Formal Welcome

The family of the bride formally welcomes their in-laws and presents the following:

                Kolanuts and anara (garden egg)
                   1 Bottle Local Gin
                   1 Bottle Schnapps
                   1 Jar of Palm Wine
                   1 Crate of Mineral (Soda)
                   1 Packet of Cigarettes.

Presentation of Marriage Drinks

The quantity of drinks to be presented by the groom’s people will depend on whether or not they are paying any bride price. The following list is usually accepted when bride price is paid:

                   Kolanuts and garden egg
                   Local Gin                                 12 bottles
                   Schnapps                                12 bottles
                   Beer                                        12 cartons
                   Mineral (soda)                         15 crates
                   Malt                                         3 cartons
                   Stout                                       2 cartons  (small)
                   Palm Wine                               4 jars (nkwu & ngwo)
                   Cigarettes                               2 Rolls
                   Tobacco                                   5  heads
                   Akawu (potash)                       to match the tobacco
                     

The drinks are formally presented by the spokesman of the groom’s family.

The Okei Uno invites the bride to sit by him.  He tells her that some one who wants to marry her has brought the drinks.  If it is true that she has agreed to marry him, she should go and identify him and bring him to the traditional parlour (etiti obu).

The search

Accompanied by her entourage, the bride, gorgeously dressed, goes in search of her man, and brings him in front of the Okei Uno. The man bows and salutes the elders.

The Consent

The Okei Uno or his spokesman asks the bride whether it is her wish that they accept the drinks  If the lady says ‘yes’ the marriage ceremony will continue, but if she says ‘no’ that will be the end of the ceremony.

Examination of the Drinks

On the instruction of the Okei Uno, the drinks are cross-checked and confirmed complete.

The Marriage Ceremony

The presiding Okei Uno blesses and breaks the kolanut and gives one piece to the bridegroom to share with his bride. He blesses the couple and pours libation with the palm wine and gives the wine to the bridegroom who drinks some and hands it over to his bride. The bride sips the wine and gives it back to the groom to finish.  The bride bends down and salutes the groom, and both of them bow to salute the Okei Uno.  The bride and groom are now proclaimed husband and wife.  They now go out to their Age Grades to dance and celebrate.

Nni Izizi Ebe

This is food prepared by the host family for consumption by the in-laws and the villagers of the bride.  It is so called – Nni Izizi Ebe – Food which is not perched on by flies – because it is prepared at night when all flies have gone to bed.  The goat to be slaughtered for Nni Izizi Ebe must first be presented live to the in-laws for approval. The Nni Izizi Ebe is shared into two equal parts and each side of the marriage serves its own people.

The significance of Nni Izizi Ebe

The significance of Nni izizi ebe is that whenever the wife ages and dies, the husband’s family is expected to reciprocate the hospitality by cooking nni izizi ebe for the wife’s family during the wakekeeping.

In recent times, the scope of entertainment is not limited to the nni izizi ebe.  Every guest at the present day traditional marriage is invariably served with jellof rice, salad and a variety of other delicacies.

Ihu Onu Aku

Even though the actual bride price is settled in camera between the two families. Ihu Onu Aku provides a public forum whereby the bride price is deemed to be fixed.  It is an interesting dialogue that revives the ancient Oguta language and witnesses the aggressive and querulous manner in which the people settle bride price. 

The following items are required for the Ihu Onu Aku ceremony, which is usually done at the house of the Village Head (Okpara) or the Family or Kindred Head:

             Kolanuts and ego oji (money for breaking the kola)
             1 Bottle Schnapps
             1 Bottle Local Gin
             1 Jar Palm Wine   - or cash in lieu
             1 Packet Cigarettes
             5 Heads of Tobacco and potash  - already mentioned.
             One Pound Twelve Shillings equivalent to Three Naira Twenty Kobo for the youths.

