8.11.09 Part 4

Wedding

Last week, Eriye left for Port Harcourt. She is hoping to get her visa soon so that she can join David inCanada. Fingers crossed. It’s hard for her hanging in limbo not knowing whether she’s staying or going. Anyway, she’s safely down there with her friend and I’m back to living on my own. My neighbours the

Aparshes are always around though and I enjoy sitting out on the back step while they cook, clean and mess around (8 year old boys are the same the world over – Abraham (AB), their youngest, started to squelch his armpits this evening and made me chuckle as Alex used to do that when we were little).

Yesterday was the wedding of Mrs Monde’s son. The affair was huge. The ceremony took place in the College Catholic Chapel and then moved over to a big lecture hall in the College. Once in there, the happy couple and a host of dignitaries sat on the stage while an MC oversaw proceedings. There was lots of singing, food and dancing. While the married pair started their first dance, people came forward with handfuls of notes and stuck them to their foreheads.

It was quite hectic as gifts were exchanged for a wedding souvenir bag and calendar with a picture of the wedded couple on. This is common at weddings. When it came to cutting the wedding cake, the MC had announced that someone had given him 500 Naira to stop the cutting. The bidding was then opened up to let the cake be cut and this meant that people put forward amounts and several thousand was raised. Later, a group of traditional dancers came in and danced around the bridge and groom banging drums and blowing whistles (a change for more spraying). I danced quite a lot and made some new friends who encouraged me to shake my bum! It was all such fun. It seemed to frantic at times, but it all came together with laughter, which was the best thing of all.This is called ‘spraying’ and was lots of fun to watch and then join in with when I plucked up the courage.

There were loads of moments where the crowds took to the dance floor, so lots of spraying took place. The money was then gathered up and given to the couple. At one point guests were invited to present their gifts, so a long cue was formed.

Me the journalist

Next month’s issue of VSO Nigeria’s quarterly magazine will feature me! I’m the profile volunteer so had to write a little piece about myself and what I’m doing here. I’ve also submitted an article about Tashi and his long standing development through his interaction with all the VSOs that have passed through the College and I hope that will be published too. So for the souvenirs box, I’ll make sure I get a few copies.