Under normal circumstances
That Chioma and Davido’s traditional wedding would have happened in Imo
But we are now conducting traditional weddings in Lagos
In times past, traditional weddings happened in the girl’s village
Then her family and kin will welcome the groom and their in laws and celebrate with them
And handover the bride
Some will say it has nothing to do with security
But we know the truth
The introduction happened in Imo before the madness started
But now the traditional wedding can’t happen there
Imagine how her kindred folks would have felt today if this thing happened in their enclave
Davido can protect himself but many other guests might stay away
Gradually Igbo culture is being eroded
Chioma Adeleke is from a community called Nkwere in Imo State.
Her bride price was paid in Nkwere many years ago because it was safer to do so at that time.
There was no insecurity in Imo state at the time the bride price was paid.
If it were to be 5 years ago today, her traditional marriage would have happened in Nkwere and not Eko Hotel.
Davido chose the safer option of doing his thing in Lagos, a foreign land, to protect his guests from the hands and the anger of the unknown gunmen.
I’m here, calculating the loss of this traditional marriage happening in Lagos to the local economy in Imo State
Imagine what could have been for the local DJ, the hotels in Imo State, and the make up artists, the food vendors, the event planners, and other important stakeholders in this Igba Nkwu marriage eco system had happened in Imo State.
It is sobering to think about, and the more reason we should not have invited insecurity into our homeland because we did not like Buhari
There was no need; that was self-inflicted punishment.
The chicken has come home to roost, and we are paying the price.
Albeit in a very expensive way.
Congratulations to David and Chioma.
