The inter-racial marriage between Tyler Michael MacIntyre of United States of America and Winnie Adiahachi Bush of Nigeria was a show of love beyond colour and borders.
Winnie, daughter of Michael Bush, an ace broadcaster and writer, comes from Ekpene Ukim in Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and her heartthrob, MacIntyre coming together to say until death do us part, buried Negroid/Caucasian diversity.
The traditional marriage rites were performed between the families of the groom and the bride at the ambient Emerald Events Centre, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom capital on Saturday, June 11, a day to Nigeria’s Democracy Day.
The grand event that took off by 3 p.m. brought to the fore the rich cultural accoutrements of Akwa Ibom, the legendary Land of Promise.
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The outside hall was adorned in the Akwa Ibom traditional colours- Green, and white.
Heavily built girls popularly called bouncers of Dragon Squad, some dressed in white, others in black were handy maintaining peace and security during the event.
The hall was decorated with tall flower stands. The rounded tables were adorned with leafy floral and beautiful chorales with chairs to match.
The father of the bride, Michael, dressed in typical Uruan Inyang Atakpo cultural attire, evocative of Efik attire accompanied by his wife, Nneka marched in, in a gorgeous style.
Led by traditional dancers, they were escorted by their kinsmen, in laws, and friends to the splendoured executive chairs on the front row.
As they sat down, the popular Master of Ceremonies, Peter Umanah also known as Nkpo Ndik invited Martin Akpan, a friend to Michael and a reputable medical doctor, to offer the opening prayers.
Before now, the groom’s family had been entertained to popular udia ibenge, meaning welcome food prepared and served the in laws as a way of welcoming them and showcasing the rich cuisine skills and potpourri of delicacies of the people.
Umanah, the veteran television and radio actor/comedian, announced the entrance of the bride-to-be.
Winnie dressed in a typical Uruan traditional attire was escorted by peer group members, friends and old school mates.
Dressed in skimpy skirt with embroidered bracelets and trinkets on the waist and legs, she tied beads round her head. With her athletic dancing steps, she dazzled the audience as the traditional Ekombi music oozed over the air-conditioned hall while the guests in utter gusto hollered too and clapped ceaselessly.
The surging crowd took over as virtually most guests and cameramen scampered out to take shot of the athletic dancer together with her escorts, who left no stone unturned in gyrating to the popular Uwemedimo Musical Troupe.
After the appearance, she was escorted out.
Then came Paul, an American and a cousin to the groom, going on errand of consultation for him. Dressed in Akwa Ibom attire with a staff to match, he walked in accompanied by a retinue of in laws-to-be, guiding him how to dance to the songs that were uncommon to his American lyrics and rhythms.
Armed with three bottles of gin, he consulted Pastor Ukpe who was chairman of the occasion; the parents and extended family of the bride.
Anietie Ukpe, pastor with Insight Bible Church, Nsikak Eduok Avenue, Uyo, serving as the Chairman of the occasion took over the floor.
Ukpe, who is the Director-General of Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC), said Bush had lived a life of impacting many and the time has come for him to reap the fruits of impacting others.
He praised Winnie for the honour and respect shown in bringing the husband across Atlantic Ocean to Nigeria unmindful of kidnapping and other security infractions instead of marrying and wedding in America (as some do) and sending pictures to the parents at home.
”Winnie has touched me by bringing her husband from USA to Nigeria despite the socio-cultural situation in the country. She decided to cross Atlantic to receive parental blessings. I want others to learn from this kind attitude,’’ the veteran journalist posited.
Then, MacIntyre, the groom dressed in African attire- a pair of trouser, tapering shirt with a traditional cap. Paul walked side by side as the groom twerked his body and legs to the rhythm of African music in walking down the aisle.
Artificial green carpets strewn the walkway leading to the high table and MacIntyre and cultural dancers were electrified by the sonorous renditions and drumming.
The bridal train marched the groom to the elevated dais decked with exotic white executive seat for the groom and the bride.
By twist of fate, MacIntyre (forget about the spelling but dwell on the pronunciation) has semblance with the state. Mercantile Bank Ltd was founded and managed mostly by Akwa Ibom people while Mercantile Secondary Commercial School, Utu Abak, hometown of Anietie Ukpe, a journalist and clergyman, has existed for more than 40 years.
Upon confirmation that all the items required in the list had been completed by the groom’s team, the MC sent for a search party. The party went in search of the bride- Winnie. A search party was mounted by a woman from the bride’s family.
The lady collected transport fare. She went on two trips and returned with a positive result, the lady openly declared that the bride has been found in her hideout and would be brought to open.
The guests waited anxiously. Dancing party started again. A coterie of friends, colleagues and relations flanked the bride and escorted her in. The cultural troupe and dancers jerking their waists and bodies led the train and movement into the hall started in a colourful manner.
The bouncers mounted their eagle eyes on the train gallivanting from one corner to another to avoid any issue.
On reaching the front row, the bride was asked to stand out but the bridal train ‘decongested’ into their seats.
Business has started. The groom came out to face tests ordered by the Master of Ceremonies. After passing the test, MacIntyre went for proper consultation for formal traditional marriage to his love in typical Ibibio way.
Winnie together with her heartthrob took assorted to Chairman of the occasion, bride’s parents and extended family members for formal introduction and acceptance.
Bush, the father collected the drink and rained blessings on the couple.
Done with it, the Nuptial dance session began. The bride and the groom were joined as husband and wife and here they are made to perform their first public function.
The new couples danced to the floor to music supplied by traditional band group. They are presented with both cash and other gift items what is usually described as the “first joint public activity by the new couple” usually marks the end of the ceremony of joining a young man and a young woman in an everlasting union of two persons, two families, and sometimes two villages or two tribes, or two cultures.
The glamorous event was witnessed by Pastor Umo Eno and wife, Akwa Ibom PDP Governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke, member representing Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency and a PDP governorship aspirant; Hon. Aniekan Umanah, member representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives; Pastor Abel Damina, Senior Pastor of Power Chapel International; Comrade Ini Ememobong, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, among others.
