KUNSHI (Mehndi/Henna day)

This is one of the historical events in the Hausa cultural wedding which dates back to the origin of the hausa people, kunshi signifies the cleansing of the bride, henna mixed with some herbs, scents and flowers of plants are applied to her body covering most part of the body for just some minutes, which is later washed away with a mixture or flowers and perfume in water. This mixture smoothes the skin and making the bride look fresh and more attractive. Another mixture of henna is used to make beautifully decorated designs on the bride's hands, palms and legs. Henna design makes the bride not only astonishing but unique. The event is strictly for ladies, only.

👑👑👑

The beautiful bride sat majestically on one of the cushions sprawled on the floor, in the beautifully decorated tent. She was encompassed by her friends and family. The khurkum (turmeric) which they'd all applied on her hands and feet earlier was ready to be washed out. They helped her rinsed it off with a perfumed water as the camerawoman tried her possible best to make every moment into a standstill. Once they were done, Aunty sadiya picked up a golden pot only to pour rose water on the bride's silky hair. The exquisite scent flourished in the tent just like rose petals on summer afternoon.

The bride had decided to wear a brown lace because once Henna stains your clothes, it doesn't go off. They invited Hauwa, a very well known mehndi artist in the north, to be the one to do her henna design.

The bride's body was already scrubbed, waxed and incensed in the morning. So, all Hauwa has to do was to start designing the bride's hands, palms and feet.

"Lets get started" Hauwa chirped as the masu kidan kwarya started to beat on their calabashes while some girls and women went to the other henna designers, to design their hands.

Two hours later.👑

The henna dried up. Aunty hadiza helped her rinsed it off while Hauwa prepare the traditional khasko to smoke the henna, so it could darken, look more beautiful, fresh and attractive.

By the time she was done, the bride was already glowing from every angel. Sure enough, Hauwa succeeded in turning Ruqayyah into a 'real stunning bride'.

"Mashaa Allah" Everybody cooed, looking at her adoringly.

"Thank you, it's beautiful" Ruqayyah grinned turning and twisting her hands and feet to have a good look at her henna.

Ameela, Billy, Ilham, Zahra, 'Juwairiyyah and Mufeedah' (Ruqayyah's paternal cousins) were already done with their Mehndi. It looked beautiful on them too.

"Iyyeh, You're popping girl" Ya husna winked and playfully pinched her nose. Ruqayyah just blused. She'd no idea why she frequently blush these days even if she shouldn't but she guessed it was what the 'Brides' usually do.

"Look at my henna, it's beautiful, isn't it?" Ya husna stretched her hands to show them.

"Wow! it really is" They said simultaneously.

The event went on. Women, girls and kids dancing with merriment, some chatting boisterously, some raving about the bride's mehndi while some were still decorating their hands.

👑👑👑

KAMU

Kamu means "catch". It's an event organized for the family of the groom to come "catch" their bride. It starts with her friends not letting the groom's family see the bride until they pay a token... If her friends wants to make it harder for them, they have to sometimes find her in the midst of fake brides all covered up. If they can tell which is their bride, then she's theirs and they spray her with perfumes and take her out to dance.

4:30pm

"Sweetheart, You can take a look at yourself now" Mrsbazza, the makeup artist spoke and spun the chair which Ruqayyah was sitting on, so she could look at herself in the mirror.

"Wow! I look like a doll" Ruqayyah grinned widely, contented.

"I know right, You're so beautiful Mashaa Allah"

Ameela helped her slip into her beautiful dress as Mrsbazza started to tie her headgear.

Once she was through, Ya husna stepped into the room all dolled up, holding Amani in her arms. "All of you guys should go down, we are running out of time" She announced, complimented the bride and walked out.

The bridesmaids were ready too. So, they all moved downstairs to a parlor along with the bride, where some pictures would be taken by George Okoro before they go outside where the event was going to take place. Ruqayyah started to give him some poses. 

They walked outside and snapped some.

The bridesmaids lined up in two lines while the alluring bride stood at the middle. The bridesmaids slowly danced to the music playing in the background as they walked to the bride's bed-like seat. The placed was gracefully decorated in a traditional theme.

The bride got seated while the bridesmaids sat on the carpeted floor. An elderly woman stepped out and made an opening du'a before they were announced that the groom's relatives were here.

They closed the bride's face with her veil immediately when the women came in. They exchanged pleasantries with the bride's family before they headed to where Ruqayyah was.

