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African wedding ceremonies

African Wedding procession

Weddings are an important part of African society and culture. The rituals and practices greatly differ across the continent as the legal and religious constituents change. The history of these ceremonies date back to Ancient Egypt, and through the ages a huge diversification has occurred, through which a myriad of ceremonies have been enshrined in various African traditions. Now in Africa, marriage is generally perceived as a rite of passage rather than a ceremony.

Marriage holds a strong place in almost all African legal systems. A wedding can only be held between a man and woman in every state apart from South Africa (as well as all small British, Spanish and French territories).

There has been a general trend in the wealthier parts Africa towards a more Western style wedding where tuxedos and bridal gowns are worn instead of more traditional attire. Old rituals are forgotten at these events for Western ceremonies such as the cutting of the cake.

History

A hieroglyphic of Tutankhamen with his wife Ankhesenamun found in his tomb.

Weddings in Africa date back to the times of Ancient Egypt at around 3000 BC. Marriages at this point were usually arranged. As well as this, they served a more utilitarian than romantic purpose. Pharaohs and other male royalty were permitted to choose their bride. After Fatimid Caliphate invaded in the 7th Century, Islam became the dominant religion in North Africa, bringing with it more lavish wedding ceremonies as well as other ideals such as polygyny. In the 15th Century, the Maasai culture began to form and with this wedding ceremonies became more of an extension of Islamic values. Following Maasai tradition, many African cultures now demand that the husband give at least three sheep and two cows to the bride’s family. Since the 20th Century, more Western practices have begun to influence African wedding ceremonies, including the wearing of Western attire such as suits, trousers and dresses.

Types of Weddings

There are many different types of wedding ceremonies and traditions across Africa. In the more socioeconomically gifted areas, weddings have begun to take to a more Western style of festivities, but in more remote areas, tribal and traditional weddings still are commonplace. Old values such as arranged marriages and polygyny are enshrined in the traditions of less developed societies. These two different attitudes towards celebration reflect the current transitional nature of African culture.

Bemba

In Bemba weddings (usually found in Central Africa, especially Zambia), the bride is given a counselling session by other female members of the community beforehand. The ceremony, itself (as well as the nights leading up to it) is full of dancing and partying. According to the Bemba people, the process leading up to the wedding day requires the man to take an ‘Insalamu’ commitment to his tribe’s pastor.

Swahili

The Swahili people of East Africa separate the husband and bride. The wife is tattooed with Henna whist the husband partakes in a fighting dance called the ‘Kirumbizi’. The ceremonies often incorporate elements of Islamic weddings, as almost the entirety of the Swahili nation identifies as Muslim. However, these weddings do not usually take place at a Mosque.

Zulu

Zulu weddings are referred to as ‘Umabo’. In Zulu tradition, the man must bring the wife and her mother jewelry and clothing, whilst the wife must supply the man’s family with household groceries. The bride is also required to wear at least three different outfits throughout the ceremony, to convince the husband’s family of her beauty. Almost all Zulu weddings take place in a church, as the majority of the people identify as Christian. Weddings also include the members of each of the couple’s respective families competing in games, songs and dance.

Nuer

The Nuer people of South Sudan demand the groom has already impregnated the wife two times before the marriage is deemed to be official. The groom must also have paid 20-40 cows and/or rams to the bride’s family as cattle are sacred to the tribes. There are three feasts over three days in a Nuer wedding, the third of which is the most significant as it signifies the unionization of the two families.

Morocco

Moroccan weddings are a form of traditional Islamic wedding where Quranic verses are read, music is played, and jewelry is exchanged. Weddings in rural communities differ to those held in urban areas and cities. They are often more traditional weddings, where any conversation or interaction between people of opposing genders is strictly prohibited. No guest is allowed to eat from their table until the husband and wife have broken the bread at it.

Egypt

In Egypt, the bride and her friends have a Henna party in which impermanent tattoos are applied all over her body. The procession is an integral part of the Egyptian wedding, where the bride is led atop a camel to the house of the groom. All wedding guests are then taken to the wedding venue, where an Islamic priest oversees the signing of the marriage contract. After this point feasting ensues, where a range of Egyptian delicacies such as Dukka, Kushari and Mohiya. The evening finishes with entertainment (usually Whirling Dervishes), singing and dancing.

A Western style South African wedding.

