Marriage as instituted by God is the coming together of a man and a woman in a Holy Matrimony in obedience to what is recorded in Genesis 2: 18-24, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and they shall become one flesh.

This is exactly what transpired between the son of Tuasaro Deezua, Dumbari and the daughter of a chartered accountant, Chief Barikpoa M. Nwinee, Barr. Beatrice  in her father’s compound in Ueyaagu, Kpean community in Khana local government area, Rivers State.

God showed his interest in their marriage, by personally fashioning the second female Barrister produced in Kpean, Barr Beatrice Nwinee and delivering her to her heart throb, United States-based, Dumbari Tuasaro Deezua.

A writer says that “a river that forgets its origin will dry up,” and in order that their marriage may not dry up, the event started on February 16, 2013 with the Ogoni Traditional Marriage known as ‘Koo’ meaning  ho r n , in which the bride was dressed in three traditional outfits – The ‘Koo’ dressing, dressing of the bride in covered clothes for husband to identify and bride’s final dressing in search of herr husband.

Before her appearance, a traditional music called ‘Ekwini’ is played to welcome her, so that she could show her beauty in ‘Koo’ attire to her husband. It was also meant to welcome all that have come to honour her day. While she danced in with all her age mates dressing like her except for the ‘chaka chaka’ on her waist that differentiates them.

Sequence of the event included

The ‘Koo’ dressing/ dancing:

This is a maturation ceremonywhere the maidens are usually kept in a fattening room for a period during which they are lavishly fed and luxuriantly taken care of; their bodies adorned with ‘Biogor’ and an accompanying ‘Koo’ peculiar hair style. Also her hands, neck  and legs are beautifully designed with red beads, her breast and waist parts are wrapped with beautiful red george-wrappers leaving her stomach and navel open for the  admiration of her husband.

Covering of bride with some of her age mates from head to toe and all dressed in two Computer george wrappers above her kneels with lace blouse whereas,  the bride was specially dressed in Senior  Raw silk wrapper, lace blouse, a red beaded cap, red heavy neck  and hands beads:

The Groom makes his choice known to all, by correctly choosing who his wife is.

This is done just to test if the man actually knows what his intentions are before he came all the way from the United States, down to Kpean community in search of a wife. If  peradventure he makes a mistake and chooses the wrong person the marriage would be cancelled on the ground that he did not know whom he really wanted to marry.

She appears in another attire displaying the African Culture, in two heavy Queen Indian wrappers with lace blouse to match and a white beaded cap, white heavy neck beads and a cup of wine set to search for her husband:

At this time, she is being accompanied by all her friends appearing in ‘krim, krim’ yellow and blue star wrappers called the ‘ashebis,’ dancing with her to the centre stage, then waiting in two parallel lines for her to move from one end to the other in search of her husband.  When found, she knee ls before him and serves him for the first time with the wine she carried around in search of him. Then he follows her to dance along with them to their already prepared sitting position.

The handing over of Barrister Beatrice Nwinee to Mr Dumbari,  was a time of tearful joy in the eyes of her mummy, Mrs Leyira Barikpoa Nwinee, who held her tight to her chest for a moment. Her siblings and friends who will miss her after the marriage, also shared in the tearful mood.

The bride when asked why she accepted Dumbari of all that bombarded her with marriage proposals answered that he was straight forward, not manipulative, honest, and had strong family values and also cared about her deeply, not minding the distance between them.

The church wedding took place the next Saturday, February 23, 2013 at the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Mbonu Street, D/Line,  Port Harcourt where the couple were solemnly united spiritually as they declared their marriage vows before all the ministers and members while the reception was held at the Port Harcourt City Council Hall, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt. The celebration blew the minds of all that were still single to wanting to marry as soon as possible and was highly grand.

In attendance were dignitaries from all walks of life, including the Member representing Khana I Constituency, Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Legborsi Nwidadaa, Dr. & Dr Mrs Christian Nwinia, China-based, Dr. David Baridakara Nwinee, Prof. Idemyor, Prof. Ben Naenee, Engr Mr & Mrs Nwilene, Dr & Barr Nwidadah among others.

The Chairman of the reception was the Commissioner for Social Welfare, Mr Joe Poroma.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana