The glitter and glamour of Fulani weddings
Wedding ceremonies in Ilorin span seven days and are made up of the following memorable parts: The traditional migration of the bride from her family home to a relative’s house. The wake keeping on the eve of the marriage ceremony, where traditional music (waka) will be played for the entertainment of guests which is observed […]
Wedding ceremonies in Ilorin span seven days and are made up of the following memorable parts: The traditional migration of the bride from her family home to a relative’s house. The wake keeping on the eve of the marriage ceremony, where traditional music (waka) will be played for the entertainment of guests which is observed by the families of both the bride and groom and the tying of a brass bracelet on the bride’s feet and hands, two days after the wedding for the royal and Fulani families in the town.
The wedding, according to Hajia Omo Iman, is characterized by different elements which include tying of brass bracelets on the bride’s feet and hands. This is described as the highest point of the culture and tradition which every legitimate daughter of a Fulani descent in Ilorin must perform during her wedding.
The brass contraption tied on the brides feet during the Fulani marriage in Ilorin is becoming a thing of the past, as civilisation and education are affecting most of our cultural and traditional beliefs. A group of people who strongly believe in the tradition laid down by their fore fathers, see it as something that needs to be adhered to, by every legitimate Fulani daughter of Ilorin.
Brass tying on the bride’s legs and hands, as well as plaiting of the Fulani traditional hairstyle, is described as the highest point of Fulani marriages. The Fulani speaking part of Ilorin do it to differentiate them from other tribes in the town, as well as to differentiate from the slaves among them. Madam Ibironke, a Fulani lady who has gone through the tradition, said “brass tying, plaiting of Fulani hair style and tying of beads on our bride’s neck is an indication that we have not forgotten our tradition, even though we bear Yoruba names and reside here. Our forefathers were descendants of the Fulani and we want our unborn generations to be aware of this, which is why all the traditions during our marriages are very necessary and important”.
She said the tradition observed by the Ilorin Fulani is the simplest among other Fulani traditions, because the other ones observed by nomads who still live in the bush, are tougher than the mere tying of brass, the plaiting of hair and migration from the house, saying that theirs does not include engaging of the groom in an open fight with other able men on the wedding day, to know if he is capable of taking care of their daughter or not.
Usually, four brasses are tied on the bride’s legs and two on the hands, for those whom one of the parents is Fulani. While two brass bracelets are added to the one on the hands of those whose parents are Fulani. But because of the weight of the brass, it has been reduced to four on the legs and two on the hands for the brides nowadays.
In order to differentiate the slaves among them, ordinary iron is tied on the bride to be recognised as a slave, which has now become a thing of the past. They no longer want to be seen or recognised as slaves in the society.
The brass bracelets, according to Mrs Mumunat Abdulahi, usually stays between six to four months on the bride in those days, before they remove it, which normally prevents the youngest wife in the groom’s house from working for those months. She is expected to carry out necessary activities of taking care of the bride. Also, the brass is usually of two types which are opened and tied up. The open ones are usually left open and can be removed easily by the bride when going to bed. While the second one is closed and cannot be easily removed, except with the help of the blacksmith who closed it.
The closed one is used for those who refuse or are not interested in marrying whoever they are supposed to marry, especially if such person is forced to marry whom she doesn’t like. Mrs Memuna Abdulahi, who experienced the carrying of closed brass on her ankles, because of her refusal to accept the man she was married to, said she carried the brass for one month as against one week. “I saw hell while the brass lasted on my legs, because I was carrying it about as I was not allowed to remove it even in the night. That made me sustain a lot of injuries” she said.
Grooms in those days were said to be scared of the brass. The brides usually used it to injured the groom with it. But those who are fortunate used that to tie the bride, as some of them got pregnant before it is removed from them.
Apart from this, another tradition which is peculiar to Ilorin people during their marriage is the Sisa – which is the traditional migration of the bride from her family home to a relative’s house, to evade those who have been detailed to prepare her for the wedding. At the location where she might have ran to, experienced women are called in to counsel her and prepare her mind for the wedding. Although men also migrate, it is more peculiar to women, especially because of the counseling.
