How marriages were arranged in the past
Gradmother's experience
Marriage years ago was very different from what we see today”, grandmother said. “When I was young, a boy who wanted to marry a girl would discuss the subject with his parents. After that, he would try to find one of his friends to take a message to the girl. On market day the messenger would greet the young girl and give her a straight stick which was still green. He would tell her the name of the person who wanted to marry her”.
Tipoko asked grandmother the meaning of this ceremony but grandmother told her just to listen. She continued, “The young girl could not answer immediately. She would take the stick home to show her parents. If the family approved, the girl would bend the stick into a curve before it dried. The following market day she would give it back to the messenger. After that, the young man could give the girl some presents: a piece of cloth, kola nuts, millet beer etc.”
The three girls wanted to know how people celebrated marriages in the past but grandmother was tired and went for a rest.
From ENGLISH for 2nd year. Edition 2003, page 53 Adapted