Compiled by Chidimma C. Okeke
Every society conducts its wedding activities on strong ideals and according to its own culture. Hausa land has its own ways of conducting marriages.
This is mixed with the traditional ways adopted from Islam. Because of the importance Hausa society places on marriage, there are many stages which are followed before finally reaching wedlock.
It is only after the religious ceremony (Nikkhai) that every traditional wedding rite can take place.
It starts with a wedding Fatiha and ends with the main wedding reception.
Kayan Zance
This is the list of items the groom’s family provides when the bride’s family accepts their wedding proposal.
The list of items includes but is not limited to cookware, furniture, fabrics beauty products, shoes, underwear, cash (Kudin Gaisuwa)
If the groom’s family is rich enough, they may be asked to provide a house for the couple while the bride’s family has full responsibility of furnishing the house, especially her room, living room and the kitchen. All these are done before the wedding proper
Wedding Fatiha [Daurin Aure]
The Fatiha is the most significant event of the entire wedding ceremony.
In Hausa culture, a representative from the groom and bride’s family usually does the exchange of vows and not the bride and groom.
They do this in the presence of a religious priest and wedding guests. Prayers are then offered to the newly wedded couple and celebration continues.
Sa lalle (Wuni)
The event is strictly for the ladies. This is when the bride gets to spend the last bit of free time with her friends and female members of her family, in her father’s house.
A mixture of henna is made and used to make beautiful designs on the bride’s hands, palms and legs. Her friends and family also get henna designs on their hands but not as elaborate as the bride.
Kamun Amariya
Kamu means to catch the brides and it is one of the oldest and most interesting events in the Hausa wedding tradition.
To get the bride, the groom’s family negotiates with the bride’s friends to release her to them.
This is a really fun event and negotiation may take up to 30 minutes followed by a fun reception.
Sayan Baki
In some parts of the north, this ceremony takes place to add more colour and glamour to the wedding ceremony.
The Sayan Baki is a negotiation between the groom’s men and the bridesmaids, debating on the amount to be paid before the bride is allowed to speak to her groom.
Kai Amariya
This is when family and friends escort the bride to her matrimonial home to be received by the groom’s family.
This is usually preceded by prayers and advice from her family.
After taking the bride to the groom’s house, depending on how well the families are, there is usually a grand reception to end the entire wedding ceremony. This includes food, music and entertainment.
