Traditional Nigerian Wedding Ceremony at the Botanic Gardens in Memphis, TN | Brooke & Nelson Madubuonwu
Brooke and Nelson had an absolutely incredible wedding weekend that kicked off on Friday with their traditional Nigerian ceremony. Nelson’s family is part of an ethnic group native to the present-day-south-central and southeastern Nigeria known as the Igbo.
Igbo weddings are not just an affair between the future husband and wife, but also involves the parents, the extended family, and villages. It’s a beautiful blending of families, overflowing with joy and culture and togetherness. I was absolutely honored to get the chance to witness such a beautiful ceremony, as well as document these two and all their loved ones.
“Friday was color and spectacle and sight and sound. It was culture and tradition resplendent in the halls and greens of Memphis’s Botanical Gardens.
It was watching my partner wholly embrace everything I am and coming to tears seeing her dance in for the first time in traditional beads and regalia with my mom. It was getting to later dance in with her. I was the fun of hearing modern Nigerian pop sensations mingled with the Naija classics of the 1970s (for the elders). It was having our union blessed by both my father-in-law to-be and my father, with the latter invoking not only my grandfather, but my grandfather’s father—and my great-grandfather’s father before that.”
-Nelson
“As 0ne of the largest ethnic groups in Africa, we have an incredible set of traditions that usually surround marriage:
1. The Iku-Aka (the “Knocking”) — in which the groom makes his intentions known to the family of the bride.
2. The Ihe Umunna (the “Matters of the Family”) — in which the families of the bride and groom learn and ask about one another to ensure the suitability of the partnership.
3. Ime-Ego (“Giving of Value”) — in which, traditionally, the dowry was settled upon.
4. Igba-Nkwu (the “Wine Carrying”) — in which the bride ceremonially wanders on a search for her partner to bring back to her family and seek their blessing of the union.”
-Nelson
"The bride's father fills a cup (Iko) with palm wine and passes it on to his daughter while the groom finds a place to sit and ‘hide’ within their guests.
It’s custom for her to wander through their guests in search of her husband-to-be, while being distracted by the invitees. Only after she has found the groom, offered the cup to him and he has sipped the wine, is the couple married traditionally.
"During this ceremony, there is also the nuptial dance where the couple dances, while guests wish the newly weds prosperity by throwing money around them or putting bills on their forehead."
“Friday was one of the most incredible and welcoming experiences of my life. Even though we had discussed the various rituals and dances that we would be doing, and the various dresses and outfits I would wear, I still had no idea what it would really look like, but it was even better than I expected. Everyone was so welcoming and warm to me and to my family. I loved watching my parents dance in wearing their traditional outfits, loved seeing Nelson’s dad stride in with his crown, loved being led around and showed the ropes by his mom and his aunties. I truly felt like a queen all evening.”
-Brooke
Intersted in seeing the rest of Brooke & Nelson’s wedding weekend?
Click here to see their ceremony the following day at the FedEx Event Center at Shelby Farms!
TRADITIONAL NIGERIAN CEREMONY WEDDING VENDORS:
Venue: Memphis Botanic Garden
Photographer: The Warmth Around You
Planner: Chinekwu (Chi) Osawke
DJ: Prince Kalu
Hair & Make Up: Faces by E'Jae
Videographer: Josh Diliyok