"Amaryar Al amin kinsha kamshi!" One of the women said and yodeled.

"We won't allow you to see our beautiful bride until you pay" Ameela grinned broadly.

"Yes!" The other girls chorused.

"Okay! We'd do anything at any cost to see that beautiful face, abunda ma gobe zata zama tamu" One of the Aunties, Aunty saudat spoke.

"She's very expensive fah, we want 1billion, only" Said Ameela, purposely emphasizing on 'Only'.

The groom's relatives gasped before Aunty saudat spoke "Haba 'ya'yan mu, make it two hundred thousand"

"50 Million"

"Two hundred and fifty thousand"

"Haba Aunty, 10 Million"

"Three hundred thousand, deal?"

Ameela turned to look at the girls "What do you say?" She muttered.

"Why not?" Amina grinned "Lets accept it"

"Okay, deal!" Ameela gave them a thumbs up.

Aunty saudat nodded in agreement, brought out a cheque from her bag and wrote the amount down before handing it to her.

"Can we finally see the bride?" Aunty saudat couldn't wait any longer.

"Of course, she's all yours" Ameela said and opened the bride's face, who was fidgeting with her fingers.

"Mashaa Allah"

"All Thanks to Allah ( SWT) for creating such beauty"

"Tubarakallah"

"Indeed Allah is the most high"

"Beautiful, very beautiful"

"Ameen is so lucky"

Came the women compliments. All the while, Yasmeen was standing behind them grinning like a crazy woman. She sat next to Ruqayyah and gave her a bone crushing hug.

"You look beautiful. Wallahi my brother is so lucky, he should thank Allah every single day" Yasmeen whispered and Ruqayyah blushed crimson.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. She lifted her head up and saw ya sakina smiling widely at her.

"Amaryar mu, how's the wedding going so far?" Ya sakina asked warmly as she gently placed her hand on her cheek.

"Alhamdulillah ya sakina, where's baby ashraf and the twins?"

"I'm here!" Nu'aima answered her question, grinning widely as she held ihsan's hand.

"Aunty rukky, i've found a new best friend" Ihsan squeaked.

"Yes we're now best friends" They embraced each other.

Ya sakina and Ruqayyah giggled. "Wow thats amazing, pumpkins" Ruqayyah hugged them.

"Nu'aim insisted he would stay with al amin and ashraf.." Ya sakina looked around "He's probably with the maid, tunda ya fara tafiya babu sauran zama"

Ruqayyah chuckled as she pictured him walking. It was totally cute!

"You look beautiful by the way" Ya sakina praised and gave her a side hug.

Each and every woman from the groom's side started to spray Ruqayyah's clothes with both normal perfumes and khumra perfume then came the photoshoot bout. George took his time and gave them some mind blowing shoots. 

"Now let's dance" Yasmeen held the shy bride's left hand while Ameela held the right one.

They went to the dance floor with the groom's family and danced. Soon, the bride's family joined.

Money was sprayed like it doesn't worth a dime as everybody dance till their feet hurt. Rukayya couldn't help but feel emotional. She felt so happy. She felt loved. She felt like she was so precious and special to them... That she didn't know when the happy tears started to stream down.

Ya sakina clasped her to her bosom and muttered soothing words. 

"Haba diyata, so kike ki bata kwalliyar ne?" Aunty saudat placed a hand on her shoulder and lifted her face so she could look at her.

Ruqayyah slowly shook her head.

"Yauwa.." Aunty saudat used her fingers and wiped the tears away, being extra careful not to ruin the makeup.

After hours of eating, dancing and snapping billion of pictures, the women from both groom and bride's sides left, leaving only the grownups. Mostly the girls from the groom's side, bride's cousins and friends.

They all started to dance, even the ones that didn't dance before because of the elders did. They all danced their hearts out.

It was such a memorable day!

Na rasa taya xan nuna farin cikin ra'ayi na, komi zance ai kunji shi kurin angona, Allah ya qara zumunci 'yan baya Ilahu ya nuna, Allah yasa kowa ya koma gida lumi da lumana, Godiya dangina, dangin angona, da dukan angona, da dukan angona💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾🎤🎶🎶

Who watched 'BAN GANTA BA' hausa film?😂

Sha i hope you guys are all good.

You guys can ask me anything, my complexion, where i reside, about my family members! And Anything. 😁😁

Don't forget to;
VOTE
COMMENT
SHARE
FOLLOW

Sai mun hade a dinner!💃🏾

Lots of love!💕💕

Ruru!❤️