By all means, it was a day to remember: a wedding of two people one
deaf the other with speech impairment, a pleasant scenario of the
visually impaired supplying melodious music, and both the blind, hearing
and the non-hearing all dancing joyously despite their limitations!
Taiwo Abiodun, who attended the wedding at the Owo Town
Hall Registry (aka Oke Mapo), Ondo State reports it below:
The wedding between Kunle Oluwadare and Omolola Onipede took place on
December 20, 2014, over a year after they began courtship. It was thus a
moment to cherish and celebrate for the two families, who came together
in approval of their children’s union .
The groom and his parents and
family came all the way from Akure, to Owo to seek Omolola’s hand in
marriage. The Introduction/Engagement ceremonies, which is a fundamental
part of a formal Yoruba marriage rites was also performed, with the
groom presenting the bride’s family with the usual requirements.
The
groom’s friends also performed the traditional prostration to the
‘almighty’ in-laws, while the veiled bride was brought out and
ceremonially unveiled by the groom.
As a Christian, the bride expectedly picked the Holy Bible when asked
to pick one item of her choice that she’ll cherish amongst all the
items brought by her suitor. Again a loud ovation followed.
As is the custom with every dignified Yoruba family, the bride price
and other monetary gifts brought by the groom for the bride’s family
were returned, with the family insisting that their daughter was not on
sale.
Their meeting
Through a sign interpreter, Mrs. Helen Famuwagun who doubles as their
teacher in the church, the visibly elated bride said she lives in Owo
and has been looking for a nice and responsible man, which she has now
found n her heartthrob, Kunle.
“We met in 2013 and courted for over one year. I know his parents and
they too know me and my parents very well,” Omolola announced.”
Asked if the suitors took some time coming, she replied that “many
suitors were coming, but I decided to choose Kunle, for his
understanding and caring nature. Kunle is a man after my heart,” she
gesticulated to her interpreter, who in turn explained to the reporters.
The couple who both attend GOFAMINT Church said they are happy to
have scaled all hurdles to eventually solemnise their relationship.
Through their interpreter, Kunle said he does not want any woman in his
life, except his brand new wife, Omolola.
The Bridegroom
Kunle disclosed that he met his heartthrob at a friend’s place on May 10, 2013 and immediately took interest in her.
His words, “I liked her immediately I saw her.”
Asked if he would someday take another wife, he shook his head,
gesticulating to the interpreter that he would never consider taking a
second or third wife.
He however declared that he would like to have many children, depending on God’s wish.
Their Teacher
My name is Helen Famuwagun (Mrs.), I am one of their teachers in
GOFANMINT, what I’ve noticed is that most of them don’t marry normal
persons but their likes. This is because they understand each other and
are able to interact through sign language. In the church, we teach them
that they should not ‘see’ each other before getting married. And this
they obeyed because we monitor them very well. We also tell them that
their bed must not be defiled, imparting in them the way of God. As a
preacher and pastor, I preach to them that it is a sin to make love out
of wedlock. Of course we relate with them through sign language, because
of their nature and they are well receptive.
Famuwagun also revealed that by nature, people with such disabilities
are special people and are very jealous. This she said is why they
often married their likes, with whom they share good understanding, and
compatibility. She said that such understanding is critical, because
they could be very fatal when they get angry.
She also disclosed that this was not the first time such marriage will be taking place.
Boundless joy
The visually impaired sang danced and were all happy. One of them
Temitope Ariyo, who is the leader of the School Band, said “we are happy
to play for our colleague. Although we cannot see them, they see us.
Today is another happy day for the couple “.
Olorunfemi Seun, and Tosin Oladapo, two back-up singers who are also visually impaired also expressed their joy on the occasion.
Bride’s parents
Chief Anthony Adeyeye Onipede and his wife,Taiye are Omolola parents.
According to them, their daughter was not born deaf and dumb, but
suddenly observed that she could not talk or hear when she was a
toddler. “Omolola was born as a twin, but her twin sister died at
infancy. She was still crawling when we discovered that she could not
talk or hear,” the parents chorused.
Onipede said “I am her father. I did not immediately know that she
could not talk or hear. I was in Onitsha then as a soldier .It was my
late father who first noticed the problem. We went to places; hospitals
and even churches, thinking it was a spiritual attack, but no progress.”
Continuing, Onipede said “I made efforts to take her to school. She
went to deaf and dumb school in Akure; she also went to Technical
College, Owo, where she learnt Painting and decorating”
Asked whether her daughter was forced to marry a challenged person
like herself, Mrs. Onipede said “No, it was Omolola who said she would
marry Kunle. They both went to the same school, and I think they would
understand each other better. I am happy for their coming together and I
am told their children will be normal when they begin to have
children.”
Groom’s parents
The parents of the Bridegroom exhibited great joy throughout the
occasion. When interviewed, Kunle’s father, Rufus Oluwadare, who is a
Shepherd at Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Akure said “my son was not
born like this. I am the happiest man today for my son to be getting
married. I have done two weddings for my two children this year but this
is the most interesting and most unforgettable among them all. Yes,
they have challenges but see how God has compensated them with this
crown? What I know is that if a bad person blocks their way God has a
way of compensating them.”
Expressing her joy, the groom’s mother said “He is very selective and
does not seem to want anybody except this lady. They have introduced
some divorcees and single mothers to him, but he always rejected them.”
She added that her son was not born with speech challenges. She
however blamed her enemies who inflicted the condition on him, when he
was a baby. She said “I believe it is the handiwork of evil doers. But
what do we do? We still thank God for everything.”
Chief Fehintola Famulagun who witnessed the occasion said she was
happy that the marriage took place. In her words, “we have been
preparing for this big wedding, and I prayed to live to see my niece’s
daughter on this glorious day. Omolola is kind to a fault and this is a
lesson to us all, that disability is not an excuse for anybody .The
couple is extremely happy .There are lots of able-bodied people, who
cannot achieve this type of wedding.”
Chief Olubola Olusola Ogunleye who came to represent the Olowo of
Owo, Oba David Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi III said “I am here to
represent the Olowo of Owo, at this occasion. I am happy for this
wedding which has taken place despite the couple’s challenges. Let us
therefore give kudos to them. I also thank the parents for not choosing
partners for them”.
Mrs. Kehinde Fabolide , who is twin sister to the bride’s mother also
expressed her happiness. She said “We should thank God for everything.
You can see my sisters who all came from America, Lagos and Akure to
witness this greet occasion. God is good.”
