Marriage is such a beautiful union, especially when you get into it with your soulmate, it becomes everything you wish for and more. In the Calabar tribe, when a man comes to ask for a woman’s hand in marriage the Efik traditional wedding list is a necessity for performing their traditional rites.
Every culture has its own requirement before a union is blessed and an Efik traditional wedding is not any different as a list is always handed to the groom to be ahead of the occasion. The Efik traditional wedding list contains all the requirements he needs to fulfill and bring before the bride is given to him as his wife.
Read also: Igbo Wedding: Groom’s Guide To First Visit And Meeting His Igbo In-Laws
When a man in love with an Efik lady wishes to take the relationship to the next level, he, first of all, informs his family who will join him in writing a letter to the family of the girl, stating their intention. This letter is accompanied by several bottles of drinks known as “MMIN UKOP IKO.”
The girl’s family will then send a reply once they are pleased with their daughter’s choice of suitor. After the reply, the man then gets permission to visit the girl’s family with his kinsmen. This stage is called the introduction “UDIONG UFOK,” the young man and his family will come bearing drinks “MMIN MBUB” to officially seek the consent of the girl’s family. The girl’s extended family will all be present to behold the man that wishes to marry their daughter.
After the introduction, the groom is presented with the Efik traditional wedding list of the traditional marriage requirements, the following are the expected things on the Efik traditional wedding list.
Efik Traditional Marriage requirements
- Knocking drinks: This is demanded after the groom and his family entered the bride’s house. It includes A Brigadier Brandy, a bottle of the star, and 2 minerals.
- Prayer drinks for blessing the couples. It includes an IMG dry Gin, two malts, 2 bottles of Star, and 2 bottles of mineral.
- Drinks for Intention Declaration; For the couple to declare his intention, he’s expected to present the following; A Brandy drink, 3 bottles of Star, 2 bottles of big Stout, 4 Gold malt, and 2 minerals.
- Introduction Drinks include; Malts, minerals, a big bottle of 1501, an MG dry Gin drink, 2 Champdor red wine, 6 bottles of Star, 4 bottles of Gulder, 6 bottles of Big stout, and also with N30,000 cash.
- Appreciation drinks; Drinks like a St. Remy, an MG Dry Gin,6 Star drinks, 4 Gulder, and Stout, mineral/ malts, a Brigadier brand, 2 Champdor red wine with N10,000 cash.
The Fattening Room
In preparation for marriage, a prospective bride in Efik land is sent to the fattening room. The girl is usually cared for by elderly women of her clan but not necessarily her mother. The fattening room aims at teaching the girl how to prepare special delicacies, how to be good in bed, and basically how to raise a happy family. The girl often acquires an admirable waistline, a fresh and robust look, and smooth skin as a result of traditional massage and skin therapy. She also acquires skills like calabash making and special dance steps which she will display on the day of her marriage.
Being an old tradition, the duration of the fattening room depended on how fast the girl acquires skills and responds to beauty therapy but in recent times the rites are carried out a day or two before the marriage ceremony. A graduation ceremony takes place after the fattening room and this ceremony is always scheduled to hold on the traditional marriage day or a day before.
The proper ceremony “NDO”
On the day of the proper ceremony which takes place at the bride’s family house, the groom and his family will be seated with the bride’s father and his kinsmen in a sitting room while other guests seat outside, the announcer or moderator known as “MMA OFIORI NDO” (female) “ETTE OFIORI NDO” (male) will announce each item to be presented to the hearing of the guests seated outside. One of the major items to be presented is a box “EKEBE” which contains different kinds of clothing, accessories, shoes to show how the groom will take care of the wife he is to be given.
The bride price “OKUK NDO” is paid, “UFOP ISO EKA EYEN” is paid to the bride’s mother, UFOP ISO ETE EYEN is paid to the bride’s father, the groom also pays “OKPONO NDIDI” to loosen the ties on his bride’s feet and arms to officially claim her.When the ofiori ndo calls for drinks to be presented to the bride’s family, two well-adorned maidens emerge with a brass tray containing the drinks (known as akpankpang) balanced on their heads for presentation. The akpangkpang an expensive commodity is very rare these days because not every family can afford it. Royal families who own it put it up for hire to those in need.
After meeting all the formalities, the groom who is usually dressed in a white singlet, a wrapper (nsobo), beaded shoes, and a cap is ready to make his entrance to the arena where guests are seated, his friend’s troop in with him holding a beautiful ceremonial umbrella over his head while dancing to beautiful traditional drums and songs.
When he takes his seat, the bride, dressed in a ball gown (onyoyo), beautiful staff and hair plaited up (ETINGHE) and designed with bronze combs(edisat) down to her neck or waist, she makes her entrance with the ekombi dance and her friends follow closely behind dancing and cheering. She dances around curtseying in appreciation to the guests before she takes a seat beside her groom.
The final rite is the presentation of mostly kitchen wares by the bride’s mother and her family to the bride, these gifts are usually all an Efik bride needs to keep her home running as nothing is lacking. The ceremony ends as the couple takes to the dance floor while well-wishers join them ad mist eating, drinking, and much more.
The Fattening Room
The bride price “OKUK NDO” is paid, “UFOP ISO EKA EYEN” is paid to the bride’s mother, UFOP ISO ETE EYEN is paid to the bride’s father, the groom also pays “OKPONO NDIDI” to loosen the ties on his bride’s feet and arms to officially claim her.
When the ofiori ndo calls for drinks to be presented to the bride’s family, two well-adorned maidens emerge with a brass tray containing the drinks (known as akpankpang) balanced on their heads for presentation. The akpangkpang an expensive commodity is very rare these days because not every family can afford it. Royal families who own it put it up for hire to those in need.
After meeting all the formalities, the groom who is usually dressed in a white singlet, a wrapper (nsobo), beaded shoes, and a cap is ready to make his entrance to the arena where guests are seated, his friend’s troop in with him holding a beautiful ceremonial umbrella over his head while dancing to beautiful traditional drums and songs.
Photo Credit: Getty
How is Efik traditional marriage done?
The special traditional marriage rites are just one feature of this lovely culture. A guy in love with an Efik woman who wants to advance their relationship first tells his family, who will assist him in penning a letter to the girl’s family outlining their intentions.
What are the requirements for traditional marriage?
A traditional marriage in Nigeria has four main parts: (1) introduction, (2) family requirements, (3) appointment, and (4) bride payment handing over of the bride.
What are the Efik known for?
The Efiks were known for their involvement in the slave trade, where they acted as slave traders and intermediaries between the inland slave traders and Europeans. After the slave trade dwindled, Efik turned to exporting palm oil from the Cross River.
What does a bride need to buy before marriage?
- Aspirin/pain reliever.
- Clothing tape
- Cell phone charger
- Travel sewing kit
- Deodorant.
- Safety pins
- Clear nail polish
- Blotting papers
- Water facial spray bottle
- Extra lipstick
- Bottled water
- Travel-size package of tissues
