What do you learn about the customs involved in preparing for a wedding in this chapter Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe?

Answer 1

Weddings are large occurrences involving the familes and friends of both bride and groom. This occurs after all the preparations have already occurred such as haggling and paying the bride price, and having the bride meet her suitor and relatives.

Everyone who is considered a kinsmen within their group called umunna, and their families are invited. After breakfast, women and children gather in the morning at the bride's father's compound to cook for the whole village. Gifts are brought to the compound. Many animals are slaughtered for the feast, including goats.

In the afternoon, the groom's side begins arriving bringing pots of palm-wine, the first few to aid in the cooking. Meanwhile, the bride prepares herself with the help of her mother and friends. As the sun sets, someone sweeps the ground in front of the bride's father's obi. Then the friends and relatives begin to arrive and form a semi-circle. The in-laws begin to arrive bringing many pots of palm-wine. They form another half-circle.

The bride's father presents kola nuts to his inlaws. There is a ritualistic toast between the father and the eldest of the in-laws. The kola is eaten and wine starts being drunk. Food is presented later in the evening with huge bowls of foo-foo, pots of soup and yam pottage. Later young men begin singing, praising all of their male elders in turn. The girls excepting the bride come from the inner compound to dance. Then the bride joins them with a cock in her right hand. She presents the cock to the musicians and dances. The festivities and dancing goes on late into the night. As the visitors leave, they pay short visits to prominent men before leaving, whom give them presents before the visitors go.

Answer 2

Betrothal is the same as a wedding engagement between two parties. Usually this is said to have occurred either when the bride price is set or when the bride price is paid.