Benin Agog As Omu Anioma's Son, Afamefuna Gets Married

By: Patrick Ochei

Friday the 22nd of December, 2017, will in a long time remain remarkable and indelible in the memories of witnesses to the Traditional Marriage ceremony between Omu Anioma's only child, Ph.D Designate cum lecturer with the University of Benin, Afamefuna Dunkwu-Okafor and Miss Nosayaba Chidinma Irhue. The marriage ceremony which took place in the family compound of Chief John Irhue, a renowned Benin eminent personality witnessed lots of glamorous and colourful display of royalties and traditional intricacies, being a signature event with the involvement of Omu Martha Dunkwu.

The marriage was attended by two Anioma Traditional Rulers - HRM Michael Mbanefo Ogbolu, the Ugoani of Okpanam and HRM Kikachukwu JP, the Obi of Ubulu-Uno Kingdom, including Chiefs John Nwafor, the Isama of Ashama and Mrs. Cecilia Ofuani, the Aka-Omu of Okpanam.

Others who were in Omu Anioma's entourage to get her daughter in-law married were, HRH Omu Theresa Uwadia, the Omu of Onicha-Uku, Olorogun Julius Ufuoma Emowebhe, the Chief Accountant to the Delta State Deputy Governor's office, Commodore Peter Okwudishu, a retired Naval officer, Mrs. Kate Okoh Onah, the President of Market Men and Women Association of Nigeria, Delta State Chapter, Comrade Patrick Ochei, Vice Chairman of NUJ, Delta State Council, Dr. Ngozi Nwabuoku, PRO to Ugoani-in-Council and others too numerous to mention.

The marriage depicted a very high level of tradition and customs of the Great Benin Kingdom and of course, the Anioma culture which to a great extent is similar, played a corresponding role.

The highly elated Ugoani of Okpanam, HRM Ogbolu expressed implicit confidence in the capacity of the Ph.D Designate Afamefuna to take good care of his wife, now Mrs. Nosayaba Chidinma Dunkwu-Okafor. He appreciated the Irhue family for their high level of understanding and exposure, adding that he felt over joy they are a family to relate with for life.

The highpoint of the occasion was the payment of bride price. In the usual Benin tradition, the bride's family made a demand of 50 million dollars and the groom's family provided a huge sum to cater for the expenses of getting their daughter married. But in the benevolence of the bride's family, believing that a daughter is not sold but given out in love, they took only N30 from the money and returned the rest to the groom's family.

Meanwhile, the over joyed Omu Martha Dunkwu splashed cash on the bride and groom, while presenting deeds of gift of land, an acre each to the groom and bride in Okpanam, including another half acre to the groom in Benin City.

In addition, the bride's mother who is from Onitsha in Anambra State, also had her people represented by Mr. Azubuike Achike to witness the marriage of his niece.

Several dignitaries from Benin and beyond also attended the marriage, and all the guests were adequately entertained both with good food and music.

Earlier before leaving the Palace of Omu Anioma in Okpanam for Benin in Edo State, the retinue of dignifying traditional and professional personalities in Omu's company were well taken care of in a royal way, as usual of the image-maker par excellence and jolly good fellow, HRM Obi Martha Dunkwu, the Omu Anioma. Agog As Omu Anioma's Son, Afamefuna Gets Married

 the marriage, and all the guests were adequately entertained both with good food and music.

Earlier before leaving the Palace of Omu Anioma in Okpanam for Benin in Edo State, the retinue of dignifying traditional and professional personalities in Omu's company were well taken care of in a royal way, as usual of the image-maker par excellence and jolly good fellow, HRM Obi Martha Dunkwu, the Omu Anioma.