Marriage introductions are supposed to be sacred, serious, and a little bit dramatic. You expect elders with long faces, kola nuts on the table, and someone standing up to ask, “Do you truly love our daughter?”
But in my family? Forget it. My father has decided that culture must go hand in hand with comedy. And his latest invention left everyone at the meeting confused, laughing, and almost falling off their chairs.
Because, ladies and gentlemen, my father requested that our in-law-to-be insure his old, rusty wheelbarrow before marrying my sister.
Yes. A wheelbarrow. Not land. Not a car. Not even a goat. A wheelbarrow that squeaks louder than a broken trumpet.
The event was supposed to be smooth. My sister had finally brought the man she wanted to marry home. He looked sharp, smelling of imported perfume, with that kind of confidence that says, “I came to take your daughter respectfully.”
We all sat down. The kola nuts were placed. Palm wine stood proudly in a calabash, waiting for elders to pour libations. The family photographer was ready, and neighbors were already peeping through the fence.
Everything went as expected—until my father cleared his throat.
Now, if you know my father, you know when he clears his throat like that, something dramatic is about to happen. My heart started beating fast. My mother pinched me under the table as if to say, “Brace yourself.”
He stood up, adjusted his cap, looked directly at the young man, and said:
“Young man, before you take my daughter, there is one thing you must do for me. This family has one heritage, one treasure, one sacred item that must be protected. And that is my wheelbarrow.”
At first, we thought he was joking. The visitors laughed politely. My uncle tried to cover his face so he wouldn’t burst out laughing. But my father didn’t blink. He continued:
“Yes, that wheelbarrow has carried more cement than your car has carried passengers. It has suffered rain and sun. It has fed this family. If anything happens to it, who will compensate me? Before you marry my daughter, you must insure it!”
The hall went silent. Then—chaos.
The Groom’s Confused Reaction
The poor man looked around like he had entered the wrong house. Insurance? For a wheelbarrow? His face alone was a full Nollywood drama. He whispered to my sister, “Did I hear your father well? He wants me to insure… a wheelbarrow?”
My sister was half embarrassed, half angry, and half laughing—yes, that’s three halves, because that’s how confusing the situation was.
The groom’s father cleared his throat, ready to respond. But honestly, what do you say when another man demands insurance for something that looks like it belongs in a museum?
How the Guests Reacted
By this time, the visitors were shaking with laughter. One man said quietly, “Maybe the wheelbarrow has ancestral powers.” Another whispered, “This is the first time in my life I’m hearing about wheelbarrow insurance as bride price.”
Even the family photographer almost dropped his camera because his hands were shaking with laughter.
My uncle finally gave up and laughed so loudly that palm wine almost spilled on the table. He said, “Brother, please, let us not chase this man away with your wheelbarrow.”
Why My Father Did It
Later, when the meeting ended and we were all in the compound, I asked my father why he made such a strange request.
He said, “Listen, all these young men of today, they like showing off with cars and perfumes. I wanted to test his patience. If he can survive this wheelbarrow matter, then maybe he can survive marriage.”
Honestly, I think he just wanted to make history as the first man in our community to ever request wheelbarrow insurance during marriage rites.
What Happened Next
The groom-to-be eventually laughed it off. He promised to “consider the wheelbarrow insurance policy” after the wedding. Everyone relaxed, food was served, and the marriage talks continued.
But I can assure you—this story has already entered our family folklore. Anytime we gather, someone will say, “Ah, remember when Papa asked for wheelbarrow insurance?” and laughter will fill the room again.
Why This Story Matters
On the surface, it’s just a funny incident. But deep down, it shows how families add color to weddings. While some families ask for serious things—like money, drinks, or even land—others create memories that will last a lifetime.
Marriage traditions vary, and sometimes they can be hilarious. In this case, my father’s comic request turned what could have been a stiff, tense meeting into something everyone will remember forever.
Lessons From the Wheelbarrow Insurance Saga
1. Expect the unexpected in family meetings. You never know when your father will bring up wheelbarrow policies.
2. Laughter eases tension. Instead of everyone being nervous, the whole meeting ended with joy.
3. Marriage is not just about the couple. Families add their flavor, and sometimes it’s spicy, sometimes it’s ridiculous.
4. Memories matter. Years later, nobody will remember the exact amount of bride price paid, but everyone will remember the day insurance became part of our tradition.
Final Thoughts
In a world where weddings are often full of stress, arguments, and endless demands, my father’s wheelbarrow insurance request reminded us that comedy belongs at the table too.
If you’re preparing for marriage introductions, just be ready. Your in-laws might ask for goats, land, or even a certificate of love. But if you enter my family? You better prepare for the unexpected—because who knows what my father will ask for next? Maybe insurance for his old radio, or even his slippers.
But one thing is sure: when my sister finally marries, we’ll never forget that it all began with a wheelbarrow.