The Yoruba traditional wedding ceremony is known as ‘Igbeyawo’. It usually takes place before the white wedding.
For the Yoruba traditional wedding, the bride’s family is responsible for covering the ceremonial costs. Although some families choose to split the costs as they please.
The entire ceremony is officiated by two representatives who are chosen by each side of the family, and they are usually older women.
The groom’s family is represented by the Alaga Iduro/ Olopa Iduro (standing policeman), while the bride’s family is represented by the Alaga Ijoko/Olopa Ijoko (sitting policeman).
The following processes take place at a Yoruba traditional wedding:
Family Introduction
When planning a Yoruba wedding, the family introduction is a very important step. This is when both families will meet for the first time.
This part is not only for the immediate members of the bride and groom’s families. Both extended family members are required to be there as well and all will meet each other for the first time too.
Getting The Eru Iyawo List
The Eru Iyawo List comes from the eldest member of the bride’s family. The bride’s father, if he’s not the eldest in his family line, he will reach out to his eldest brother or uncle for the Eru Iyawo List, which is then given to the groom and his family.
The list contains items the groom and his family must present to the bride’s family and community members on the wedding day along with some cash in an envelope to be used for various activities during the wedding ceremony.
HERE COMES THE GROOM
The Yoruba traditional wedding ceremony usually kicks of with the bride’s family seated and waiting for the groom’s family to arrive. Both the bride and the groom are absent at this point.
Once the groom’s family arrive, the Alaga Ijoko welcomes them at the gate in the company of the the housewives of the bride’s side of the family. She then asks the groom’s family to state their reasons for coming before collecting an entry fee from them.
Finally, she introduces them to the bride’s family before some prayers are said. After the introduction, the groom’s family kneel and prostrate before for the family of the bride. The two families then sit at opposite sides of the room, while the Alagas sit or stand in their midst.
Once seated, the Alaga Iduro presents the proposal letter to the Alaga Ijoko on behalf of the groom’s family. This letter is read out loud by a younger female representative of the bride’s family, such as the younger sister or cousin. An acceptance letter is then presented to the groom’s family before some prayers are said.
After the prayers, the groom dances in with some of his friends, and prostrates a total of four times. On the first two occasions, he prostrates for his new in-laws with his friends, before prostrating before them alone the third time.
During this third prostration alone, the two families stretch out their arms to pray for him. Before he takes his seat, he prostrates one final time with his friends, but this time around, before his own family. He then gives out some money before taking a seat while awaiting his bride’s arrival.
HERE COMES THE BRIDE
Once the groom is seated, the veiled bride dances in accompanied by her parents and Ore Iyawo, who are usually some close female friends and female family members.
She then kneels before her parents, who pray for her and bless her. She does the same thing with her husband’s parents, before taking off her veil and joining her husband. On getting to her husband, she kneels before him while prayers are said for both of them.
Her husband gives her some money, before carrying her up for all to see. At this point, the bride puts the groom’s fila (cap) on his head to signify an accepted marriage proposal.
Read also: Inside Romola And Adams’ Vibrant Yoruba Traditional Wedding + Lovely Nikkah Ceremony
THE ENGAGEMENT GIFTS – ERU IYAWO
Once the couple is seated, the Alaga Ijoko asks the bride to select one of the many engagement gifts (eru iyawo) brought by the groom’s family. The Eru Iyawo usually contains lots of food, and each item has some significance.
At a Yoruba traditional wedding ceremony, the bride is expected to select the Bible/Quran from the Eru Iyawo. This religious book will have her engagement ring attached to it.
The bride gives her husband the ring, which he places on her finger for her to display happily to everyone.The groom’s family also present the bride price and fees requested to the family of their new wife.
CUTTING THE ENGAGEMENT CAKE – AKARA OYIBO
No Yoruba traditional wedding ceremony is complete without the Engagement cake (Akara Oyibo). This special cake is crafted to depict some elements of the Yoruba culture, e.g a talking drum, calabash, fruits or a cake topper of the bride and groom in their traditional attire.
The cutting of this cake and sharing of the cake between the bride and groom is a pretty important step in the wedding. After cutting the cake, the bride’s family formally hand over their daughter to the groom’s father in the presence of everyone. Finally, the groom’s family come out as a group to thank their in-laws for giving out their daughter before the final prayers are said and the celebrations begin.
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