If you’re Nigerian, then you must have heard of the popular phrase “Owanbe” a lot. This is a Yoruba word meaning “It is present”. What is present till date, we cannot fully ascertain. It could be a slang used to mark the presence of the mouth-watering, symbolic Nigerian Jollof rice which is present in virtually all Nigerian weddings, and without its actual presence, no matter how much millions you must have poured into that wedding; it is not regarded highly in the comity of Exotic Weddings. Owanbe could have also been a word used traditionally by one who is a “life of a party” as indication to fellow party-oriented individuals of their presence at a forthcoming wedding. Well, like I earlier said, we really cannot decipher what exactly is “present”.
Nigerian weddings are the best weddings to attend in Africa. They are usually colorful, entertaining and packed with enough drama to tantalize your memories. Here is a list of things that makes a Nigerian wedding unique & stand out amongst others.

1. A Colorful Display of African Fashion Predominantly Asoebi:
The color and flair of traditional ceremonies give brides and grooms a way to express & showcase a vibrant cultural heritage. Nigerian brides spend months searching for their wedding fabrics; looking for something distinct – something that no one else will have – and that can sometimes be a tedious and frustrating process for brides. They want to make sure that no other brides are wearing their fabrics. More than anything, they want to make sure they stand out.
Social media can provide some inspiration for brides. The hash tag #nigeriawedding on Instagram touts more than 3 million posts, showing brides in all manner of colors, fabrics and bridal party size. The type of dress at Nigerian occasions will vary, depending on the tribe of the celebrants. For instance, brides from the Ibo people, one of the major ethnic groups concentrated primarily in South Central and South Eastern Nigeria adorn themselves with coral beads signifying royalty, and at times use George fabric, a heavily embroidered material from India.
Material made of lace is also popular for many Nigerian brides across tribes, as are other textiles like silk and tulle, embellished with hand-stitched beads, stones and pearls tailored painstakingly to a bride’s taste.
Yoruba brides usually go with the Aso-oke or top clothes, made of matching buba blouse and iro, a swath of fabric wrapped around the waist. A heavy sash of complementary fabric, called an Iborun, is draped on one shoulder. The bride’s ensemble is matched to her husband’s tunic and pant set, along with his agbada draping and fila hat.
But perhaps the most important part of any Nigerian bride’s look is her gele, a scarf or fabric folded into an ornate shape atop a woman’s head. The gele is standard in African women’s wear, although called by different names throughout the continent. A bride’s look is incomplete without it.

2. The Presence of a Variety of Nigerian Assorted Dishes:
No Nigerian wedding is complete without food, not just any food but party specific food such as the Symbolic, mouth-watering Nigerian Jollof rice. Other assorted local dishes such as Amala, Pounded Yam and a host of soups ranging from Egusi soup (melon soup), Draw soup (more popularly called Ogbono soup), Ofe Nsala, Edikaikong, The African Black soup, Banga soup and so many more are usually available in excess for the satisfaction of the always robust guest list. Local legends even have it that the level of your maturity is defined and measured by your ability to hold back tears when you weren’t served food at a Nigerian wedding. Yes! That’s to show how important Nigerians hold dishes at weddings. If you ever find yourself at a Nigerian wedding, try as many dishes as you can.

3. Music:
Music is an integral part of the Nigerian culture. Nigerians and music have been living side-by-side for years, even before the advent of any recording instrument. Weddings in Nigeria are usually spiced up by sweet sounds from a live band or a DJ sectioned music. In most cases, both; just to appeal to the taste of every guest present. And over the years, Nigerians have had “wedding typical songs” that when played at a wedding, it is bound to light up the atmosphere and cause a possible “party scatter”.

4. Drinks & “Shayo”:
You cannot attend Owanbe and not find drinks, whether alcoholic or soft drinks. But in most cases, alcoholic drinks usually have the day, always in larger quantities. This is to “set the mood right for a proper parte-after-parte”. The legal age for alcohol consumption in Nigeria is 18-years; average guest age for most Nigerian weddings is 20 years, so legally, no laws are broken.

5. Luxurious Reception:
Getting married in Nigeria is big business and worth millions of dollars, according to market research group, TNS Global. A Nigerian wedding can cost up to $9,460 - $13,515 (approximately between N3,642,100 – N5,203,275 on today’s exchange market) with guest lists matching the supersized budget. Some weddings in Nigeria cater for an average of 1000 guests. Massive right? Yeah, welcome to the Nigerian wedding party.

Owanbe is also an avenue to meet new people, make new friends and network as it is considered the most valued social gathering in the Nigerian society. Many have we heard cases of people finding their life partners at a wedding reception. An extended version of “conjugal bliss”.

https://cliqitgroup.com/the-exotics-of-a-nigerian-wedding/

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