WEDDINGS BELLS OR ARE MY EARS JUST RINGING?

Am planning my wedding already! Well not exactly because am ready to marry now or have become “endowed” all of a sudden, it’s my family. The thing is my younger sister got married last weekend and am next in line.  According to my family members, that’s a qualifying factor for marriage- not the attainment of a Nobel peace  prize for literature or a fat bank account but just because everyone else is married.

Funny enough, I have also begun to give it a serious thought like a lady would.  I cannot say their hounding me every other day over the issue is the only impulse repelling the inertia towards the aisle. My girlfriend has also been a major force pushing for the grand ceremony. She has finally gotten allies on her side and this “unholy” alliance is both overwhelming and irritating. Don’t get me wrong, am all for forever- happy-ever-after unions. It comes with major perks like free sex and free sex. Who can complain about that?  But the way this folks are going about it, I begin to ask whether there is still such a thing as free will. For instance on my sister’s wedding day, my relatives kept saying, Itua, na you remain o! You are next in line o! The most bizarre and rather obnoxious one was when an aunt of mine who does event planning and catering services for a living walked towards me with a rather whimsical smile and said: “Abeg when na your turn, make una hire me”. And I smiled back until I realized she was serious. It took the remnant of gumption left inside me to leave without revealing my distaste. She didn’t know whether I was in a relationship or not and am sure she didn’t care. All she was concerned with was the business angle. I certainly do not blame her at all. Economics drive motives nowadays so she’s allowed to make a buck or two off me. At least that way the money will circulate within the family.  

Well, I admit the pressure has gotten to me so much so that am going to have to vent in print! I would say a thing or two about what I know (and hate) about weddings and marriages in general as I begin to plan towards mine...

Marriage in itself is wonderful. It was instituted and ordained by God primarily for companionship and also for procreation. The joy of raising a family is an experience and an adventure especially when it’s with someone you love (or can tolerate). The biblical account of the first marriage didn’t really state whether there was a wedding ceremony in the sense. Am guessing there were lots of fruits to eat and probably wine. There was no wedding gown, tuxedo or áso ѐbi’s because the couple were stark naked.  This portrays a clear picture of simplicity; a far cry from what we have today. Am not advocating Stone Age philosophy (considering am referring to paradise) but the truth is that the monies spent planning and executing weddings these days is astronomical. Am working the cost estimate for the simplest wedding I can imagine and the word “million” keeps coming up.  Money for introduction, traditional wedding and then the “white” drives prices through the roof. When Albert Einstein said, “everything should be as simple as possible but not simpler”, he probably had a wedding in mind.

THE INTRODUCTION

A wedding today isn’t just an occasion, it’s an event. It begins with the introduction, where the bride’s family meet the groom and his family “formally” as though they have never seen him before. The same guy who has been frequenting the house and shagging their daughter is now formally introduced.  It’s so funny really.  All so that we can have Fááji. Hypocrisy or just tradition, I cannot say which but that's the least of our concern money wise. The cost estimate here even if she is from Anambra state should be under a hundred thousand naira. Ibo kwenu!

 TRADITIONAL

After the “introduction”, then the next stage is the traditional marriage. Here, it’s another chance for the bride’s family to spend some **ing money (Arsenal fans know what I mean). The groom pays some money to take his bride legitimately (am guessing what he’s been getting before now has been for free). After the dowry and bride price have been exchanged, and the kinsmen have been well fed, the union can be consummated. Cost estimate even if you are from Anambra state should be at most half a million.

THE WEDDING PROPER.

You have to find a venue, a decorator, a caterer (am still in doubt whether people still cook themselves again), and an event planner (they help take away lots of stress).

Also finding the perfect wedding gown can be a pain. Good wedding gowns cost an arm.  If you get your gown and tux from Mary’s Bridals or David’s Bridals and your rings from Tiffany and Co., you are certainly in good company. Whether or not you can pay for it is another matter all together. Even if we were to be very conservative, purchasing commodities from Vera Wang would still be out of reach for most people. Bottom line, more money! On the romantic side, the couple also have to choose a song they will dance to. This too cost money as you have to find a good DJ to give you the sound that fits the hall. Speaking of DJ’s, last week I discovered to my horror that you can have all the money in the world and be a guru at planning but all you need for it to rain on your parade is for a DJ to screw you up.  A certain DJ Blend decided not to show up at all for the wedding. He probably got drunk partying the night before and decided he had better things to do than to honor an agreement.  If you are planning a wedding or a party or anything at all, you need to avoid him like a plague especially if you live in Abuja. Luckily for us, we had a back up that we called-in under short notice. Praise Ye the Lord.

I can go on and on about cost. The only respite for some couples is the revenue derived from the sale of Aso Ebi’s’ that help raise money for the wedding. Also, monies sprayed during the ceremonies usually help to settle unpaid bills if it is not pilfered. To think that a CBN governor almost closed this lucrative spraying business for no reason other for self aggrandisement is ludicrous.

A friend of mine had a court wedding a while ago and I really envied him for his courage and most especially the simplicity. I know I would be daydreaming if I proposed that simple but wonderful union to my fiancé. She would rather kill me than not have the big wedding (of course am joking about the killing part). And no, she is not materialistic. She is the most loving person I know and yet there would be no compromise on such issues. So I won’t bring up a court wedding for fear of my life (again am joking, she really isn’t violent). The truth is that something in me also wants to be in the spot light for once in my life. I want to be to be seen by all. I envisage a reception hall where all are gathered of me for me and by me. My wedding should be a place where I am the centre of attention and that desire for recognition is a basic human need.  Not to forget the gifts you can get after the wedding.  The era of plastic coolers, cups and trays is gone. People get as “little” as flat screen TV’s, washing machines and microwaves these days. A lady friend of mine once told me that I shouldn’t rush into buying electronics appliances for my house because I was sure of getting them in my wedding which brings me to the investment aspect of marriage I will discuss some other time.

