Colour, Glamour as Dr. Hafsat and Ahmed Hold Kamu in Abuja

By Abdullahi Yusuf

Abuja came alive on Friday evening as family, friends, and well-wishers converged to witness the colourful Kamu night of Dr. Hafsat A. Abdullahi and her groom-to-be, Ahmed Mohammed, a traditional Hausa pre-wedding ceremony steeped in elegance and cultural symbolism.

The event, which held in a tastefully decorated hall in the FCT, showcased Hausa tradition at its finest. Guests trooped in, including elders, associates, and friends of both families, as drums and music set the atmosphere for an evening of celebration.

The highpoint of the night was the playful but symbolic “negotiation” between the groom’s aunties and the bride’s friends over Hafsat’s hand. The bride’s friends, amid laughter and cheers, demanded $10,000 as the price for the young bride, describing her as “a doctor, a graduate, beautiful, religious, obedient and pious.” The groom’s aunties countered humorously, saying even the Central Bank of Nigeria could not afford her worth. After rounds of banter, both sides finally agreed on N1 million, a moment that drew thunderous applause from the audience.

Adding depth to the ceremony, the bride’s aunties, Aunty Rabi and Aunty Amina took the stage to offer shawara (words of advice) to the couple. They reminded Hafsat and Ahmed that marriage thrives on love, patience, and endurance, urging the groom to uphold his duties as a husband while charging the bride to be supportive and steadfast.

Friends of the bride, who spoke to PEACE magazine at the event, expressed excitement at the successful outcome of the kamu. One of them said: “Even though we demanded $10,000, we were happy with what was agreed. It was all fun, and we are really looking forward to tomorrow’s wedding.”

For relatives, the kamu remains a unique cultural rite distinct from the main wedding. A family member of the bride noted: “Nothing compares to seeing our daughter formally married at the fatiha, but the kamu gives us the chance to celebrate and dance with her one last time before she is finally taken to her husband’s home.”

The ceremony stretched into the night, with dancing and jubilations continuing past midnight as guests dispersed in high spirits.

Meanwhile, the official nikah and fatiha prayers are scheduled to take place Saturday, August 23, at Al-Noor Mosque, Wuse 2, Abuja, to be followed by a grand reception, which will formally seal the union of Dr. Hafsat and Ahmed.

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