For 70 years, Elder Dikam Garba Dabo’ok
and MrsKa’a Nafung had lived together as husband and wife. But the
couple, now 107 and 95 years respectively, have found a new sparkle to
rekindle their marital love in the church.
and MrsKa’a Nafung had lived together as husband and wife. But the
couple, now 107 and 95 years respectively, have found a new sparkle to
rekindle their marital love in the church.
The church ceremony in Plateau State,
has remained the talk of the town in the social diary of the state and
may remain so for a long time. This is particularly so because the
celebrants are the first couple in the history of the state to be
administered marital vow at such unusual ages.
has remained the talk of the town in the social diary of the state and
may remain so for a long time. This is particularly so because the
celebrants are the first couple in the history of the state to be
administered marital vow at such unusual ages.
At 95, the bride is well past her
menopause. Her surviving first child is 65 years old. The groom,
popularly known to many in his neighbourhood as Baba Dikam, is 107 years
old and may no longer be sexually active. But all that is not enough to
discourage the couple from walking down the aisle arm-in-arm for a new
marital oath.
menopause. Her surviving first child is 65 years old. The groom,
popularly known to many in his neighbourhood as Baba Dikam, is 107 years
old and may no longer be sexually active. But all that is not enough to
discourage the couple from walking down the aisle arm-in-arm for a new
marital oath.
The ceremony, which was held at the
Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Chizu village in Bwai, Mangu Local
Government Area of the state, was a delight to watch as it was packaged
in the manner that young grooms and brides would walk down the aisle.
The groom was dressed in black suite and a red neck tie to match, while
the bride stepped out dressed in a pure white wedding gown with a neatly
made hair to match. They drove to the church in separate vehicles, as
if they never met before. The groom was accompanied by cutely dressed
men and the bride by a long bridal train.
Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Chizu village in Bwai, Mangu Local
Government Area of the state, was a delight to watch as it was packaged
in the manner that young grooms and brides would walk down the aisle.
The groom was dressed in black suite and a red neck tie to match, while
the bride stepped out dressed in a pure white wedding gown with a neatly
made hair to match. They drove to the church in separate vehicles, as
if they never met before. The groom was accompanied by cutely dressed
men and the bride by a long bridal train.
They had a procession and matched into
the church separately as if they never met before. They only came
together after they were wedded by the officiating pastor. The
officiating pastor of the church, Rev. Tongwe Sale, congratulated the
couple and admonished them as if they were young couples. He said:
“Marriage is ordained by God and it should be kept sacred.” He charged
them to keep faith in God since they are still alive, noting that
although they are old, they can still be important in the lives of their
children and grand children.”
the church separately as if they never met before. They only came
together after they were wedded by the officiating pastor. The
officiating pastor of the church, Rev. Tongwe Sale, congratulated the
couple and admonished them as if they were young couples. He said:
“Marriage is ordained by God and it should be kept sacred.” He charged
them to keep faith in God since they are still alive, noting that
although they are old, they can still be important in the lives of their
children and grand children.”
They happily took the oath that they
would love themselves until death do them apart. They also vowed not to
allow a third party in their marital life. They signed the marriage
certificate after the service and marched out of the church dancing to
the admiration of their guests.
would love themselves until death do them apart. They also vowed not to
allow a third party in their marital life. They signed the marriage
certificate after the service and marched out of the church dancing to
the admiration of their guests.
When they got outside the church
auditorium, the newly wedded couple posed for photograph in various
styles and angles. After the photograph session, they moved in a car and
zoomed off to the reception ground accompanied by their guests,
children, friends and family members.
auditorium, the newly wedded couple posed for photograph in various
styles and angles. After the photograph session, they moved in a car and
zoomed off to the reception ground accompanied by their guests,
children, friends and family members.
