YAWO RUFADAN IN KINNUPE
One of the beauties of the Nupe traditional folklore is the elaborate and colorful wedding ceremonies which have evolved over the years. The first ritual in a traditional Nupe wedding is the popular ritual birth referred to as YAWO RUFADAN. This is commonly done for the bride, hence the name of the process; Yawo Rufadan which means ‘Birthing of the Bride’. The groom, who is the ‘Eba Yawo’ in some parts of KinNupe have in the time past gone through this traditional process.
Most times, grooms that are asked to go through the ritual process are usually in groups during mass weddings especially in rural communities. The “Eba Yawo Rufadan” is done in the village square as compared to Yawo Rufadan that is done separately and in a closed door regardless of numbers of the brides. The Yawo Rufadan is heralded by the traditional “Wulele”, announcing that the young lady who has just been birthed is officially a bride. This signals the beginning of the marriage proceedings that usually last for days as other local rituals depending on the communities are brought to the fore. “Wulele” is performed by women in form of song while other well-wishers clap and chorus the wulele crooners.
The bride who has just been initiated into womanhood as announced by the traditional rufadan and wulele will be taken round either her household, district or the entire village to bid family, friends or relatives a final goodbye. The relatives will in turn rejoice with her and admonish her to be an obedient wife to her husband. It is traditional for the bride in ancient times in KinNupe to put up a facade in form of a cry after rufadan that indicates modesty and humility on the part of the bride who will be parting with her family and friends and sure embark on a new phase in life. She is crying because she will miss the usual parental care and scolding, the moonlight social gatherings at the village square in the nights and all other of her youthful indulgences while still a spinster albeit under her parent’s care.
Yawo rufadan and wulele is accompanied by another marriage song sang by women of all ages. This musical is referred to as “Epun”. “Epun” is a musical genre accompanied by striking the convex surface of an upturned hemispherical calabash laid on a cloth as part of the musical accompaniment to marriage songs. The calabash is struck either with the palms or with a pair of short, straight sticks and laid on a folded cloth, to prevent it rattling against the ground. Players raise the calabash from the cloth rhythmically during the performance to change the resonant frequency of the instrument and provide a timbre contrast. The Epun ensemble accompanies the bride to her new home and is always on ground within the village or outside to entertain spectators and well-wishers.
What a beautiful tradition that has survived the overbearing influence of western lifestyle and modernity. Yawo rufadan, Wulele and Epun nin have recently been revived by the young female adults across KinNupe. Wulele and “EGI YAWO” are now been performed during the now widespread Nupe Day or Mother’s Day incorporated into Nupe weddings as the case maybe in different parts of KinNupe.
