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With so many African
nations contributing to African American culture, there
is no such thing
as the "typical" African American wedding. The richness of
diversity that
makes up the African landscape spills over to create customs
and traditions
that are also greatly diversified at African American weddings.
Combined with
traditions common to North America the uniqueness of
an ethnic
wedding is unlimited.
In Ghana,
the woman is viewed as the life forth from which great warriors
and
chiefs emerge.
A new bride is therefore called "the great house" in Zulu
culture.
And for this reason it is the generally accepted practice that the
bridegroom should
move to the village of his new bride.
The Gambria
people of Northern Kenya
believe that "A man without a wife
is a man without
a house". As such great significance is placed on the
house that the
bridegrooms entire family will move to the brides village.
The Asante
male, after deciding on a bride must undergo
the tradition
of "knocking".
This involves his mother and her brother going to the brides
family to tender
the proposal.
Both the Nyawezez
people of East Africa and the Fulani's
of West Africa
use cattle as
a gift from the grooms family as a token to express their
appreciation
for the acceptance shown by the family of the bride.
Among the Mande
people the practice of female circumcision
is still common.
The young afianced
woman undergoes the procedure and at the same time is
tutored on the
ways of being a wife and is taught a "secret language" to be
used only among
married women.
The "Epp"
custom of the Wolof
people is a practice of "loading the bride".
This consists
of being honored by the towns elders by being given gifts and
advice that she
will need to be a good wife.
West African Kente
cloth has become the favored fabric throughout North
America for African
American brides. Each weave and pattern has distinct
meaning and can
be adorned with adrinka symbols.
In Africa the
broom has come to symbolize sweeping out the old and
welcoming the
new. Although the "Jumping the Broom" ceremony observed
at many African
American weddings is distinctly North American, it's roots
lie in this African
symbol. As slaves were not permitted to marry, the tradition
of jumping the
broom was instituted to solemnize the union of the couple.
Surviving until
today, this custom holds a traditional place in many African
American Weddings.
Our thanks to
AWG for the use of their wonderful
pictures. Take a visit to
their site for
more wonderful information.
go
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