By Jude Odo ( South East Regional Editor)
In a world where modernity often overshadows tradition, the traditional marriage ceremony of Mariana Adaeze Okam remains a breathtaking spectaçle of heritage, grandeur, and cultural pride.
The magnificent traditional ceremony which many described as a royal wedding took place at late Dr. Chinedu Okam’s country home, Achalla village in Enugu Agidi, Anambra State.
The traditional marriage ceremony was between Mariana Adaeze Okam, and Chinemelum Daniel Onwuasoanya. The ceremony was described by many as mesmerizing display of time honoured customs, vibrant regalia, and heartfelt ritual that captivate the entire area.
The venue of the event was lavishly decorated with golden colour, and other symbolic colours. One wonders if it was at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, where Prince Henry married Meghan Markle.
A red carpet led to the guests into the main event area.The venue was typically decorated to reflect a blend of modern and Igbo traditional elements.
As the traditional, and modern music echoed, it became clear that it was not an ordinary traditional marriage but a bond that unite people.The union of Mariana, and Daniel was not just a joining of two souls, but a reaffirmation of old friends alliance and relationships between their people.
At the height of the ceremony, the eldest in the bride’s family, took a kola nut, anoint it, and prayed for Mariana’s blessings invoking the spirit of the ancestors to guide her and the groom ( Daniel) into their matrimony.
The ceremony reached it’s climax when four men each were selected from the bride’s family, and four from the groom’s family to negotiate the bride price. At the end of the negotiation, the team emerged from a close door meeting announced the success of the negotiation, and the payment of bride price.
In Igbo traditional marriage ceremony, no such ceremony is complete without lavish banquet. The event venue was transformed into a Sea of colours as guests dined on jollof rice, spicy stews, local dishes, and palm wine. Traditional dancing groups graced the occasion.
The mother of the bride, Mrs. Adaeze Okam who was in her radiance nature told MMS Plus that the ceremony was a mixed feelings for her.
“For me, it was a mixed feelings as my dear daughter is leaving our home today, although, it is for good.Today, she is getting married as well as starting a new life. It is amazing to me. That is why I said, it is a historic and a mixed feelings for me.
As we are giving her out in marriage today, she is leaving our home. I am so excited. God has blessed me so much for me to be alive for a day like this.I give God all the glory”, she said.
On her take on the union of the two families, she said: “I am very happy to mix with another family that is my family; that is my friend, and that is my confidant. We pray that it will continue like that. As God said: ‘One plus one is equal to one’, a divine mathematics “.
Mrs. Okam explained that the most emotional moment was the payment of bride price.
Hear her: “It was the payment of bride price. At that point, I was shocked, that our family has consented to the marriage as tradition permits.I was shedding tears but I have to tell myself that you too left your own father’s house to the family of Okam.
“And when I went to listen to the conversation on bride price, the elders said, no, no,. go away, women are not supposed to be here. That broke my heart the more. I said; so mine was just to give birth to a child, raise her, and when discussion about her leaving home and on her marriage, I am not supposed to take part”.
Chinedu Okam described her sister’s traditional marriage as a wonderful event.
The ceremony witnessed the gathering of who is who in Anambra State and even beyond including the Deputy Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Local Government Chairmen, traditional title holders amongst others.
