Comrade Okechukwu Ojikeya and wife welcome Anambra in-laws.
3 min read
The family of Comrade Okechukwu Ojikeya of Umuduruoriaku in Umuezikoha Uba Umuaka Ancient Kingdom Autonomous Community on Sunday March 23 played a big host to her Anambra State in-laws who came to seek the hand of Miss Cynthia Chisom Ojikeya, a law graduate and the daughter of Mr and Mrs Okechukwu Ojikeya in marriage.
By the time the local affairs correspondents of Umuaka Times arrived at the big Ojikeya compound in Umuezikoha Uba, the Anambra in-laws who had already arrived were being entertained and some kinsmen and women of Umuduruoriaku family union were also seated in the obi and ibari respectively.
In a few minutes’ time, the correspondents from Umuaka Times cornered Mr Madu Elokachukwu and Mr Obi Chigbo who led the delegation of the Anambra in-laws to Umuaka for a brief interview.
According to them, the gentle man who has come to seek the hand of Miss Chisom Ojikeya in marriage is a UK based Anambran known as Mr Chinemerem Chigbo popularly addressed as Lord Galaxy by close friends and associates.
When the event fully took off, it was gathered that both Miss Chisom Ojikeya and Lord Galaxy had proper representation by their families respectively as they were conspicuously absent.
The Anambra in-laws Umuaka Times gathered during the event came all the way from Ezenwaegbu family of Umunakwa in Umuezu in Ifite, Oraifite of Ekwusigo LGA of Anambra state.
After the in-laws had been welcomed and specially prepared delicacies served to them, Chief Uchechukwu Ojikeya, a younger brother of Comrade Okechukwu Ojikeya whose daughter was getting married, took the responsibility to usher their in-laws inside the Obiukwu Ojikeya where Umuduruori elders and youths were already sitting and waiting to welcome their new in-laws. Now the traditional marriage rituals began; Chief Alphonsus Egwuogu, the chairman of Umuduruoriaku family union was already seated to conduct the activities of the day. He welcomed the Anambra visitors and as tradition demands, Chief Egwuogu asked them where they came from and the purpose of their coming.
The leader of the delegation Mr Madu Elokachukwu, stood up, greeted everybody and provided the answers Chief Egwuogu and every other person in the obi expected. After the answers were provided, the delegation was once again welcomed by the Umuduruori community.
The presentation of “marriage list” and rites immediately kicked off and the Oraifite in-laws indeed proved that they came prepared. But before the activities took another turn, the Umuduruoriaku people decided to call their daughter Miss Chisom Ojikeya to ask her if she was aware of the visitors from Oraifite and if indeed she permitted them to accept their drinks on her behalf. It was Chief Egwuogu that made the call and Miss Chisom Ojikeya confirmed that she was aware of their visit and permitted her people to go ahead and welcome them, eat and drink with them as their in-laws.
According to the “marriage list’, several demands contained in the lists were provided and by the end of the event, almost 90 percent of the demands of traditional marriage ceremonies in Uba Umuaka were met by the visiting in-laws.
By the end of the event, the Anambra in-laws expressed their deep satisfaction over the warm hospitality they received from their Imo in-laws and thanked them immensely for the understanding the two families exhibited during the traditional marriage rituals. In response, the host community also thanked them and prayed to God to lead them safely to their various homes. Off they took around cool evening and drove back to Ezenwaegbu family of Umunakwa in Umuezu in Ifite, Oraifite in Ekwusigo LGA of Anambra state.
The event did not end immediately; the Umuduruori women, men and youths stayed behind to be entertained by the family as they all prayed and wished Miss Chisom Ojikeya and her husband Mr Chinemerem Chigbo also known as Lord Galaxy a happy marriage.
