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Last weekend, my course mate and friend invited me to her introduction and I was opportuned to visit a very interior village called Odu Itu in Itu LGA Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. I was shocked that such interior villages still exist in this Akwa Ibom State. Mehn, it was over interior, the second worst village I have seen in my entire life.
I had no choice than to stay put, summon courage and make her feel at home though my spirit and everything wasn't there at all... God forbid. I arrived there on Friday evening and things were already in place. I haven't witnessed a proper introduction before so hers happen to mean so much to me cos I'll get to see everything that's always been done cos mine is coming up soon.
You know as interior and tattered her village was I could've loses my sanity especially her father's compound. Out of curiosity I had to ask her why the introduction is being done there.
In response she smiled at me and first told me not to worry that in no time we will leave there and that she knows I don't like the environment and her father's compound cos of the way it is.
She clearly told me that in her culture and family, that's how things are being done. It's a must that the introduction must be done there to show respect for the family and the culture and other seeming important things which she didn't want to go further.
I was like hmmmm, nawa oo people and culture. Again I asked her if her traditional marriage will take place there and she said No. Both not for that the road leading to her father's compound is terribly bad and there are gallops everywhere the TM would have been done there.
During introduction, meals prepared are; Afang soup, Jellof rice, Ekpang Nkukwuo, plantain porridge and White soup. All the meals I mentioned there were cooked except the White soup.
When introduction is being done, people are usually not much; just few important family members and friends both from the groom's side and that of the bride.
The following day which was Saturday was the actual day for the introduction and so women came plus we her few friends that came and her family members came to start cooking. I plucked Afang leaves, washed it and sliced it.
I went ahead to fetch fire wood and there I saw a very big and large river. I saw canoes and people inside, I saw farmers etc. We quickly fetched firewood and then went back to continue.
Others washed and sliced water leaf, some pilled the water yam and cocoyam for Ekpang Nkukwuo, others parboiled and cooked the rice as well as the **Plantain porridge etc. I carefully looked at what was done especially how those meals are being prepared and took pictures.
Not all pictures were taken cos I was in the middle of snapping and working, so I took few shots I could. We finished cooking at about 2pm in the afternoon and everyone ate, freshened up and waited for the groom's family to arrive.
At about 5pm, the introduction proper commenced. The groom came with his father and mother, few family members and his friends while the bride's family welcomed them wholeheartedly with smiles on their faces.
What I noticed was that, they prayed and they quickly introduced themselves and welcomed each other. After that, the groom was asked to inform everyone why they are gathered there, he told them why and his bride which is my friend was introduced to everyone and the one he has chooses and wants to get married to.
By that time, people were settled down so I rushed to go serve them. I didn't really follow up what was done anymore and secondly I was held bent on going back. Jejely we served them and everyone ate to their satisfaction, snapping, smiling, gisting and laughing everywhere.
I was so happy for her. She was happy too. The good thing is that the marriage proper will be somewhere else and not there. After everything I quickly packed my belongings and headed back home, I couldn't stand spending another night there.
She thanked me so well and promised to give me her TM cake contract. I was so happy and we hugged each other and then I left. It was a good time there Sha but I don't wish to go to such village again.
Thank you