It’s now over a week since the much-talked-about wedding, but it has continued to dominate discussions even far beyond the north. It is the wedding of Nafisat Mangal, daughter of billionaire businessman, Alhaji Dahiru Bara’u Mangal. Penultimate weekend, the Katsina-born billionaire left no stone unturned as he gave his daughter Nafisa’s hand in marriage to Muhammad Bashir Mangal —her lover who also happens to be her uncle. Many people have expressed surprise at seeing an uncle taking his niece as a wife is what has, but we learnt that according to northern customs and particularly in Islam, it is allowed.
Alhaji Dairu Mangal, the Chairman of Max Airline (the bride’s dad) was a perfect host to hundreds of northern oligarchs who were his guests at the event. Nafisat and Bashir’s wedding began on Friday 26 April with the traditional Kamu day.
It was a really fun event with the negotiation between the families taking about 30 minutes, which was then followed by a fun reception. Later that evening, the bride changed into a white bridal wedding gown to host close friends and family to an intimate dinner.
Saturday 27 April was the main wedding day. The city of Katsina brimmed as the crème of the northern political and business circles stormed the Paramount Event Centre in the heart of Katsina for the elaborate wedding party. Guests were thrilled by two popular northern musicians —Hamisu Breaker and Aminu Mai Dawayya. They were supported by the Katsina State Cultural Troupe to entertain the newlyweds and their guests.
The wedding had attracted a lot of reactions particularly from those who a not accustomed to northern and Islamic traditions.