"No one rushes into the job of mixing the concrete for building the house of marriage."
AFRICAN MARRIAGE
Let your love be like the misty rain, coming softly, but flooding the river ~Liberian & Madagascan Proverb
Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton while on safari in Kenya and he recently said that he felt Africa was like his second home. We introduced this African Marriage page to commemorate the Royal Wedding and to describe the many different and diverse wedding ceremonies and customs in Africa.
African Marriage
School Resources:
INTERESTING FACTS
Kola Nuts
Kola Nuts are essential in most African weddings. The kola nuts are chewed and then the husk is spat out. It is believed to reduce hunger pangs. The kola nut symbolises healing and the couple's willingness to always help heal each other or heal any problems they encounter. In Nigeria, the ceremony is not complete until a kola nut is shared between the couple and their parents.
In northern Ghana if a man is interested in a women he will give the elder women of her compound a bowl of kola nuts. The elder women will then inquire about the character of the man to see if he is suitable. If they are happy then the man gives a second larger bowl of kola nuts to the men in the compound and they can discuss the wedding date.
The drink Coca Cola contains an extract from the kola nut, this gives it the bitter taste and the caffeine content.
Cowrie Shells
Cowrie shells were used for centuries as a type of currency in Africa. The Ghanaian cedi, the currency used today, was named after the cowrie shell. The cowrie shell is a symbol of womanhood, fertility, birth and wealth. They are commonly used to decorate the wedding attire and jewellery
Marriage is like a groundnut: you have to crack them to see what is inside ~Akan Proverb
Libation Ceremony
The libation ceremony is when a little water or alcohol is poured onto the ground to honour the ancestral spirits. Ancestors are not only respected in Ghanaian culture, but also invited to participate in the wedding or other public function. A prayer is offered in the form of libations, calling the ancestors to attend. The ritual is generally performed by an elder. The drink used is normally the locally made alcohol Akpeteshie (distilled palm wine).
A happy man marries the girl he loves, but a happier man loves the girl he marries ~African Proverb
Henna
The people of northern Ghana are mainly Muslim; they perform ablution and pray five times a day facing Mecca. The married women and elderly women all wear head scarves. The night before the wedding the bride, with the help of the women will apply “leele" (pronounced lay-lay), natural henna that grows in the area, to her feet and hands. The leaf of the zabila or henna plant is dried, ground and then made into a paste which is applied to the soles and sides of the feet and palms of the hands. Plastic bags are then wrapped around the feet and hands and sealed. In the morning the paste is removed and the feet and hands are dyed bright red. During the wedding the bride will also wear a veil over her head.
The man that won't marry a woman with other admirers won't marry a woman at all ~Nigerian Proverb
Polygamy
Polygamy is a type of marriage where there is more than one partner; polygyny is when the man has more than one wife and polyandry is when the women has more than one husband. Polygyny, where the man has more than one wife, has been practiced all over Africa for centuries. There are only a few African tribes that practice polyandry.
The reasons for polygyny are numerous; the number of men in the population was less than the women due to hunting and other dangerous activities; the rate of child death was very high and the status of a man was based on the number of children he had. Daily life in Africa is also very difficult and the women found it easier to be able to share the work load.
African Chiefs mark their status by marrying dozens of women. Having children is the most important focus of marriage and a husband will normally divorce an infertile wife. Divorce is easily obtained and widespread, as is remarriage. Upon a husband's death, his wife is expected to marry his brother, who also assumes responsibility for any children.
Colonialism, Christianity and the spread of Western values has led to the decline in polygyny. Many young African men prefer to be monogamous and marry only one wife.
One who plants grapes by the road side, and one who marries a pretty woman, share the same problem ~Ethiopian Proverb
African marriage - This website has a list of African countries (Ghana, Kenya, South Africa etc) and their different wedding ceremonies and customs.
Africa Guide - African wedding cultural traditions
Adinkra symbols of West Africa - List of Adinkra symbols and the meaning
Kids Africa - Create your own Adinkra cloth
African arts and music - Teacher lesson plan, kente cloth activity
African marriage quiz - Microsoft Word download
more to follow shortly