Thank you to all who have left comments; I appreciate it. No, I do not have an online shop (yet) but hope to in the near future.

As to my photos I have to confess that they were taken by my daughter who is very good at it. But now I was lent a camera together with instruction manual and told to try "my own stuff"!

And now to the next part of engagement / wedding customs from my part of the world.

The next part of the proceedings will differ from area to area. I will tell you now how typical Yoruba people go about it all. 

First the grooms family will choose an alaga, who is a professional go-between for the family. Such a lady must be fluent in more than one language, she must possess humor, must have dignity, but above all she must know how to speak well and interestingly. She will gather all necessary information about the groom and his family in order to present their case to the bride's family. After such a person has been chosen, the family will then propose to visit the girl's family for a first informal meeting, after they (the girl's parents) have decided on date and time. This initial visit usually involves only the senior female members of the groom's family and the mother of the girl, sometimes supported by other females from her own family.

On this first visit a few gifts are brought like a basket of fruit or fruit juices or assorted biscuits or a mix of all of them. They will be made welcome, some refreshments will be offered and then they will be asked the purpose of their mission. Now the alaga will introduce the visitors by name and who they are in relation to the groom. Then their case will be stated which sometimes can be very amusing, because the alaga will tell of how boy met girl, how he cannot live without her anymore, how lean he has become pining for her. Extolling the beauty and virtues of the girl, proclaiming that it can only be her and no one else for their son! In short they have come to ask for the girl's hand in amrriage.

Since no father or other male is around, the mother of the girl or next senior female relation will  assure them that the proposal will receive consideration in due time.  That was step two.

Step three by tomorrow!