{"id":1640,"date":"2022-07-15T00:47:29","date_gmt":"2022-07-15T00:47:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trulyafrican.com\/blog\/?p=1640"},"modified":"2022-07-15T00:47:30","modified_gmt":"2022-07-15T00:47:30","slug":"african-wedding-traditions-to-note","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trulyafrican.com\/blog\/african-wedding-traditions-to-note\/","title":{"rendered":"African Wedding Traditions to Note"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you&#8217;re a romantic, you must have dreamt about your wedding day for so long. You must have imagined how it should look or how much of your identity should reflect in your wedding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Truly, your wedding day is all about you and your partner. Hence, incorporating your tradition into your big day should be ideal. Adding some African wedding traditions would be a beautiful chance to honor your heritage and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trulyafrican.com\/blog\/interracial-relationship-in-south-africa-101\/\">embrace your identity<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Rituals and Ceremonies Africans Follow on Their Wedding Day<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>African weddings have rituals unique to every region. Nonetheless, local ceremonies are commonly beautiful and solemn.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Common Rituals and Ceremonies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many locals who prefer contemporary wedding rituals also try to incorporate a thing or two African wedding traditions. Jumping the Broom and Libation Ceremony are two of the most common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jumping the broom began as a way for enslaved African couples to wed legally\u2014they weren&#8217;t allowed to legalize their union back then. Couples leaping over a broom symbolize sweeping away the past and leaping into the future as one. The act of jumping together marks the beginning of great possibilities for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"JUMPING THE BROOM - Trailer\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QsfB725SZuU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, the Libation Ceremony is a ritual of pouring a liquid into four cardinal directions. The practice honors the elderly guests present at the wedding or an African couple&#8217;s beloved ancestor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Traditional Wedding Dress and Suit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As for the traditional attire, African couples don&#8217;t customarily wear the standard black suit and white dress for their wedding day. Betrothed couples and even wedding guests typically dress in traditional woven garments. Most times, particular fabric or detailing represents their native roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, a bride may don brightly colored long gowns for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trulyafrican.com\/blog\/south-african-dating-and-marriage-customs\/\">Zulu wedding<\/a> and pair them with a traditional <em>isicholo<\/em> (a wide hat). Women wearing an <em>ischolo<\/em> is a clear sign that she&#8217;s about to get married.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<center><blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CU4ej9SoxuV\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CU4ej9SoxuV\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CU4ej9SoxuV\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Dr Tamaryn Green Nxumalo (@tamaryngreen)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/center>\n\n\n\n<p>The Zulu see leopards as the king of all predators. Hence, grooms would customarily put on animal skins and feathers\u2014only the royalty can wear leopard skin. Men would also sport an <em>isinene <\/em>(front apron) and an <em>ibheshu <\/em>(rear apron) to conceal their genitals and buttocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other brides would change their outfits at the <em>Umabo<\/em>\u2014a special and traditional wedding ceremony of the Zulus. They&#8217;d wear an <em>Isidwaba<\/em>, <em>Isicwaya<\/em>, and an <em>Inkehli<\/em> for a Zulu wedding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-oTxTFW8vwe4HK0cz5repsCsYbueVFzcAE5_N2b7aozZ_9WsfcRvXxlyhKlD1xSGuUxL2R0NpsHbFuh05FlYsNzB3Vdo0lhek08CVeeuNb-E9ViDR_UT_PnvEkker7dYRrJc_eNwsGGE7ur0-Q\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>via <a href=\"https:\/\/briefly.co.za\/facts-lifehacks\/fashion\/119789-30-umembeso-zulu-traditional-attire-men-women-2022\/\">Briefly<\/a> by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/zulu_brides\/?hl=en\">Zulu Brides<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>An <em>isidwaba<\/em> is a leather skirt made from the hide of animals that belonged to the woman&#8217;s father. Meanwhile, an <em>isicwaya<\/em> is typically an animal skin covering a bride&#8217;s bosom, and an <em>inkehli<\/em> is a hat covering the head. To complete their outfit, brides would also wear colorful beads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, grooms customarily wear a shirt, long pants, and headdresses during the <em>Umabo<\/em>\u2014everything with unique detailing representing their heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Break Down of Different African Wedding Traditions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Infusing some of the age-old <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trulyafrican.com\/blog\/marriage-in-uganda\/\">African wedding traditions<\/a>\u2014regardless of where you&#8217;re from\u2014can add a lovely spin to your big day. So, before planning for it, learn about some underlying meanings and significance of a few common African wedding traditions. If you&#8217;re looking to learn more about African culture in general, our notes below should also help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>North Africa<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>North African Muslims comprise the vast majority of Africa&#8217;s Muslim population. Hence, North African wedding traditions usually stem from Islamic conventions. With this, it isn&#8217;t uncommon to see wedding guests dress conservatively\u2014no showing of the legs or arms for both genders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before the big day, a North African bride would typically do a <em>Hammam<\/em>\u2014a ritual bath. She and her bridesmaids will go to a public bath to &#8220;purify&#8221; themselves through hours of scrubbing and washing. Ultimately the bride and her &#8220;crew&#8221; bond well through