When it was time to cut the wedding
cake, the couple walked hand in hand to where the colourful cake was
placed. The groom continuously gazed at his wedding ring in a manner
that suggests that the occasion was a dream come true for him. Like
marksmen, they held the knife firmly and on completion of the spelling
of Jesus, they cut the cake and feebly smiled at the guests. They
trilled their guests with the ceremonial culture of couple feeding one
another with the cake and non-alcoholic wine. After feeding themselves,
the newly wedded couple danced to the music blasting from the loud
speakers in “old school” style to the admiration of their guests.
cake, the couple walked hand in hand to where the colourful cake was
placed. The groom continuously gazed at his wedding ring in a manner
that suggests that the occasion was a dream come true for him. Like
marksmen, they held the knife firmly and on completion of the spelling
of Jesus, they cut the cake and feebly smiled at the guests. They
trilled their guests with the ceremonial culture of couple feeding one
another with the cake and non-alcoholic wine. After feeding themselves,
the newly wedded couple danced to the music blasting from the loud
speakers in “old school” style to the admiration of their guests.
It was celebration galore at the
reception for the family and friends of the couple. The couples told
their excited guests at the reception their true life stories. They said
it was the grace of God that allowed them to solemnise their marriage
in the church.
reception for the family and friends of the couple. The couples told
their excited guests at the reception their true life stories. They said
it was the grace of God that allowed them to solemnise their marriage
in the church.
The groom narrated his life story thus:
“I had seven wives and 32 children during my younger days, but I did so
because I did not know Christ. But that made me great among my
contemporaries as only those who were wealthy could do that. But in
spite of that, God remained faithful and merciful for me. I have a lot
of testimonies to show that God was so faithful to me. I am now in a
better position to advise my children and my well wishers to live the
life of Christ. I don’t want any of my children to emulate my past life
style, because you may fall out of the grace and mercies of God. But I’m
so pleased because my children are committed to Christ; they lived the
life of Christ, they were the ones that insisted I must come to Christ
and take their mother to the altar.
“I had seven wives and 32 children during my younger days, but I did so
because I did not know Christ. But that made me great among my
contemporaries as only those who were wealthy could do that. But in
spite of that, God remained faithful and merciful for me. I have a lot
of testimonies to show that God was so faithful to me. I am now in a
better position to advise my children and my well wishers to live the
life of Christ. I don’t want any of my children to emulate my past life
style, because you may fall out of the grace and mercies of God. But I’m
so pleased because my children are committed to Christ; they lived the
life of Christ, they were the ones that insisted I must come to Christ
and take their mother to the altar.
“Before now we lived our lives outside
Christ, but from today, we are now confirmed children of Christ. It
would have been worse for us if we had died without Christ. But God has
protected our lives up till this moment to come to Him.”
Christ, but from today, we are now confirmed children of Christ. It
would have been worse for us if we had died without Christ. But God has
protected our lives up till this moment to come to Him.”
One of the children of the couple, Barr.
Zephaniah Garba was full of appreciation and praises to God when he
spoke with our reporter. He said: “I am full of joy today because my
father has come to profess Christ at his old age. I have been looking
forward to this day and I thank God they were able to make it. I want to
encourage those who did not conduct their marriage in Christian way to
try and do so; it is never late. My father’s own should be an example to
others, you can still do it”.
Zephaniah Garba was full of appreciation and praises to God when he
spoke with our reporter. He said: “I am full of joy today because my
father has come to profess Christ at his old age. I have been looking
forward to this day and I thank God they were able to make it. I want to
encourage those who did not conduct their marriage in Christian way to
try and do so; it is never late. My father’s own should be an example to
others, you can still do it”.
There were goodwill messages from the
Chairmen of PCC Kabwir, Rev. David Musa, and Langtang North LG Chairman
elect, Hon. Daniel Dandul, while various dance groups added colour to
the event as the couples cut their wedding cake.
Chairmen of PCC Kabwir, Rev. David Musa, and Langtang North LG Chairman
elect, Hon. Daniel Dandul, while various dance groups added colour to
the event as the couples cut their wedding cake.
culled from The Nation newspaper