The migration tradition during their wedding usually begins as early as 6 am on the Thursday before the wedding, as their weddings normally last for weeks in the olden days. This has been reduced to five days now, as some of them need to resume at their work immediately. When the person runs from his or her father’s house, to whoever he or she wishes to stay with, either with the paternal or maternal relations, and they are usually there till evening when friends, families and wives in the family house take him or her back to where he or she ran from, with music and drums.
The traditional migration is done for people to know that the person was celebrated during the wedding. They usually trek from wherever they are to another place, no matter how influential the family is, as it takes them hours to trek to wherever they are going to. While going, people usually come out to see the person who is being escorted with such pride. People start praying for her for making the family proud.
Another element of the wedding is the dance of the royal family, which is usually observed by sons and daughters of every royal family in Ilorin during their occasion, but it is more peculiar during their wedding. The dance, according to the head of the royal children, Alhaji Alabi Oba Suleiman Daudu Faagba, ijo olomoba (Dance for the sons and daughters of the royal family) originated from their great grandmothers, who usually sing to praise the second Emir of Ilorin in those days, especially when they are working. This was later adopted to be a tradition for their children when getting married, during the era of the sixth emir of Ilorin.
He said the adoption was borne out of the conviction to send their children off when getting married as part of the entertainment to honour the person and the family. “Our mothers then made it a point of duty to honour any royal family whose children are getting married with ijo olomoba. Since then, it has become part of our tradition in Ilorin. The song was later accompanied with the beating of a calabash inside water in a mortar, which only the old people are allowed to beat. Meanwhile, all the children around, be it a man or woman danced round them. But the talking drum was later introduced for good rhythm”, he said.
Alhaja Saadatu Onaolapo Gobir (Nee Belgore) said the dance is very unique, because the women listened to the rhythm of the beating of the calabash placed inside water in a mortar, while the children danced round it in a wave length style. She further stated that, “whoever is inviting the Oolomoba for performance, will give them forty kola nuts, money as the person can afford, honey and food of any kind, to motivate them. Money gathered during the performance, is shared to all the royal families in Ilorin, no matter how little it is”.
Custom and tradition as we all know in Nigeria, is becoming a thing of the past, as a result of civilization. So also is the tying of the brass bracelet on the bride’s feet and hands in Ilorin. The fading of tying of brass on feet and hands of Fulani brides in Ilorin is the genesis of matrimonial problems experienced by those who refused to carry out the tradition during their wedding, some opine. Alhaja Omo Iman is one of those who experienced the tradition of brass tying when she got married over thirty years ago. Her words. “It is our tradition which every Fulani daughter must carry out during her wedding, even if it won’t stay on her as long as it used to be during my own time. But they must do it”.
Those who fail to carry out the tradition, she said, have one difficulty or the other in their marriages. “Most of our children’s marriages nowadays are characterized by one challenge or the other, because they refuse to adhere to what is expected of them. You will agree with me that whatever we call tradition will always remain. So no matter how religious we are, or the kind of religion we practice, performing it does not make one to be a pagan. Rather we are only trying to reinforce our fore father’s wish” she said.
There are also many other traditions during the royal and Fulani’s wedding in Ilorin: Lali – A form of flowery tattoo or any design that catches the fancy of the bride, which will be laced on her feet and hands, so as to enrich her beauty and distinguish her clearly as the bride. Ilu kengbe – This is thea processional dance by the relatives of the bride to the groom’s family home, in order to express joy and unity of the families joined together by marriage of their wards. Walimat – Walimatul Quran is a formal ceremony to commemorate the completion of Quranic studies. Yigi – (walimat nikkai) is the solemnization and engagement of the couples by an Islamic cleric, with the approval of the parents of the couple or their representative. Are-Osan – Are Osan means afternoon party. All these, they believe, are the normal traditions other groups carry out during their weddings too.
Ilorin, according to some indigenes, remains a predominantly Muslim community, where the teachings and principles of Islam guide the conduct of its inhabitants .Their tradition is one thing they adhere to strictly, as long as it doesn’t negate the teachings of the Holy Quran.