the <em>Hamman. <\/em>This pre-wedding custom is basically a modern version of a bachelorette party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>North African locals\u2014those from Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia\u2014are some of the countries that practice this ritual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>East Africa<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A few East African wedding traditions are comparable to those found in the North. And while some cultural practices are similar to those of the Islams, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.africa.upenn.edu\/NEH\/kreligion.htm\">majority of East Africans are Christians<\/a>. Hence, weddings typically take place in a church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nonetheless, there are a few unique rituals natives practice before the big day. Swahili husbands, for example, get together for the fight-dancing festival, <em>Kirumbizi<\/em>. In Ethiopia, people dress elegantly and don clothing with intricate designs made of a <em>Habesha<\/em> fabric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>West Africa<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>West African wedding traditions are typically <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trulyafrican.com\/blog\/valentines-day-african-dating-spots\/\">distinct, meaningful, and romantic<\/a>, so much so that it has gained popularity worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"This Traditional Nigerian Wedding Is So Beautiful | World Wide Wed | Refinery29\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/th7yTXQpqy0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One popular longstanding wedding tradition in western Africa that has spanned throughout the continent, extending to the US, is called the Tasting the Four Elements. Commonly popular with the Yor\u00f9b\u00e1 people in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo, the practice holds equally beautiful and romantic meanings to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the ceremony, an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trystanphotography.com\/tips-and-tricks\/great-wedding-ceremony-ideas-tasting-elements\">officiant will discuss each relationship stage<\/a> and relate it to the food in front. They&#8217;d further talk about their significance and how to navigate each state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As such, a couple would get a literal taste of four flavors that are meant to represent distinct stages within a marriage. These phases are as follows: cayenne for spiciness, lemon for sourness, vinegar for bitterness, and honey for sweetness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By tasting each of these flavors, newlyweds symbolically present that they&#8217;ll be able to remain united whatever struggles life throws at them. The specific items used in this ceremony vary by culture. Still, the purpose is to remind the couple that their marriage will not always be perfect and will naturally go through several stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Aso Ebi<\/em> is another West African tradition unique to people from Sierra Leon, Nigeria, and The Gambia. It involves a ceremonial cloth that not only the bridesmaids but also the bride&#8217;s close friends, sisters, and cousins will all wear at the wedding. Mothers of a betrothed may also choose to wear them if they prefer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The sharing of a fabric for all women to wear is representative of a family&#8217;s closeness. And this is what the <em>Aso Ebi<\/em> ritual aims to display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>South and Central Africa<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Arguably, Zulus are prevalent in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trulyafrican.com\/blog\/dr-congo-dating\/\">southern and central parts of Africa<\/a>. Hence, many natives in these regions practice traditions distinct from the Zulu tribe. Among the most common is the <em>Umabo<\/em>\u2014which we also talked about earlier!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A bridegroom&#8217;s family always hosts the Umabo. Hence, a bride will arrive with her family and bring the items on the list that the groom&#8217;s family prepared in advance. Upon arrival, the patriarch from the groom&#8217;s side is supposed to greet her. The patriarch from the bride&#8217;s side would, in turn, say a few words to express his approval for his daughter&#8217;s marriage into that family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"uMABO ka Mr&amp;Mrs Mlambo\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UQPWHMITu5s?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After the greetings and a few other brief customs, a bride is to demonstrate respect by sitting on a mat with her bridesmaids. While she is to sit with them, she isn&#8217;t, in no way, supposed to talk with them or to anyone. At this point, elderly guests\u2014typically those whom the couple highly respects\u2014will offer advice and wisdom about their marriage in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The bride will then present the gifts to the groom&#8217;s family, and she&#8217;ll dance in celebration afterward\u2014many singing and dancing also follows. She&#8217;ll also have to make the entire (groom&#8217;s) family&#8217;s beds to prove her wifely abilities. The newlywed is also likely to spend some time living with her in-laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Umabo&#8217;s<\/em> entire purpose is to greet and acquaint the bride with her new family. According to the Zulu people, if a couple doesn&#8217;t fulfill an <em>Umabo<\/em>, the ancestors will not acknowledge the <em>makoti<\/em> (the bride).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Cheers!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trulyafrican.com\/client\/signup?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=banner&amp;utm_content=Are%20You%20Ready%20to%20Find%20the%20One\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.trulyafrican.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/TrulyAfrican-728-x-250-px.png\" alt=\"are you ready to find the one banner\" class=\"wp-image-35\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Importing your heritage into your wedding is your choice. You can always pick a thing or two (or more) African wedding traditions that align with your beliefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you planning to incorporate your African heritage into your wedding ceremony? We hope this piece gave you insight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Choose any African custom you like to include on your wedding day to pay homage to your culture. And, remember to add your unique preferences to it. Congratulations and best wishes!