majority of Kanuri people are considered Hausa.
Things to anticipate
Similar to any other wedding, the groom must inform the bride’s family of his desire and receive her blessing. Once this is done, the parents schedule a meeting to talk about the actual wedding. Following the introduction, the bride’s family presents gifts from the groom’s family, including a bag of kola nuts, a box of chocolates, and some chewing gum.
The following stage is the engagement ritual known as Ra’aki, which translates to “Declaration of Interest.” During this phase, the groom presents the bride with a suitcase packed with clothes, shoes, bags, and cosmetics. The bridegroom’s sisters, female cousins, and other family members typically carry out this role. To break the engagement news in this situation, more candy, gum, and kola nuts are provided. It’s also important to remember that the Ra’aki typically makes up half of the Kususuram. As a result, the Kususuram will be four boxes or more if the Ra’aki is two boxes.
The main gift given to the bride after the wedding is the Kususuram. However, it has more luggage than the Ra’aki. Depending on the groom’s financial situation, this luggage may be as much as three (3) boxes full.
The family of the groom are then expected to talk about the dowry, which is paid in gold coins in Kanuri society. However, this isn’t the case anymore.
In Kanuri marriages, the bride’s Luwali, or guardian, who is often a senior male paternal relative, receives the bride’s obligatory dowry from the groom with assistance from his paternal relatives. The Kwororam, which literally translates to “money for asking the bride’s hand in marriage,” is provided to the Luwali by an intermediary on behalf of the groom if the relationship involves a non-cousin and a virgin bride. The bride’s mother or other senior female relatives who live nearby receive this honorarium. Also possible is a present for the bride herself. This payment is not applicable in the event of a cousin marriage.
The wedding dates are set once all requirements have been satisfied, and they always begin on a Thursday with Nalle or Lalle. Literally, Lalle means “henna.” The bride and other female guests use this to adorn their hands and legs. This denotes the start of the wedding festivities. Here, a large basin full of items such as soaps, slippers, perfumes, and incense popularly known as Turaren Wuta and Humra will be given to the bride’s aunts from her father’s side, or “Bawaa,” where they will sort it out and exchange it with the groom’s family, after which they will divide the remaining items among themselves. Other items include sacks of henna leaves, boxes full of cloth, money, kola nuts,
The Wushe-wushe night, which translates to “Welcome to everyone,” is held every Friday night (at precisely 7 o’clock). The fathers, mothers, aunts, uncles, friends, and well-wishers attend this colorful and joyous event, which is held at the bride’s house on the eve of the wedding day.
The Ganga Kuraa’s traditional music and dance, which is done by everyone, including the elderly, is a particular one that can go on till dawn. The groom and his friends, family, and well-wishers gather on Saturday between the hours of 7 – 11 am at a meeting place, from which they travel to the bride’s house for the Wedding Fatiha. Here, an Imam (Islamic scholar) will preside and conduct the marriage rites, which include the bride’s hand in marriage being offered and accepted by their Luwalis, the disclosure of the dowry paid, witnesses to the union, the offering of prayers/supplications, and finally, the couple being pronounced husband and wife in front of everyone as witnesses.
Following this, the bride’s family usually thanks the husband for his efforts by giving him gifts of clothing, shoes, perfumes, timepieces, the Bible, a kettle, and many other things. The groom gives his buddies this present as a way of saying “thank you for being there for me.” After that, everyone can enjoy endless good times. Up until everyone goes to bed, food and drinks are served along with music and dancing.
As it is improper for the bride to spend the night at her parents’ home following the Fatiha, the wife is later transported to her new home by the groom’s family and friends. The Kisai Lewa, or “Greeting of in-laws,” begins on Sunday morning.
The opportunity to counsel the groom about being patient and tolerant with his new bride, among other things, arises when the groom and a few chosen friends go greet the in-laws. As soon as this is finished, the wedding is over, and everyone wishes the newlyweds luck. Compared to other weddings we have discussed in the past, a Kanuri wedding is very different. We hope that a lot of knowledge was affected.
Wait until the following Knowledge Tuesday post to read about a different culture’s archaic wedding custom.