I believe that marriage is the race and the wedding is the starting point therefore more resources should be ploughed into finishing the race rather than starting it. Our culture encourages short term gratification over the longer lasting outcome. The showmanship and “bigmanism” lifestyle we adopt now have influenced more people into outdoing themselves.  My hope is that we try to model unions after the one in the Garden of Eden. The book of Proverbs (chapter 24:27) advises men to provide for themselves adequately before thinking about marriage. This scripture is the only trump card I have left.   While I hold this card tenaciously for dear life, I would say in deference to Mr. Einstein that a wedding should be as simple as possible and possibly simpler.  

©2011 Ewoigbokhan Otaigbe Itua

Lagos, Nigeria

.

THE QUESTION THE WHITEMAN ASKED MY FATHER

Agbonika

Where to flows this river

Father looked up and looked down

Then looked at the face of the river

Two men standing under water

And then told the whiteman to take off his hat

Drop it on the river

And watch

©2011 Ladi Opaluwa

Kogi, Nigeria

AN END OF AN ERA?

The game of lawn tennis is not necessarily  popular amongst us. The frenzy exhibited by fans for other sports such as soccer and to a lesser extent athletics is not accorded to tennis. But whether we are active followers or not, the name Roger Federer would ring a bell in every ear. Roger has lit up the world of lawn tennis in Nigeria and created a fan base that has grown gradually over the years.   He, alongside the Williams sisters and Raphael Nadal have ensured that even lukewarm tennis fans have become keenly interested in how the Grand Slams go down. With 16 grand slam titles, a seemingly indomitable streak at the number one spot and a charming personality- both on and off the court- it is no wonder his support base is phenomenal.

Federer has shown a type of consistency for high performance that is rarely seen particularly in contemporary sports. In eight years, he racked up 16 grand slam titles among other trophies. He also maintained his number one ranking for about five straight years and has managed to remain in the top three when not playing at his regular best.

It has not always been rosy for Roger Federer; in fact at one point in his career (2003), Federer was labeled as the best player in tennis not to have won a Grand Slam title.  That was soon to change as he started his historic grand slam haul that year and by 2009, he had won on all surfaces including Roland Garos.

Federer’s all round game is superb and perhaps his greatest weapon is the mastery with which he wields his racket with pin-point accuracy when hitting the ball. The flair displayed when he switches from back hand to front is second to none.  Off the court, he is also a gentle man, married to his long time girl friend and blessed with twins. He is among the rare list of sport mega stars not to be smeared with some form of “controversy” in their private lives.

Most people are adulated after retirement but while still playing, Federer is already being labeled a legend. He is mentioned in the same breath with great names like Rod Laver, Pete Sampras and Bjorn Bjorg.

I cannot completely discuss Federer’s career without mentioning Raphael Nadal. Rafael Nadal and Federer provided one of the greatest rivalries ever seen in the history of tennis rivaling that of McEnroe and Bjorg.

At the time when Federer reigned supreme in men’s tennis, seeing him on the opposite side of the court was psychologically demoralizing for any opponent. He completely demolished those who stood in his  way with ease until Nadal’s entrance onto the scene proved a stumbling block.   Rafael Nadal’s physical approach to games coupled with his never-say-die attitude quickly proved to become Federer’s nemesis. Nadal’s advantage on clay began to extend to other surfaces until he wrested the top spot away from Federer. He is presently the only player to have a significant head-to-head advantage over Roger Federer.

But unlike Nadal who left tennis fans feeling pity for his (Nadal’s) opponents, Federer’s sheer poetry on the court ensured that while he ravaged his opponents, fans gasped more at his artistry. 

Since 2008, Federer has shown a decline in consistency and achievements that has seen him drop in the world rankings to number three. His vulnerabilities were exposed by Tsonga at Wimbledon and also at the Rogers Cup. Some believe we have seen the end of the Federer especially with the likes Djokovic charting a new course. Federer's supporters can point at his showing in Roland Garros and the fact that he is the only man so far to have beaten a fit Djokovic this year. I believe Federer still has a lot more to offer for as long as he remains in competitive tennis. If his comments in Flushing Meadows are anything to go by then we can expect him to throw everything he’s got to reclaim the number one spot. 

Since 2003, Federer has won at least one grand slam every year. He has only Flushing Meadows this year to maintain that tradition, and on his current form, it may be wishful thinking to assume he would accomplish this. One thing is for sure, should he retire now, Federer will be regarded as one of the greatest if not the greatest tennis player that ever graced this planet. I do agree that the Federer dynasty may have ended but I believe he still has one or two Grand Slams left in him.

Predictions… 

For Flushing Meadows, Djokovic starts as overwhelming favorite; he appears and has said he is completely over his Cincinati setback. The opening rounds support this. Nadal who is expected to provide Djokovic’s sternest challenge did not have the best of preparations and his once famous mental strength is already being questioned going by his recent comments. Federer has shown recently that players from the top ten can trouble him, while Murray has consistently taught us not to depend on him when it matters most.

For the women, with the comeback queen and defending champion (Clijsters) not playing; with Sharapova out and the world number one not consistent enough, barring some snares from the old Soviet republics, I think Serena Williams can go all the way.

©2011 Colin Obaitan

Lagos, Nigeria