It Was A Folkloric Wedding For Nana Adjoa Asante & Nii Adjei Khartey
The Director of the National Folklore Board, Nana Adjoa Adobea Asante over the weekend, tied the knot with her childhood sweetheart, Andrew Nii Adjei Khartey, who like Nana Adjoa, happens to be a lawyer by profession.
The marriage ceremony which actually started on the 3rd of October with the traditional marriage, and climaxed on the 5th of October with the sacramental marriage, recorded a host of dignitaries including H.E Shi Ting Wang, China’s Ambassador to Ghana, H.E Mr. Edward Boateng, Ghana’s Ambassador to China, Hon. Joseph Osei-Wusu, 1st Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Francis Asenso- Boakye, Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Dr. Ziblim Iddi, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Nana Boakye, NPP Youth Organizer, Josephine Nkrumah, Chairperson of the NCCE, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee and other distinguished guests.
The creative arts industry with whom Nana Adjoa has fraternized over the past year and half, was also well-represented with Agya Koo Nimo, Trigmatic, Obour, Professor Esi Sutherland-Addy, Nana Asaase and Bob Smith Jnr a.k.a Diabolo man in attendance.
The cultural exposition that the wedding of Andrew and Nana Adjoa brought out was splashed all over Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms. It was dubbed, the #thefolkloricwedding! Displaying rich Ghanaian culture, the Director of the National Folklore Board, and her groom and families, made an impressive statement on the need to infuse rich Ghanaian culture into all celebrations.
The traditional marriage on 3rd October was a very colorful ceremony which showcased our rich kente in various patterns and colors. The National Folklore Board Director, whose institution is responsible for the promotion of folklore including kente and our adinkra symbols indeed used her marriage ceremony to promote these elements of our folklore.
The traditional marriage was blessed with the rains and this compelled the guests to pull out the umbrellas embossed with the “Ɔdɔ Nyera Fie Kwan” logo, shared as souvenirs by the couple. The bride’s rhythmic adowa movements coupled with her beautiful dansikran attire was a sight to behold.
On Saturday, October 5, 2019, Nana Adjoa Adobea Asante walked the aisle of the St. Bakhita Catholic Church amidst the fine tune of the Seprewa played by Aaron Bebe and a melodious solo rendered by Eddie Gaisie. This was the Seprewa bridal entrance, a shift from the usual bridal march songs played at weddings. Her elegantly-made bespoke Kente gown brought out the splendour in the Ghanaian bride. Their flower girls heralded her walk down the aisle with the colourful throwing of flowers from golden calabashes instead of the usual modernized flower girl baskets.
The ring bearer, had in his box a cute Adinkra symbol ring box which had and read the symbol ”Ɔdɔ Nyera Fie Kwan”.
The dinner which was held at the Unique Floral Events grounds at La, gave everyone a ‘cultural shock’ as the anticipated champagne popping and toast was replaced with the traditional gourds containing rich Ghanaian palm wine tapped from the finest palm trees. Amidst a wonderful display of poetry from Nana Asaase, the gourds went round as guests filled their calabashes with palm wine and the toast was rendered. This was a drastic shift from the norm. One that went with applause amidst awe and admiration for the courage gathered to showcase such beautiful tradition at a once in a lifetime event like a wedding. It was perfect!
The tables were marked with various Adinkra table markers that sought to tell the journey so far of both Andrew and Nana Adjoa and also the journey that awaits them.
The #folkloricwedding of Andrew and Nana Adjoa, planned and coordinated by Mira Wellington of Inievents Ghana (https://instagram.com/inieventsghana?igshid=vharzwukmvwv) brings us to the realization that our culture is beautiful and that indeed culture and tradition can be incorporated into what we’ve come to know as the ‘white wedding’.
The nostalgic feeling that the strings of the seprewa tuned out brought to the eyes of many, tears of joy and respect for our culture and tradition.
This was truly a love brewed in the proverbial African pot. One that has been ordained and blessed by Odomankoma Nyame himself. One that the Ts3 Ofe himself has breathed good life and fortunes on.
This wedding will go down in history as #thefolkloricwedding in modern Ghanaian history and even beyond.
Andrew and Nana Adjoa, y3 mamu aware so!
