Sa Lalle

The bride is my one of my friends. We met in Bwari village in 2003 half way through our program at the Law school. Those days are gone never to return. Life in Bwari was 'short, brutish', and all about passing the Bar exams. Her room which she shared with her sista was just a few doors away from mine. We soon got together to study and in turned developed a friendship that continues to blossom till date.

I met the groom last September when I went up North for the Introduction of my broda.He was very warm and pleasant and it was quite easy to talk to him. Apparently his beauty has told him about him and vice versa.It wasn't difficult to see he why he was special and i couldn't help but ask in my characteristic blunt manner when the wedding would be. i also went ahead to set a date of mid 2007. Heaven must have said Amen cos today they are man and wife.

I was back in the North in January I was again up North for my Broda's wedding and my friend was aware crossing the tees and doting the iiiis for the wedding. Excitement was in the air even when i spoke wt her and her sista.
She came to Lagos a couple of times during the planning but somehow we didn't get to see. The date was fixed and all roads lead to Anguwa Rimi.

i took the 1st flight out of town there was so much activity lined up to celebrate the wedding in customary Hausa tradition. The grooms family are very much into tradition so we were going all the way. I was excited for my friend and happy to be part of the experience. A mutual Friend of ours was on the same flight and her brodas were waiting to pick us at the airport. she was travelling with her children so we had our hands full.

I got to the Bride's home and she was so happy to see me. Everybody knew who I was even though I was meeting most of them for the 1st time. I recognised so many faces from pictures and I was glad to finally match voices over the phone with faces.It was a very warm and rousing welcome. A good sign of things to come. I went to see the Bride and dear Salla was perfecting her henna painting craft. she was doing the legs and then the arms and all. I looked on has she drew lines after line and rows of shapes and flowers her hands unshaken straight and perfect. It was indeed Salla at her best.

That was the final part of the preparations that had started very early in the morning. She has sat on incense in purification rites,waxed and removed all bodily hair that were considered to be obstructive, and she was oiled and massaged to a shimmering perfection. She was indeed ready for her groom.

The 1st major event of the wedding proceeding was the Sa Lalle wch literally means applying henna on the Bridewas that evening. This event was going to take place in her Grandma's house. The groom's family is suppose to according to tradition, bring henna and perfume and all wat nots to adorn their bride. The brides Aunts and Mothers will be there also offering advise and praying for her. Before the Ango's family can get access to the Bride they have to pass through the 'gates' and cross the 'hurdles' mounted by the Amariya's friends of which yours truly was at the fore front. You would think I understood the language.Language was not a barrier we all knew why we were there. Most interesting was one of the Bride's friend who happens to be a niece of the groom. She joined in the haggle for the gate fee and her folks asked jokingly which side of the divide she was representing and she gleefully told them she was there for her friend the Amariya. The door to the room where Dij sat all covered up was not opened till some good old naira changed hands. The women went in sprayed her with perfume and all then she was ushered out of the room in company of her friends to the dance floor where a local crooner was busy with his band.Trust me Yoruba owambe chick it wasn't long before i was grooving to the music sprain ankle long forgotten.

All that the amariya wore that even from the atampa(ankara) and veil and slippers were provided by the Ango's family. In line with tradition she would give it all away to an old lady within the family for prayers and more blessings.

The dancing and eating continued till late in the night.

One event down 5 to go.