My Neighborhood Watch #117 - Reporting Events Around us

Some months ago, my kid sister got engaged to the love of her life in UK and on Friday, we were preparing for the introduction of the two families down here in Nigeria to meet for the first time. His family base in cross river state, so we’d to prepare some refreshments to host our future in-laws.

The next day was our monthly sanitation that was introduced again after it was stopped for 4 years by the previous administration. The government had their environmental marshals and police stationed everywhere in the state to make sure people clean their neighborhoods. Offenders are arrested or made to pay a fine.

Environmental marshals escorted with police doing their patrols

Unfortunately that same sanitation day was the day of the “introduction of the two families”, so we had to reschedule the time till after the sanitation was over. During our cooking time, some of the marshals stormed our compound when they saw a canopy outside. When they heard my sister was about getting married, they refused to go again. They all stayed there till the sanitation was over. We’d to entertain with some foods and drinks.

After the sanitation was over, my family and some of my relatives were in the house. Expecting our future in-laws. Mehn, they took a lot of time before getting to our place. In fact, they got fined by the chief for keeping the entire family waiting but my dad had to intervene on there behalf.

arrival of my in-laws

Well, the marriage kicked off. His family were represented by 7 of his kinsmen and which one of them is a reverend sister. We gave her the honor of doing the opening prayers since she seems like the one closest to God. What supposed to be a mere introduction turned out to paying of every traditional rites and bride price of my kid sister.

Before now, we had given them the marriage list on what to pay during the traditional marriage but it just happened that they had their own plans entirely different from our own. On reaching our house, they came with everything listed in the marriage list. The list consists ila, agbani and okuru-kaka.

presentation of the bride price

It wasn’t something we prepared for. So, we’d to call in more relatives. Luckily for us, this meeting was done in the village at the family home. So, it was easy getting in touch with some people that makes up the extended family to come and witness the occasion.

As for okuru-kaka list, we refuse to take it because that one is meant for the Ado royal war canoe house. There was a little back n forth between the two families because they couldn’t take back those things to cross rivers state where they came from. So, my dad decided to keep the items and on the day of the wedding, they will present it to the war canoe house. So, we’d to keep that event for the main marriage.

The items meant for the okuru-kaka

To God be the Glory, the event was a success. We went outside to take pictures with our new family and by November, the union will be taking place in Nigeria and it will be first time seeing her husband for the first time.

snapping of photos between the two families.

I will be inviting @kyrie1234 and @luisito01