THE ENGAGEMENT
This traditional ceremony held at the extension hall of the Art Event Centre, in Lekki, Lagos. Friends and families as well as business colleagues and well wishers of the bride and the groom had filled the hall as early as 10am. With everybody looking regal and resplendent on that Saturday, November 23, 2013.
THE FAULTY AIR CONDITIONER
About eight air-conditioners were stationed inside the hall. But none of them was in good condition. As a result, there was so much heat when the hall became over crowded, thus forcing the guests to make use of their hand fans. Some even had no option than to step outside to enjoy some fresh air before coming back.
THE BRIDE’S FAMILY
The bride’s family wore gold and fushia pink attires. They came in their hundreds to witness their daughter, Tiwatope’s marriage and happy day.
GROOM’S FAMILY
Swathed in white attires, mostly agbadas and kaftans, with fushia pink caps to match, they sat on the left side of the hall. The couple’s stand was in the middle and the other family’s on the right.
WHAT THE GROOM WORE
A white agbada, brown beads, with a pair of black shoes to match. Banky W, one of his friends, was seen fanning him with his cap when the heat became unbearable.
DAREY ART ALADE WAS LATE
He was supposed to be among the groom’s men, but he arrived in a black kaftan instead of a white one. Not only that, he also came late and had to hide among the guests at the back of the hall, standing for more than 45 minutes before he later joined the other groom’s men.
DON JAZZY LED THE WAY
Mavins Records CEO, Michael Collins Ajere, aka Don Jazzy, led the groom’s men that also had Dr. Sid, Banky W, Dare Art Alade and others. They wore white kaftans. Some added agbada to theirs. Except Dare who was in black kaftan.
WHEN THE BRIDE ARRIVED
She came in a black G-Wagon Mercedes Benz that had no registration number. This was at exactly 1.12pm, covered in a white veil. Tiwa opted for a customized gold lace, from Dubai. The bride’s entourage was led by Miss Nigeria organizer, Elohor Aisien, Essence and others. The groom chose a similar ride.
PAPARAZZI BANNED
Paparazzi, both media and commercial practitioners, were banned from taking pictures inside. Hefty security guards threatened to confiscate any camera that found its way into the venue. As a matter of fact, they even deleted some of the pictures that were taken with laptops and smart phones at the event.
THAT MARVINS’ ESCALADE
It was a black Escalade with Marvin 007 as its number plate. Members of the popular record label that also has Tiwatope as its first female act all came to support the new couple in it.
BANKY W CAN’T SPEAK HIS MOTHER TONGUE?
Bankole Wellington is a Yoruba boy. He was born in the United States, but it was to Yoruba parents. His family moved back to Lagos, Nigeria when he was five years old, from where he began singing in his church choir at the age of 8. He later went back to New York for his degree programme, and is now back home. So many people were therefore amazed when the Alaga Iduro, as they call them, asked him to come and give the vote of thanks on behalf of the groom’s friends and he could not speak Yoruba. The microphone was taken from him and given to Dare Art Alade who did so in fluent Yoruba.
THE LONG QUEUE
Before the end of the engagement ceremony, guests were already on queue at the entrance of the reception hall. The long queue was just for their invitation cards to be checked and cross checked by the security men at the entrance, before being allowed into the other section.
THE RECEPTION HALL
Fushia pink and white dominated the decoration inside the hall. White coral beads that illuminated the hall brightly were also conspicuously placed on the tables. The chairs were covered in white. The red rug and white light also added to the beauty.
THE USHERS
Young and pretty damsels in traditional pink Ankara, iro and buba, with high heel shoes, handled this. And they were indeed a sight to behold.
SEYI LAW, THE COMPERE
Popular comedian, Oluwaseyitan Aletile, aka Seyi Law, was the compere. The young man held guests spell bound with his hilarious jokes and nice renditions. Seyi is surely getting better.
KING SUNNY ADE
Unarguably the king of juju music in Nigeria, King Sunny Ade or KSA, as he is fondly called, thrilled the couple and their guests. He started from the stone age to the jet age. Singing praises of the couple, their friends and other notable guests at the event, the man was indeed in his elements.
DON JAZZY OPENED THE FLOOR
Marvins Records boss, Don Jazzy opened the dance floor with a generous spending. He was later joined by the other members of the label to show love to the couple.
SECOND CHANGE!
Mr. & Mrs. Tunji Balogun had a second change of attire during the event. Tunji changed to blue aso ofi, brown beads and white inner lace, with black shoes to match. Tiwatope changed to a golden yellow lace, before the commencement of the reception.
60 SECONDS KISS
That was the exact time Seyi Law ordered the young couple to kiss. He was actually counting the seconds and promised to start all over again if they broke the rhythm. Thank God they never did.
SKELEWU DANCE
Tiwa and Tunji Balogun requested for the song when it was time for the couple’s dance. They have so much mastered it to the extent that they commanded a standing ovation. Skelewu is a new dance step introduced by the rave of the moment, Davido.
FUNKE AKINDELE SHOWED LOVE
Popular actress, Funke Akindele, showed love at the reception. Full of smiles, she first hugged Tiwa and then whispered into her ears. The result of which elicited a laughter from the pretty bride, before going to sit down.
IS DENRELE OKAY?
That was the question on the faces of guests at the event. Denrele Edun made his way into the hall with a makeup and costume that looked like that of a female. The makeup really showed his female version rather than his male aspect, which we all know.
THE DOCUMENTARY
There was a 3-minute documentary on the Balogun and Savage families which was shown on the big screens inside the hall. The documentary also featured some of the couple’s friends who spoke glowingly about them and their journey into matrimony.
CELEBRITIES THAT ATTENDED
They are too numerous to mention. A-list celebrities, both in music, movies, politics, business and the media showed love to the couple. Among them were Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, MTN’s Kola Oyeyemi, Uti Nwachukwu, Sasha, Kelechi Amadi-Obi, Biola Aloba, Denrele Edun, Banky W, Dare Art-Alade, Dr. Sid, Don Jazzy, Karen Igho, Waje, Omawumi, Erelu Abiola Dosumu, Oba Saheed Elegushi, Aremo Segun Oniru, Eniola Badmus, Iyanya, Princess, Essence, Chigurl and so on…
WILL PRINCESS EVER CHANGE?
Even after she promised to change her dressing, popular female comedian, Princess, came to the event in her characteristic jeans trouser, a shirt, a jacket and a pair of converse. Can you beat that?
ELEGUSHI, ITA-GIWA, DOSUMU, ONIRU SPENT MONEY…
And KSA sang their praises. They reciprocated by spending more money to the admiration of guests. Dollars, Pounds, Naira rained freely for about 20 minutes on the King of World Beats for doing this.
THOSE THAT PERFORMED
Tiwa and her husband, Tunji Balogun spearheaded the performances. They mimed her hit track, Ife wa gbona. And it was lovely. Banky W performed Yes or No; Waje sang I Wish I Have A Heart and Iyanya, Omawumi, Chigurl also. It was after this that Don Jazzy and Tiwa sang their hit duet, Eminado.
WHO DID WHAT?
The event was planned by The Wedding Company. Cake by Tosan handled the cake. Mallas Food took care of food. Nikita Waffles was in charge of ice cream and the Dream Events monitored the bar.
WHERE IS WANDE COAL?
Wande Ojosipe, aka Wande Coal, was conspicuously missing, at the event. The ex-Marvins Records member who fell out with Don Jazzy due to an unresolved issue failed to honour his friend’s invitation. Wande, who has now established his own record label, Black Diamond Entertainment, had been a loyal member of Marvins Records until now.