And trust me, there was always one event or ceremony or the other but you know, every villa to itself!
We did get 'dates' and 'cakes' from some of our Arab neighbours during the Ramadan though, exchanged pleasantries, were quite cool with one another but nothing more.
So on this fateful evening, I got an invite by... let's just call her Miriam.
Miriam lives 2 streets away from me and I had never met her until a few days ago.
How I even got invited was hilarious, you can read that HERE if you missed the post.
Ok, so after my church Christmas Carol Service around 8pm on Friday, the 21st of December (which was amazing), I dashed off to my hood for Miriam's engagement party.
I got there around 9pm and the venue looked like heaven ( I have never been to heaven, but I can only imagine what it looks like)! LOL.
The venue was filled a few children and Arab ladies only! Even the DJ and helps were all women.
They were donned in beautiful, shimmery evening gowns and they all looked glamorous, very different from what they looked like in their Abayas and Hijabs!
They were slim too, and young.
In their Abayas, all you can see are their made-up faces but at this event, I saw them in all their elements: Jewelries, hair and all that Jazz!
These ladies welcomed me and I immediately felt at home even though I was the only coloured person there!
They were the bride's sisters, aunts, mom, in-laws, friends et al.
On display were the gifts given to the bride by her future husband and they included money, fabrics, expensive jewelries, perfumes (Ouds and Scents), a Rolex wrist watch and of course the stipulated bride price or dowry of AED20,000/$5,479.
The bride's aunt told me that bride price is a law in the UAE and all intending grooms MUST pay this figure, although they could pay more if they wish, but the extra on the AED20,000 is considered as gift which can go into the wedding preparations, or on any other thing the bride chooses.
At 9.20pm, Miriam who had been indoors came out, looking so beautiful in her white or cream gown and a veil.
She sat down on the seat reserved for she and her groom and was joined by friends and relatives who took photographs with her in batches.
I also went to take pics with her but I didn't use my own phones or camera to take pics of her, the groom and their guests because I wanted to respect their privacy.
While we were all dancing to Arabic music supplied by a female DJ, my hosts' relatives asked where I was from and when I told them Nigeria, they placed a song with the DJ and told me I must really dance to the next tune as it was an African beat!
I was thinking they'd play any of Wizkid or Davido's songs, but alas, it was ''Djanjo Django kwana take it easy kuna mata ta' that I heard.
You remember The Lion King lyrics - "Hakuna Matata"?
🤣😂🤣😂
WHAT A WAWU!
Anyhow, around 10 pm ish, I just saw the beautiful ladies covering their heads with the Hijabs and some wearing Abayas on top of their dresses again and I was wondering what was going on.
Miriam's aunt now told me Miriam's dad and groom had arrived.
They also took time to snap pics with Miriam.
Miriam and her husband-to-be looked adorable.
The couple later went indoors for more photo sessions.
Around 11pm, dinner was served, on a buffet level and it was really nice!
Of course, there was no alcohol, but there were juices, Mocktails, sodas, coffees, etc.
There were also a lot of finger fruits, sweets and desserts.
Miriam's aunt later told me that in Arab weddings and engagement parties, even if other men come, they DON'T sit with the ladies, they have their own separate sitting arena!
I met Miriam's mother, pretty and very young-looking.
BTW Mariam and her groom are related, just like the Hausas roll too!
In the Northern part of Nigeria, Hausas and Fulanis can also marry one another even if they are related. (I know this because I did my NYSC in Sokoto and I was told by the locals).
They even made that sound, you know that sound Hausa women make when they cover their mouth with their hands and remove them at intervals, you know that sound, like 'hoo hoo hoo hoo'?
Ehen.
They also made it at Miriam's engagement party.
Arabs and Hausas apart from the Islamic religion have a few similar traits.
Anyways, I was truly welcomed, my hosts were amazing and I had a very memorable experience at my first ever Arab gig.
Hopefully I get invited to many more.
Huge thank you to Miriam and her family for the invite and from Toyeen B's World, we wish the couple a very happy married life!
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