Love, Tradition and Community: A Muslim wedding ceremony

Saturdays are for weddings, it's a sentence that is usually used during the weekend's for those attending one marriage ceremony or the other in Nigeria.

This Saturday being the 22nd of February 2025, I got to experience my first Muslim wedding at Edo state Nigeria, precisely Auchi, one of the states located at the south south region of the of the country.

I never knew their is a community in the south south that are Muslims until i got the opportunity of leaving here.I guess we learn and discover new things and people as we travel along this part called life.

Well I did not follow them to the mosque because the ladies place where the marriage ceremony took place was a little bit far from where I stay, I was a little bit skeptical about going because I do not even know how the ceremony is being done, so I decided to stay back for the reception which took place at the grooms father's compound, where I stay.

The morning of the marriage ceremony, i and my neighbors woke up at 3am in the morning, to assist the women of the community in cooking the foods that is to be served during the occasion, that is the least we could do as a tenant in the compound.

We started with arranging the firewood to set fire for our pot, we made jollof rice and fried beef, this food is a must have in any Nigerian occasion. The jollof rice was wrapped up nicely and packed alongside drinks.

The reception started officially at 2pm after the arrival of the bride and grooms from the mosque at the brides village, few miles away from the grooms place. I was actually taking a nap when I heard the sound of vehicles coming into the compound, the loud noises and my neighbors call woke me up.

I knew it was time to take a full shower because the occasion is about to begin, music was set, the event planner who took care of the cake was giving the cake it's final touch.

I usually do my laundries on Saturday's but this day was different because I can't dry my clothes out when we have visitors from various works of life around, we don't know those around, what if my clothes gets missing, plus it's not pleasing to the eyes seeing clothes all hanged up when such a fabulous occasion is going on.

Well after taking my full shower, I wore my Ankara (an African sown dress with a specific material) it was simple but fitting for the occasion. Tradition really differs and am glad I got to experience another this Saturday.

I don't know why ceremonies usually have issues with sharing of food, I never got any not even a drink while sitting there. It is not a new thing to me because I know how foods are shared in most Nigerian ceremonies, not all I Said most, they usually look at those they know, their siblings and all.

My neighbors and I did not get any plate of food from the ceremony while sitting down. I will say it's a good thing we went to cook with them in the morning, that was the only time we got to taste the food that was cooked because we where at the kitchen with them.

I took pictures with the bride and groom and my neighbors, and a special pictures of myself with flowers bouquet because why not.

Nonetheless am so excited for the couple, for the new chapter in their lives, and I wish them a fruitful and happy life together.

Thank you for stopping by ♥

All photos are mine
@tehilah