8 Nov 2007
A week before the Bachelor’s Eve and the Wedding Day
There is a tradition amongst the Creoles who believe that before the wedding take place, family members who had passed away should be consulted. The belief is that the departed relatives are now with God and they would help plead for God's guidance and intervention in the wedding venture. Selected family members would therefore visit the grave site of their departed relatives, usually the last Friday before the wedding takes place.
That Friday would be the day for a big feast or cook-out - known as "Marade Cook" or "Awujor". Marade is a Creole term for marriage. In other words marriage cook is a pre-wedding feast. Families, friends, neighbors and guests will be invited.
Family members who have been selected to go to the cemetery would take with them the following:
- A bottle of cold clean water: meaning water is a vital resource used from birth until death; one can't live without water.
- A bottle of wine or alcohol - wine makes glad the hearts of men,
And wipe away sorrow.
- Two kola nuts, red and white for lasting love and peace.
The delegation would leave early in the morning usually about 6 AM for the cemetery where their departed relatives were buried. – A chosen member of the family would be the spokes person at the grave side. He or she would give the reason for the visit. Example “Adecule is planning to marry Rosamond on the second of June. Even though you already know, we want you to hear it from the family. We are preparing feast and you all are invited to come and partake”.
Any other member of the family who would like to say something would speak; after which, the spokes person would pour some water in a glass and say "this is what we have brought for you all" and then pour the water on the grave by head, likewise the wine.
Then the leader will split open the two kola nuts into four pieces, cup them with both hands, shake and toss them on the grave. If all four or three of the kola nuts turn up or down, it is believed that the departed do approve of wedding. If two turns up they will have to try again.
This process of shaking and tossing kola nuts may be repeated as many times until they are satisfied with the result. Family members would share the remaining water and the wine amongst themselves; take two of the kola nuts and share likewise amongst themselves and leave the two on the grave one red and one white. They would eat and drink everything at the cemetery; nothing should be taken back home. The delegates will then proceed back to the house where the preparation is going on for a big feast.
At the House of the "Marade Cook or Awujor"
A male member of the family would dig two small holes facing the East end of the compound where the sun rises. He would kill two chickens and let the blood go directly in each of the hole.
Family members would be summoned to gather around the holes with the food on the plates already prepared early in the morning such as fried unsalted potatoes, plantains, beans akara and beans cooked with palm oil; a glass of water, a glass of wine, a glass of mashed agidy i.e. a local food made from corn and also kola nuts, red and white.
A family member would invite the departed relatives to partake of the meal for them. The speaker will call out the names of families who have passed away speaking as if they are presently on their midst.
Small bits of each of the prepared food are put in the holes and the water and wine are poured into the hole. Again more kola nuts are split into two, shaken and tossed. The way it falls will show approval or disapproval. Two of the kola nuts are shared and the remaining food, water and drink are left by the holes for the departed until 6 pm which is called 'yourleh' time. It is a Creoles belief that the departed relatives usually have to leave by 6 PM to return back to their own abode.
Lunch time for the Departed:
The two fowls killed are cleaned, the intestines removed and placed on a fanna - which is a flat food tray made locally made from straws. They will spread small portion of agidy (a soft pounded corn meal), cooked beans without salt, fried plantains, potatoes and assorted fresh fruits like banana, orange, sugar cane on a fanna.
The fanna with the food is placed in the compound by noon, inviting the departed to come and feast. Usually vultures will come and eat food which to the Creoles is a sign that the departed have approved of the cook; if there are no vultures; it is believed that they have not approved of it.
Food for families, friends and guests:
Expert cooks are chosen to prepare local food for family, friends and guests such as foo-foo (pounded cassava) and obiata (vegetable soup), foo-foo and bittas (vegetable soup made from bitter herbs), beans – aborbor (a meal prepared from black eye beans), beans akara, orleleh, palm oil stew etc. Small portions of each food would be placed in small bowls or plates for the departed to put in the holes and on the table inside the house.
Invited guests are served with food and drinks of their choice and dance to music with fun and jokes.
Fair-well to the departed relatives at evening time.
Having seen the vultures eating the food placed on the fanna, it is believed that the departed did come; and at 6pm they must go back; therefore at 6pm it is always the time to give them their food in the holes and send them away; this time it is called "Yourleh time."
At Yourleh all those who are present if they choose, would join family members around the holes where all the food that has been placed in the small bowls or plates are placed round the two holes ready to give their departed ones their dinner before they go away; fresh clean water, new bottle of wine or alcohol, kola nuts are brought to the homes,
An elderly member of the family will speak again saying goodbye to the departed relatives. This is done while placing the food bit by bit in the holes, split open the kola nuts, shake and toss, after tossing the kola nuts and are satisfied with the result - "kapoo-kapoo" (grab what you can) begins. All those who are gathered around the two holes will be urged to reach for and grab whatever food or drink they want that have been displayed by the two holes. All the food at the Yourleh must be eaten outside, and should not be taken back into the house.
After Yourleh, the party moves back into the house to continue with the feast.
Brownsack
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