Bride Price Bidding

The bidding starts after the presiding Okpara blesses the kolanut and pours libation.  They do not talk in
 Pound Sterling; they do not talk in Naira, nor do they talk in Dollars.  Rather they talk in the ancient  monetary system of the COWRIES  - UGBUGBA   -  Ugbugba Iri meaning Three Pounds Five Shillings sterling   (£3.5/-) or Six Naira Fifty Kobo (N6.50) and Ogu Ugba Ise meaning Thirty Two Pounds Ten Shillings (£32.10/-) or Sixty Five Nairs (N 65.00).  Random and frivolous are made and rejected almost to the point of frustration on both sides. As the negotiation comes to a stalemate, the presiding Okpara or his spokesman furiously interrupts the proceedings as if he wants to start a new argument.  This is followed by a moment of silence. Suddenly, the spokesman mellows down and declares that the offer of bride price made by the in-laws, even though ridiculous, has been accepted..  There is a sigh of relief as the leader of the husband’s Village immediately jumps up on his feet and bows down to salute the Okpara, thanking him and his people for giving them their beautiful daughter in marriage at a reasonable price.

Other Marriage Requirements

Ego Oji

Money given to the presiding Family Head for blessing and breaking the kolanut.

 Ego Ozogo

Money paid by the in-laws to redeem the empty palm wine jar. The money is payable even if the in-laws originally paid cash in lieu of the palm wine.

Ego Okei Uno

Money which the husband gives to the Okei Uno of the wife’s family.  Out of this money, the Okei Uno gives to the wife one piece of Akwa Ogugu that is, ‘George’ cloth, with which she will cover herself in her husband’s house.  The amount is negotiable.

Ego Umuada

Umuada, the daughters of the Village, constitute a formidable group in the traditional marriage system. They are capable of stalling the ceremony. An agreed amount will be given to them by the in-law,
and they add their own prayer and blessing for the well being of the husband and wife.

Aku Nne
Money given to the mother of the bride by the bridegroom. The amount is usually negotiated. Some grooms take advantage of this opportunity to show special appreciation to their prospective mothers-in-law.

Iji Ugbara

Usually 50 yams in number are given by the husband to the parents of the bride.  The ceremony is eye catching, as it involves up to 50 women from the husband’s village carrying these yams in procession to the in-laws’ house. The iji ugbara carriers are well entertained for their task.

Soon after the marriage, the parents of the bride will distribute these yams, first to the kindred daughters, and if possible, to the other Village daughters, to honour them and show appreciation for their good wishes.

Idu Nwanya

This is the climax of the marriage ceremony, a period of great emotion, a period of tears, when the presiding Family Head hands over the bride to the leader of the in-laws.

A member of the host family makes a short speech admonishing and advising the bride on how to behave in her husband’s house in order to make the marriage a success. The presiding Family Head now adorns the. 
Bride with the Akwa Ogugu and hands her over to the leader of the guest family and enjoins them to look after the bride as they would look after their own daughter.  The in-laws all stand on their feet and bow down to thank the Okei Uno and the host family and villagers for giving them their beautiful daughter in marriage promising to look after and treat her well.  If the lacrimal glands of the bride are active, this is the time to let the tears flow.

Escorting the Bride

Two or three young men are usually appointed by the Okei Uno to escort the bride to her husband’s home.  The purpose of the escort is to ensure that their daughter is safely handed over to the husband’s Village Head, Okpara, or Okei Uno, as the case may be.

Reception by the Okpara

The procession to the Okpara’s house is usually led by the Age Grades.  No matter what time they arrive, the Okpara or his representative must wake up to welcome and receive the bride, who is invited to sit by him at his Ukpo.  The Okpara presents kolanut, blesses the couple, and pours libation.  He gives the husband and wife the blessed kolanut to eat together. This brief reception at the Okpara’s residence is a confirmation of the marriage by the entire Village.

Before their exit, one of the young men who escorted the bride offers his advice and enjoins her to live well with her husband and his people.  Custom makes it mandatory for the escorts to be given some money.  Custom also requires that the villagers who hosted the marriage will not disperse until the escorts return and report.  Their return could be as late as 5 o’clock the following morning. 

The ceremony continues at the Okpara’s house where the villagers make donations to the newly married wife, in cash and kind, after which the couple are led to their own home by close friends and relations, including their Age Grades.

