We've been preparing for Zahra's wedding for months now. Ever since her wedding date had been set. She had been doing everything in her power to make her wedding everything she had ever wanted. And of course she got the support of everyone of us. We helped her in any way we could.
Few weeks ago, Zahra, Nabila and i travelled to Sudan, from Sudan to Saudi before returning to Nigeria.
I travelled right after i returned from my baecation with khalifa. I had to leave for a week. I missed my children like i was going to die. After we returned from Santorini , i only spent a week with them before leaving for sudan again. March was exhausting as one can imagine.
Zahra had her kamu ceremony last Friday and of course it was fun. Blue Marquee planned her event and trust that it would be extraordinary.
So Today is the Wushe Wushe. The wushe wushe is a ceremony done on the eve of the wedding Fathia. Its just like welcoming the groom into the family. The wushe wushe would be done in the house.
We are presently in my Mami's house. We arrived this morning. Everyone was getting ready. We have the hair dressers, the henna designers currently doing their work. The house is filled with all of Khalifa's family, his cousins,sisters, aunts. The elderly women were in another quater of the house doing their things while the we stayed in another quater.
Summaiyah has been vlogging since the beginning of the ceremony with the intention of posting it on her YouTube channel. The hairdresser was braiding my hair. I drew my henna already. Zarah was getting her henna drawn also. Summaiyah brought the camera to our faces capturing everything that was going on. I finished my hair in no time.
"Where's mama?" I asked. Imran was fast asleep already. Nabilah carried Iman when she was leaving but returned alone.
"Mami asked that she stayed with her. " i mouthed ok. Mami and Iman are best pals. She claims Iman looks so much like khalifa when he was her age. She says the twins reminds her of when Khalifa was still young.. we could hear as the local musicians were playing their songs. They came here earlier and we danced, they later moved to Mami's quater.
After we were done with our hair amd henna, it was time to start getting dressed for the party. The twins were in the children play room. Mami has a playroom for all her grandchildren incase they come visiting. All the children would stay there while the adult attend the wushe wushe. I took a quick shower before getting my makeup done. About four different makeup artist were hired. And each one of them came with an assistance or two. We finished our make up in no time. It was time to get the bride dress also. We helped her in getting ready. She wore a white blouse with a wrapper and cover her upper part with another white wrapper.
She was led out by the aunties who sat her on a makeshift gold throne. She waited for her groom ,Mustafa to arrive. When he arrived, we the sisters, friends welcomed him and brought him to his bride. The ceremony began. It had some Chadian twist because Mustafa is a Chadian. They danced together and were later entertained by traditional dancers.
The next day was the Wanka Amarya. The men of the house left already for the wedding Fatiha. Zahra was placed in the midst of her aunties. She performed Ablution and her hair was being washed by her aunties. It is said that this is to purify her before she heads to her husband's house. After this was done. She was literally bareback by the aunties who took her around the house dancing with her face covered.
She braided her hair back after dancing around. By this time, we were informed that the wedding has been finalised. She is now a Mrs Musango. She couldn't contain her joy, she was just grinning non stop. Khalifa came in with her bride price. He handed it to her. My husband looks so stressed. He has been busy since the celebration started. He's like a father figure to his sisters. So all of this is on him. He literally gave Zahra's hand out in marriage. She was so happy that she hugged him when he handed her her dowry. We talked briefly. He asked how the twins were and i informed him that Sarah was taking care of them. He couldn't stay long because he had other things to tend to.
Zahra had another shower and started getting dressed for the kalawa. She was adorned in a garment owned by great grand mothers. The same one i wore during my Budan kai. I really didnt see much because i had to tend to my children but she sat before the aunties and they passed her the kalawa meal before blessing her. We took pictures with her after she was done with all of this. It was time for the wedding dinner.
We got ready in no time. I wore the blue asoebi we picked for the family. Khalifa, the twins, Sarah , balaraba and i drove to the venue together. The party took place in Cunningham Marquee... Zahra didn't have much friends so the sisters danced in with her well i joined in also. She was dressed in a Red iro and Buba aso oke designed by Deola Segoe. The party began and it was fun all through. We ate to our satisfaction. Took pictures and danced. Khalifa and i danced together also. Zahra changed to her second outfit which was designed by Huddaya. Zahra had to dance with her mom since her dad was late. She danced with her siblings also. Its so beautiful the bond my husband and his sisters shared. They loved themselves dearly and they extended the love to me and my children.
Two weeks after the wedding we travelled to France for the white wedding. Zahra had always wanted a destination wedding. It was such a beautiful experience. We flew in few days earlier to prepare for the big day. Everything was perfect just as she wanted.
The twins were her ring bearer. They looked so cute. The ceremony was beautiful so was the bride. Just few friends were invited. The reception was fun also. It was a beautiful ceremony
Author's Note
So wushe wushe, kalawa, Wanka Amarya is actually part of the kanuri wedding culture not Hausa . I just decided to write about this since I already wrote about Hausa and Yoruba culture .
Tell me how you feel avout this chapter. Please don't forget to vote, and comment. God bless
Please stay safe out there..