‘Uhrobo culture to the world’: Maro Itoje Celebrates Nigerian Wedding with Model Wife Mimi in London
England and British and Irish Lions rugby captain Maro Itoje has shared joyful moments from his traditional Nigerian wedding celebration with wife Mimi, held in London following his return from the Lions’ victorious tour of Australia.
Although the couple officially tied the knot in May, they postponed the full celebration until after Itoje led the Lions to a 2-1 series win over the Wallabies, where he was one of the standout performers.
The wedding party took place on Friday at the Devere Grand Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden, with friends, family, and teammates from Saracens, England, and the Lions in attendance—many dressed in vibrant traditional Nigerian attire.
In an Instagram post, Itoje wrote: ‘Uhrobo culture to the world… In case you haven’t realised we had our traditional Nigerian wedding last weekend… A time was had.’
Born and raised in London to Nigerian parents Efe and Florence, Itoje has long embraced his heritage. He once described walking into his family home as being ‘transported to Lagos.’
His father ran an African food store in Cricklewood and placed a strong emphasis on education—so much so that when Itoje jokingly emailed him on April Fools’ Day saying he was skipping university to focus on rugby, he didn’t speak to him for three days.
Beyond rugby, Itoje is a multifaceted figure. He holds a BA in Politics from SOAS, University of London, and an MBA from Warwick Business School. In 2023, he launched an African art gallery to spotlight underrepresented artists, underscoring his commitment to culture and community.