The First Food

The first food which the bride eats in her husband’s house in the morning is prepared by her own mother.  It is really good food – usually pounded yam with delicious fresh fish or chicken nsara soup, which has no antecedent anywhere and cannot be traded for the best fillet mignon or Chicken Alfredo.

First Outing

In the afternoon, after managing to take a nap, the couple engages in their first outing as the husband proudly shows his wife to his various relations.  This first outing usually accommodates a few visits to the wife’s own relations.

(Stage One)

Notification of the Osere
When an Nze dies, Osere, the Chief Priest, must be informed immediately. The family of the deceased Nze pays a fine if the news spreads, or if people to cry, before the Osere is formally notified with kolanut, one bottle of local gin and some money. 

Mgbaru

Early in the morning of interment, the ceremony starts with Mgbaru by Nde Nze. As the Osere and Nde Nze assemble, the family of the deceased presents the following:

• Native chalk (nzu) and kolanut
• Ego Oji 2 Naira, 1 bottle each of local gin and Schnapps, 1 carton beer, 1 crate Mineral; (soda)
• 2 jars Palm Wine and Ntoani money given to Ndiche and Nde Nze.

Mgbata Anya Mmiri

As different groups of sympathizers arrive and present their ‘George’ cloth, they are each entertained with the following: 

• Kolanuts
• 1 bottle local gin
• 1 bottle Schnapps
• 1 carton beer
• 1 crate Mineral (soda)
• 1 jar palm wine
• 1 packets of Cigarettes

The Groups to be catered for are:

1. Agbanta - the deceased’s group of Nde Nze
2. Age Grade
3. Ikwunne - mother’s family
4. Ikwuato - grandmother’s family
5. In-laws
6. Other relatives
7. Clubs, if relevant - entertained according to their rules and regulations.
8. The Villagers

In addition to the drinks listed above, 

(a) the Villagers, Nde Ogbe, are given two goats, one for the elders and one for the youths
(b) Ikwunne, the mother’s family, will be given one Dog and one Goat according to preference. The dog is used for the IWA NKITA ANYA ceremony.

Iwaya Iji Naka
This ceremony puts slices of yam in the hands of the deceased., and is the last rite given by the Villagers before interment. One goat and one yam tuber are required for this ceremony.

Burial
Male adults are buried with war cap (okpu afunenupu) on their head. Eze producing villages bury with the red cap (okpu omu). After the Iwaya Iji Naka ceremony, the deceased Nze is buried.
Shaving of the Wife’s Hair

Soon after the burial, the hair of the deceased Nze’s wife is shaved clean by the women of the Village. She stays somewhere in the parlour for 28 days, that is, izu asaa, during which period she is not allowed to move outside the premises. Friends and relatives, including members of her Age Grade, keep her company and send her food. At the end of the first izu asaa, she is free to cook for herself, but her friends come back at night to keep her company until the end of the second izu assaa when she is escorted to the Laketo have her bath. This is called IYI UKWU NA MMIRI.

Ewu Amara
This is the ceremony by which a goat is slaughtered to sever connection with the dead. In addition to the drinks already mentioned, the Ewu Amara ceremony requires one goat and one paddle, two yards of ‘George’ cloth and Ego Ntoani – Two Naira per person.

Ozu Uchichi (Night Burial)
This ceremony starts about 5 p.m. and stretches to the small hours of the following day. Ozu Uchichi must be done within five days after the burial of an Nze, otherwise the family will be subject to monetary sanctions, i.e., IKPUCHI AFARA. Persistent failure to conduct the Ozu Uchuichi may lead to the 
Suspension of the rights and privileges of the Owu title holders in that Village.
Ozu Uchichi involves a considerable cash outlay for the procurement of drinks, goat, seven lumps of pounded yam (oba nni) fowls and all sorts of incidental expenses.

FINAL BURIAL CEREMONIES

The Ceremonies are sub-divided into two stages. The Formal Notice, and the Actual Ceremonies.

