John & Christiana Orume 50th Jubilee

Sunday March 21, 2010 Orume Golden Jubilee
Today we celebrated the 50th Wedding Anniversary of John A. T. and Christiana I Orume. They were married on March 16th, 1960. John had a long career in government before retiring in 1993 as the Permanent Secretary for Taraba State. When John was 14 he wanted to attend middle school. He found out that they only accept children that are 12 or younger. So he registered for middle school as a 12 year old. Since then the official records John indicate that he was born in 1936. He was also active in all the churches he was part of. From his early Christian education, he continued in the church where his government postings took him. When posted in Yola he and Christiana became members the church now known as LCCN Cathedral Jimeta. He was on the building committee chair and treasurer for the construction of the Cathedral in 1988. His hobbies are listed in the program as sports, gardening and animal rearing. Based on what we saw at his celebration dancing should also be included.

Christiana was born of Mr. and Mrs. Basuku Ate. Her father was of Bama Jukum ruling house of Wukari. Chrsitiana attended Ebenezer Primary church school from 1954 to 1959. After marriage in 1960 she attended Administrative Officer’s Wives Course in 1962. She also has remained active in the church. At 19 she was the secretary of the HEKAB Women Fellowship and is currently, the president of the Lardi Women Fellowship. She has raised the families 9 children (7 daughters and 2 sons) and celebrated the births of 29 grandchildren.

The festivities of the day started at the English service at the Cathedral which were presided over by Bishop Edward Ishaya, Bishop of the Yola Diocese. We celebrated with a Thanksgiving Offering. John and Christiana came to the pulpit and John told a few stories of their lives and how they had stayed together for 50 years. Then as the offering started they danced down the aisle from the back of the church with their children and grandchildren. They then shook hands as people filed down the aisles to lace their tithes and offerings into the containers at the front of the church.

Later in the afternoon, they held a reception at their house in Jimeta. Dr. Bille was the Chairman and Bishop Edward Ishaya’s wife was the Chairwoman. Retired Archbishop David Windibiziri was a guest speaker as well as Bishop Edward Ishaya. After introducing the head table, visiting dignitaries and honored guests, John and Christiana were introduced and danced their way into reception area in their courtyard shaded by mango trees. After various speeches from friends and officials they cut an anniversary cake (with fireworks) and drink a toast from the same cup. Later we were entertained by a local traditional drum and singing group. As they were singing John and Christiana got up and danced. This become the naira dance as people came up the threw money at them and tried to get it to stick to their foreheads. Usually, in this environment that is not hard. But because of the Harmantan Winds with dust from the Sahara has blocked the sun for three days the temperature was cool.