The couple
By Jon Egie
Saturday, February 10, 2024 was a day to remember when the families of Blessed Emmanuel Israel of Ikpa-Uruan in Uruan LGA of Akwa Ibom State and Egie John Oghenemaro of Uzere in Isoko South LGA of Delta State; friends and well wishers across the country converged at the playground of Onward Secondary School , Mbiokporo, Uyo in Akwa Ibom State to witness the solemnazation of the traditional marriage of their children, former Master Egie Oghenemeru Mario and former Miss Uduakabasi Blessed Israel.
The family of the groom led by Mr Philip Awhosa and the groom’s father, Egie John Oghenemaro had earlier joined the bride’s father, Blessed Emmanuel Israel in the father in law’s house where the bride-price was paid in a brief ceremony according to the tradition and custom of Ibibio people.
Thereafter, the groom and his family moved on to the Onward Secondary School playground which was the venue of the celebration of the traditional marriage ceremony.
People of all walks of life: various youth and women groups and fraternities, cultural troupes not excluding the Ekpe masquerade, clergymen across the country, business mogul and the political class added colour to the day.
The marriage ceremony was declared open with a prayer by the Chairman of Marriage Committe, Living Faith Church aka Winners Chapel, Durumi-Abuja, Pst Bassey Etukudo.
In his opening speech, Chairman of the marriage ceremony and former Registrar of the University of Uyo, Dr John Udo, said the couple showed great respect and honour to their parents by seeking their consent and approval before going ahead to celebrate the marriage.
That was to a large extent, in departure from what some youths do in the present day when they meet their spouses online and consumate their marriage without the consent, approval and blessing of their parents.
He however advised the couple to realize that marriage is an institution established by God himself and that the only key to a successful marriage was to regularly consult the manufacturer of the product for its manuals through prayer and reading the word of God through the Scriptures.
According to Dr Udo, God meant marriage to last for lifetime and hence, charged that on no account should the issue of divorce be mentioned in the marriage.
” But if for any reason any of the couple decides to seek the way of divorce, same should make effort to reassemble all persons who witnessed the celebration of this traditional marriage in Uyo to present the case before all of us before such a matter could be considered for deliberation. ”
Earlier the bride was led into the arena in a dance troupe rear ranked by her parents followed by the groom, his men and family who also danced joyously to the arena and took their positions.
Then it was time for the parents of the bride to pray for the couple after which parents of the groom took turn to pray for the well being of the couple.
As one of the procedures of observing the rites of marriage of the Ibibio people, Chairman of the marriage ceremony, Dr John Udo asked the bride’s father if the groom had completely provided all the items required for a man to qualify to marry an Ibibio daughter. Mr Blessed Emmanuel Israel replied in the affirmative. Thereon, parents of the groom were asked if they would welcome the bride to their home as their daughter in law. “I do”, they responded individually and separately one after the other.
At this juncture, Pastor Darlington Okonkwo who is the General Overseer of Streams of Joy Church, Uyo in a long prayer session asked God for , protection, prosperity and blessings of the fruits of the womb and the businesses of the couple and for success of the marriage.
After the prayer session, Chairman of the occasion having been satisfied that all the rites of marriage of the Ibibio people have been fulfilled by the groom pronounced former Master Egie Oghenemeru Mario and former Miss Uduakabasi Blessed Israel as husband and wife and thereafter, the bride’s father called on heaven and earth in the presence of all the people gathered to witness that from the bottom of his heart, he cheerfully and joyously handed his daughter to the groom for them to live together happily as husband and wife all their lifetime.
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