South Africa

In many South African weddings,12 symbols of life are included for good luck. These symbols are: wheat to represent fertility, wine to represent blood, pepper to represent heat, salt to represent healing, water to represent purity, herbs to represent growth, spoons to represent health, a shield to represent honor, a spear to represent protection, honey to represent love, a broom to represent cleanliness and a Holy Book to represent the power of God. It is also tradition for the families of the bride and groom to start a fire at the newlyweds’ house to symbolize the unionization of the two families. After the festivities conclude, the husband and wife retire to the bedroom. The groom must carry her the entire way in case evil spirits are lying in wait.

Uganda

In Ugandan society, an elaborate and expensive wedding is an indicator of affluence and success. Even less socioeconomically privileged Ugandans will save for years to have an extravagant wedding. These feature enormous, lavish venues, high class food and drinks, musicians and expensive décor. The most decadent weddings also pay television channels to air the proceedings to the entire Ugandan public. The debt that a couple can have from the borrowing off banks used to cover wedding expenses can have direct financial ramifications on them for up to a decade.

Attire

Traditional wedding dress of Uganda

African weddings often see the groom and bride, as well as the guests in traditional attire. Yet an increasingly large proportion of newlyweds are wearing Western clothing in more developed nations such as South Africa, Nigeria, and Uganda as a status symbol of wealth and privilege. In a Zulu wedding, the bride wears a skin called ‘Isicwaya’ to cover her shoulders and breasts, as well an 'Inkeli' scarf wrapped around her head. In Cameroon, the bride dresses in an ‘Atoghu’, which is a black dress with bright floral patterns embroidered into it. In Somalia, the bride wears a white cotton dress called the 'Dirac'. The Swaziland region of Africa sees the men, and/or the women wear a dress called the ‘Emahiya’, which is worn in a toga-like fashion.

In North African countries such as Morocco or Egypt, it is important that all guests wear conservative clothing. This is because these countries are majority Muslim. It is very important that the bride wears a veil over her face, regardless of whether she is wearing a traditional of Western style of dress. The wealthiest men in Egypt now often prefer to wear dress suits and tuxedos in place of the thawb.

Costs

In the more remote, tribal parts of Africa, a wedding is not necessarily paid for in money. In tribes such as the Nuer or Bemba, livestock, food and jewelry are often used instead. The most common form of livestock is cattle, as cows have the most use and therefore are most valuable.

In Uganda, where Western weddings are the fashion among the affluent, the wealthiest citizens have begun to compete as to who can have the most lavish and expensive wedding. A similar pattern is found in the quickly economically expanding Nigeria, where the average wedding costs US$6500 dollars, but can be in excess of US$10,000. This can include budgeting for luxury experiences such as the newlyweds leaving the church in a helicopter.

The inflating price of weddings is becoming an issue in Egypt, where men that cannot pay for the wedding are unable to get married. A wedding costs an average US$10000, and if the husband is unable to pay for this, the family of the potential bride will not allow her to marry.

Food and Drink

The food and drink served at wedding ceremonies greatly differs across the African continent.

Egyptian hummus

In the Northern Islamic nations, no pork is served as the consumption of it is prohibited by the Quran. Couscous, hummus, falafel and mackerel are among the dishes commonly served. Islam banns alcohol so weddings are typically sober affairs. Instead large quantities of Maghrebi tea, a tea flavored with spearmint and sugar, is drank by the guests. Often, fresh fruit salad is served as a dessert rather than a cooked meal. However deep fried, honey-soaked pastries are also popular. As well as this, coconut fudge cakes are eaten during the winter months.

In Central African states, weddings between wealthy people of consist of feasts of meats including beef, pork, mutton and chicken. However, in poorer, more remote areas, tribal weddings will see more fruits and vegetables be consumed. Sometimes bush-meat is caught and served. A beer called ‘pombe’ is served at weddings that choose to have alcoholic beverages. Western style weddings will also serve wedding cake for dessert.

South African weddings combine the cuisine of their indigenous peoples with the way that the cuisine evolved after the British and Dutch colonization of the country. As a result, traditional meals consisting primarily of vegetables and legumes are served in tandem with meals that are considered typical of a Western wedding such as cakes and pasta. A new South African form of wedding is an outside wedding where a barbecue is used to serve up all food. Barbecues are strong component of South African culture. The meats and fish that are cooked on the barbecue are served up with salads and dips. South Africans have a liberal culture surrounding alcohol, especially compared to other African countries. Because of this beers and wines as well as champagne are served throughout the ceremony, much like as it would be at a Western wedding. Luxury weddings in South Africa consists of an almost entirely Westernized menu, as English and American delicacies are considered the fashion.