The Reign of the Over sabi Aunties: Yoruba Weddings’ Unofficial Commander-in-Chief

From Shouting at Bouncers to Guarding the Jollof Rice…The Unsung Heroine of Yoruba Weddings

Dear Besties,

Let me just say this now before I go too far…if you’re Yoruba, or you’ve ever attended a Yoruba wedding, you already know this character I’m about to gist you about. She’s not the bride, not the mother of the bride, and definitely not the wedding planner…but somehow, she’s in charge of everything.

Let me introduce you to the Oversabi Aunty.

This past weekend, at my cousin’s wedding, she showed up in full glory….We call her BIG MUMMY.

You can’t miss her. She’s the one with a gele that’s pushed so far forward it’s practically shielding her from sin. Her lace was loud, her slippers were flat (because heels are for people who came to pose, not for those who came to work), and she had a crossbody bag that carried things no one asked about…extra pins, Paracetamol, anything…Just name it.

From the moment we got to the venue, she activated. She didn’t sit for one second. One minute she was shouting at the bouncers to “open the gate jor, that’s the bride’s uncle!” The next minute she was in the back chasing one caterer who dared to serve small meat to our OLORI EBI

The bride’s mum? Sitting pretty.

The bride? Glowing and unbothered.

Why? Because Oversabi Aunty had taken over everything.

You see, Aunties like this do not apply for the job, they become the job. They will make sure your cousin from Ibadan gets food. They will personally serve the pastor his plate of the jollof rice. They will know who and who has eaten. They will know the DJ’s name, the MC’s real name, and probably even the caterer’s blood group.

But besties, don’t be deceived…if you bring your friends and try to ask for food for them, “Ounje ti tan” will slap you in the face. You’ll now see the food coming out in cooler again and you’ll be wondering, but I thought food had finished?

You see, our Oversabi Aunty doesn’t joke with hierarchy. Her job is not to feed the multitudes…it’s to protect the family name, and make sure the real family eats first. Your plus-ones and uninvited amebo friends can drink table water and be grateful.

And God forbid you argue with her. “Am I not old enough to be your mother?”…she’ll remind you real quick. Even if she’s just two years older. She speaks with confidence, walks like she owns the wedding venue, and no matter what goes wrong, she’ll be shouting “Everything is under control!”

She is the control.

At the end of the day, she’ll sit down finally, remove her flat slippers and fan herself with the program brochure. And when you tell her thank you, she’ll wave her hand and say, “Na family now. Who else will do it if not me?”

But deep down, you know…no one else can do it like her.

So here’s to all the Oversabi Aunties out there…the real MVPs of Yoruba weddings. Your gele might be too forward, your voice might be loud, and your wahala might be premium, but without you? The wedding go scatter.

Your Bestie & Family Wedding Observer,

Cici Tiwa

P.S. If you’ve ever met an Oversabi Aunty at a wedding, just know you’ve met royalty. And if you’ve never seen one before? Don’t worry, she’ll find you soon, Maybe on your own wedding