Ikpa Aka
This is formal notice of intention to perform the final burial ceremony. The notice requires kolanuts, one bottle each of local gin and schnapps, one carton of beer, one crate of mineral (soda} two jars of palm wine and cigarettes. 

This notification will be extended to each of the numerous groups involved in the final ceremonies.

Ikpa Aka will not be necessary if the family of the deceased performs the final burial ceremonies a few days after the interment ceremony. 

The Final Ceremony
The Ceremony starts as early as 5 a.m. on the appointed day, with a “21 Gun Salute” – the firing of cannon, now improvised with a local device called NKPONANI. About one hour later, the daughters of the deceased, accompanied by some members of their Age Grades and friends, go round the town with their metal gong, IBOM, singing and praising their late father or mother whose final funeral ceremony they are performing. This is the traditional way of reminding the Age Grades and others concerned to come to the ceremony.

Age Grade
The dead man’s Age Grade assembles in the premises and starts singing and dancing. They are entertained with:

• Kolanuts
• 2 bottles each of local gin and schnapps
• 2 cartons/crates each of Beer and Mineral (soda)
• Stout, Malt, Palm Wine, Cigarettes

In addition to:

• 1 Goat – Ewu Amara
• 1 Paddle
• 1 Ram (Ebunu Nwaada, usually provided by the first daughter).
• 2 Yards of ‘George’ cloth.

Nde Oririnzere
If the deceased person is an OririNzere, the “Opi’ royal music is played and Nde Oririnmzere will dance in the man’s house for three days. They will be entertained with drinks and given Ego Akanshi, that is, Five Naira per person. This is called money for lifting the talking spear. This is for the first day. 

The entertainment will be repeated on the second day.

On the third and final day, the man’s children will join them to dance to the ‘Royal Opi’. In addition to doubling the amount of drinks to be provided, the family will provide the following :

• 200 Kolanuts
• 200 Ose Oji - alligator pepper
• One Ram
• Ego Akanshi - Five Naira per person.

Burial of an Oshiji
When an Oshiji title holder dies, his fellow title holders will assemble and will be entertained as a group, under the following aspects of the Burial Ceremonies:

• Mgbaru
• Ikpota Akwa
• Ikpa Aka
• Main Ceremony
• Ozu Uchichi (Night Burial).

For each of the above listed ceremonies, the family of the deceased Oshiji will provide a minimum of:

• 2 bottles Local Gin
• 2 bottles Schnapps
• 2 Jars Palm Wine
• 2 cartons Beer
• 2 crates Mineral (Soda)
• 4 packets Cigarettes
• 1 carton of Stout
• 1 bottle of Gordon Gin
• Kolanuts, Ego Oji, Ego Ntoani N4 per person. 
• In addition to the drinks, the Ozu Uchichi ceremony requires:
• 2 pots of porridge yam
• 2 pots of Goat
• 14 lumps of pounded yam
• Ibu Nni – N520
• Ogburu aku na Ozu – N50

BURIAL OF AN OGBUAGU

The following are the requirements for the burial of a deceased Ogbuagu Title Holder under the various stages of the ceremonies:

Requirements

Igbu Assembly

Ikpa Aka

Night Burial

Day Burial

Nde Ikwu Nne

Children’s Age Grade

Deceased Age Grade

Itu Uni

Umuishi

Cock

Yes

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Left & right Hand Drinks

Yes

Yes

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Palm Wine

2 Jars

N/A

6 Jars

6 Jars

2 Jars

2 Jars

2 Jars

1 Jar

1 Jar

Beer

1 Ctn.

2 Ctns.

2 Ctns.

I Ctn.

3 Ctns.

2 Ctns.

1 Ctn.

3 Btls

Mineral/Soda

1 Crate

1 Crate

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

1 Crate

6 Btls

Stout

I Ctn.

I Ctn.

2 Ctns

2 Ctns

N/A

Yes

Yes

N/A

N/A

Cigarettes

2 Pkts.

2 Pkts

3 Pkts.

3 Pkts.

2 Pkts .

4 Pkts.

4 Pkts.

1 Pkt.

N/A

Ntoani

N 2 ea.

