Enjoy 😉

Two weeks later
Borno, maiduguri

THIRD PERSON'S POV

To say Aidah was scared would be an understatement—she's beyond nervous right now. Tomorrow is Kamu (catch) day, and today, she and Yassine are getting their traditional henna done by the henna ladies.

The lefe, or bridal gifts, was brought over last week by Sayyid's family, but Aidah wasn't home when they arrived. She had been at Amna's place because it's traditional for the bride to be absent when the groom's family delivers the bridal gifts.

Now, Aidah is sitting on the balcony of Ammi's side with her friends, chatting and eating, while Yassine and her friends are on the other balcony on Mummy's side.

The woman finished applying the henna on Aidah's legs and started working on her fingers. "Nadia, please can you get me some water?" Aidah asked her.

"Sure," Nadia replied, handing her a bottle of water that was behind Ummita.

"Kami, please pass me that meat pie tray," Maryam asked.

Aidah couldn't help but tease her. "Wai, aren't you tired of eating? All you've been doing is eating, eating, eating tun dazu," she said with a playful smile.

Maryam shrugged nonchalantly. "Have you forgotten that there's a little human growing inside my stomach?"

"Daman, you're gonna use that as an excuse? Poor baby," Ruqaiya chimed in, making everyone laugh.

The group continued chatting, teasing, and enjoying each other's company as the henna was being done.

Later that night, Aidah was pleasantly surprised by her friends with an amazing bridal shower. It was so sweet of them to organize it, especially since she had no idea it was coming. The event was held in the living room of the guest chalet, and she figured it was probably Maryam and Dami's idea, with the decorations done by Kami and Amma.

Aidah wore a powder pink silk top and trousers with pajamas, while her friends were dressed in baby pink silky robes. Each robe had "team bride" written on it, while Aidah's had "bride" on hers.

Afterward, they went outside to light up Japanese lanterns, which were absolutely adorable and created a magical atmosphere. They had an unforgettable time before finally heading to bed.

Day 1 kamu(catch)

Kamu means catch. It's an event organized for the groom's family to come catch their bride. It starts with her friends not letting the groom's family see the bride until they pay a token.

4:30pm

"You can take a look at yourself now," Jide, the makeup artist, said as he spun the chair around so Aidah could see her reflection in the mirror.

"Oh Jide, you know how to make me look pretty," Aidah smiled, clearly impressed with his work.

"OMG, you look so beautiful, Ya Aidah!" Nadia gasped, clearly in awe.

Aidah was dressed in a white saki (Fulani) fabric sewn by Hudayya, paired with elegant gold jewelry and a Fulani necklace. Jide helped her tie her gele, and once he was done, he snapped a picture of her to capture the moment.

Once Aidah was getting ready, Adda Niimah entered the room, all dolled up and holding her baby in her arms. "You guys should go down, we're running out of time," she announced, giving the bride a compliment before walking out.

The bridesmaids were all set, so everyone made their way downstairs with the bride. They decided to skip taking pictures for now since they were running late. Outside, the cars were waiting to take them to the venue—Baba's guest house, where the Kamu ceremony would take place.

Meanwhile, Yassine and her friends were also ready and made their way outside, heading towards the cars. Yassine looked stunning in a blue French lace gown with a cape, paired with a beautiful gold jewelry set. Her makeup had been expertly done by Beauty Stamp.

When they arrived at the venue, Ya Aisha (Ya Ibrahim's wife) made the announcement of the bride's arrival. Since Yassine was the oldest, it was only fitting that she was introduced as the bride first. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation.

The bridesmaids lined up in two rows, with the captivating bride standing in the middle. As music played softly in the background, the bridesmaids slowly danced their way toward the bride's bed-like seat. The place was beautifully decorated, with Yassine on the right side and Aidah on the left. Each bride took her seat, surrounded by her friends.

The event began with an opening prayer by the host, Ya Aisha (Ya Ibrahim's wife). After the prayer, Yassine's groom's family was invited to come forward to unveil their bride. Once they were done, Sayyid's family followed suit and unveiled their bride, Aidah.

Aidah's friends walked her to a beautifully decorated hut where the unveiling would take place. As the women entered, they immediately covered the bride's face with her veil. After exchanging pleasantries with the bride's family and friends, they headed to where Aidah was.

Maryam then prompted Aidah, saying, "Halimatu, smile." Aidah uncovered her face just long enough to smile for the camera before quickly covering it again. The ceremony was proceeding with joy and excitement.

The moment Aidah's face was unveiled, she was met with awe and admiration from Sayyid's family. One of the ladies playfully teased, "Amaryar Sayyid kinsha kamshi," and the others joked that they wouldn't let anyone see the bride until a payment was made. Maryam, with a smile, replied, "We won't allow you to see our bride, Fah Aunty, until you pay." After a bit of banter, they settled on 4 million naira.

Aunty Hafsa, Sayyid's aunt, then asked if they could see the bride, and Maryam responded, "Of course, she's all yours," unveiling Aidah, who was smiling and nervously fidgeting with her fingers. The guests immediately admired her.

"Mashallah!" they all exclaimed. "She's so beautiful."

"Tabarakallah, Mashallah," another lady said in awe.

"Sayyid is so lucky," someone remarked, impressed by Aidah's beauty.

The women continued to compliment Aidah in Fulani and Hausa, admiring her beauty. Meanwhile, Sauda and Ruqaiya stood behind, smiling at the scene. Afterward, they joined Aidah, wrapping her in a tight hug.

"You look so beautiful, Wallahi. My brother should thank Allah every day," Ruqaiya whispered, causing Aidah to blush.

Just then, Aidah felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Adda Meera, smiling widely at her. "Amaryar mu, how's the wedding going so far?" Adda Meera asked with warmth.

"Alhamdulillah, Adda Meera. Where's Abdallah and baby Naznin?" Aidah asked.

"Abdallah is somewhere around, sunning himself, and Naznin is with her nanny," Adda Meera replied.

After chatting for a while, Adda Meera excused herself, mentioning she was looking for Ya Ummi. Before walking away, she complimented Aidah, saying, "You look beautiful by the way."

Meanwhile, women from the groom's side began spraying Aidah's clothes with different perfumes. After the unveiling, Aidah returned to her seat. Then, the 'yan koroso' came to perform, a traditional Fulani dance, suggested by Ya Ummi, as Aidah wanted a Fulani-themed Kamu.

The groom's family joined the dance floor, followed by the bride's family. The two beautiful brides, Aidah and Yassine, were at the center. Money was sprayed generously as everyone danced and celebrated. The wedding was a grand event, with the daughters of the richest man in Maiduguri and one of Africa's top five wealthiest families getting married.

Aidah couldn't help but feel emotional, overwhelmed with love and happiness. Earlier, she had changed into a stunning gold lace outfit from Rex Fabrics, sewn by Hudayya.

After hours of eating, dancing, and snapping countless pictures, the women from both the groom's and bride's sides began to leave. Only the grownups remained, along with the bride's friends and the groom's sisters. The celebration continued as they danced the night away, making it an unforgettable day.

-Chiickadee🥀