N/A

N2 ea.

N2 ea.

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Goats

N/A

N/A

2 Okiri

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Pounded Yam

N/A

N/A

7 Lumps

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Gordin Gin

N/A

N/A

12 Btls.

13 Btls

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Whisky

N/A

N/A

2 Btls.

3 Btls.

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Udoamani (Fish Pot)

N/A

N/A

Yes

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Ram

N/A

N/A

N/A

1

N/A

N/A

1 Ram

N/A

N/A

Ina Una

N/A

N/A

N/A

N 52

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Kolanuts

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Yes

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Local Gin

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

1 Btl.

2 Btls.

3 Btls.

1 Btl.

1Btl.

Schnapps

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

1 Btl.

2 Btls.

3 Btls.

1 Btl.

N/A

Dog

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

1

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Malt

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2 Ctns.

Yes

N/A

N/A

Ego Oji

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Yes

Yes

Ego Uni

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Yes

N/A

There is also the Uno Akwa Ceremony, which requires all sorts of food items which the deceased cherished when he was alive, for example, yam, rice, beans, fish, meat, plantain, cassava, drinks, etc.

The parties involved in the final burial of a woman include the following:

• Deceased Woman’s Age Grade
• Husband’s Age Grade
• Deceased Woman’s Villagers  -  Ikwunne
• Husband’s Villagers
• Children’s Age Grades
• The Ogbuefi Society  - if the deceased was an Ogbuefi
• Clubs  - if she was a member

The Ceremonies include Wake-keeping, Uno Akwa and Itu Uni.

Each of the groups listed above is entitled to a minimum of the following:

Local Gin		- 2 bottles
Schnapps		- 2 bottles
Beer		- 2 Cartons
Mineral (soda)		- 2 Crates
Palm Wine		- 2 Jars
Cigarettes		- 2 packets (except for women’s Age Grades)
Kolanuts and garden egg.

                   
Itu Uni requires only one each of the drinks listed above.

Uno Akwa requires a variety of the favorite food items enjoyed by the deceased when she was alive.

A Goat is slaughtered for the deceased woman’s villagers (Nde Ikwunne) during the wake-keeping as a reciprocal of the NNI IZIZI EBE hospitality which the woman’s family accorded the in-laws during  .her traditional marriage.

All the daughters of the deceased woman is obliged to give to their respective Age Grades an additional one case of Schnapps (12 bottles). This is called IGBUWA AKPATI MMAYA.

The practice of IKPA AKA, ’21 Gun Salute’, that is, the firing of nkponani at 5 o’clock in the morning and the subsequent parade of the daughters of the deceased, to remind their Age Grades and others of the final burial ceremony, also applies.

Ife Efi

According the Oguta custom, the bride price on a woman’s head is never fully paid.  Ife Efi represents the
balance of such bride price not yet paid.  The amount now payable is negotiated between the deceased woman’s original family and her husband’s family.  As part of the final burial ceremonies, the original family .of the deceased woman has the obligation to give one goat each to the first son and the first  daughter of the deceased as Ewu Ikwunne.  It is usually out of the Ife Efi proceeds that this obligation is met by the Okei Uno.

Ibu Ozu

This is the symbolical carrying of the woman’s dead body back to her family.  This begins with the firing of the nkponani.  The villagers of the deceased woman will lead the procession to their Village, followed by the children’s Age Grades in their order of seniority.  The procession affords the general public the opportunity to feast their eyes and admire the efforts of the children in giving their mother a befitting burial.  The children take pride in being addressed as ORISHA ODUWA.

Ewu Ikwunne

After brief entertainment at the deceased woman’s village, the family presents the Ewu Ikwunne to the first son and the first daughter. In recent practice, however, the family also presents a goat to each of the other children who came with their Age Grades, in order to give them a sense of belonging.   All the Age Grades. now depart to the homes of their respective hosts where they are again entertained.  This is the time when the daughters of the deceased woman present their ‘boxes’ of Schnapps to their Age Grades