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;re a romantic, you must have dreamt about your wedding day for so long. You must have imagined how it should look or how much of your identity should reflect in your wedding. Truly, your wedding day is all about you and your partner. Hence, incorporating your tradition into your big day should be ideal. Adding some African wedding traditions would be a beautiful chance to honor your heritage and embrace your identity. Rituals and Ceremonies Africans Follow on Their Wedding Day African weddings have rituals unique to every region. Nonetheless, local ceremonies are commonly beautiful and solemn.&nbsp; Common Rituals and Ceremonies Many locals who prefer contemporary wedding rituals also try to incorporate a thing or two African wedding traditions. Jumping the Broom and Libation Ceremony are two of the most common. Jumping the broom began as a way for enslaved African couples to wed legally\u2014they weren&#8217;t allowed to legalize their union back then. Couples leaping over a broom symbolize sweeping away the past and leaping into the future as one. The act of jumping together marks the beginning of great possibilities for them. On the other hand, the Libation Ceremony is a ritual of pouring a liquid into four cardinal directions. The practice honors the elderly guests present at the wedding or an African couple&#8217;s beloved ancestor. Traditional Wedding Dress and Suit As for the traditional attire, African couples don&#8217;t customarily wear the standard black suit and white dress for their wedding day. Betrothed couples and even wedding guests typically dress in traditional woven garments. Most times, particular fabric or detailing represents their native roots. For instance, a bride may don brightly colored long gowns for a Zulu wedding and pair them with a traditional isicholo (a wide hat). Women wearing an ischolo is a clear sign that she&#8217;s about to get married. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dr Tamaryn Green Nxumalo (@tamaryngreen) The Zulu see leopards as the king of all predators. Hence, grooms would customarily put on animal skins and feathers\u2014only the royalty can wear leopard skin. Men would also sport an isinene (front apron) and an ibheshu (rear apron) to conceal their genitals and buttocks. Other brides would change their outfits at the Umabo\u2014a special and traditional wedding ceremony of the Zulus. They&#8217;d wear an Isidwaba, Isicwaya, and an Inkehli for a Zulu wedding. An isidwaba is a leather skirt made from the hide of animals that belonged to the woman&#8217;s father. Meanwhile, an isicwaya is typically an animal skin covering a bride&#8217;s bosom, and an inkehli is a hat covering the head. To complete their outfit, brides would also wear colorful beads. Meanwhile, grooms customarily wear a shirt, long pants, and headdresses during the Umabo\u2014everything with unique detailing representing their heritage. Break Down of Different African Wedding Traditions Infusing some of the age-old African wedding traditions\u2014regardless of where you&#8217;re from\u2014can add a lovely spin to your big day. So, before planning for it, learn about some underlying meanings and significance of a few common African wedding traditions. If you&#8217;re looking to learn more about African culture in general, our notes below should also help. North Africa North African Muslims comprise the vast majority of Africa&#8217;s Muslim population. Hence, North African wedding traditions usually stem from Islamic conventions. With this, it isn&#8217;t uncommon to see wedding guests dress conservatively\u2014no showing of the legs or arms for both genders. Before the big day, a North African bride would typically do a Hammam\u2014a ritual bath. She and her bridesmaids will go to a public bath to &#8220;purify&#8221; themselves through hours of scrubbing and washing. Ultimately the bride and her &#8220;crew&#8221; bond well through the Hamman. This pre-wedding custom is basically a modern version of a bachelorette party. North African locals\u2014those from Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia\u2014are some of the countries that practice this ritual. East Africa A few East African wedding traditions are comparable to those found in the North. And while some cultural practices are similar to those of the Islams, the majority of East Africans are Christians. Hence, weddings typically take place in a church. Nonetheless, there are a few unique rituals natives practice before the big day. Swahili husbands, for example, get together for the fight-dancing festival, Kirumbizi. In Ethiopia, people dress elegantly and don clothing with intricate designs made of a Habesha fabric. West Africa West African wedding traditions are typically distinct, meaningful, and romantic, so much so that it has gained popularity worldwide. One popular longstanding wedding tradition in western Africa that has spanned throughout the continent, extending to the US, is called the Tasting the Four Elements. Commonly popular with the Yor\u00f9b\u00e1 people in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo, the practice holds equally beautiful and romantic meanings to it. During the ceremony, an officiant will discuss each relationship stage and relate it to the food in front. They&#8217;d further talk about their significance and how to navigate each state. As such, a couple would get a literal taste of four flavors that are meant to represent distinct stages within a marriage. These phases are as follows: cayenne for spiciness, lemon for sourness, vinegar for bitterness, and honey for sweetness. By tasting each of these flavors, newlyweds symbolically present that they&#8217;ll be able to remain united whatever struggles life throws at them. The specific items used in this ceremony vary by culture. Still, the purpose is to remind the couple that their marriage will not always be perfect and will naturally go through several stages. Aso Ebi is another West African tradition unique to people from Sierra Leon, Nigeria, and The Gambia. It involves a ceremonial cloth that not only the bridesmaids but also the bride&#8217;s close friends, sisters, and cousins will all wear at the wedding. Mothers of a betrothed may also choose to wear them if they prefer. The sharing of a fabric for all women to wear is representative of a family&#8217;s closeness. And this is what the Aso Ebi ritual aims to display. South and Central Africa Arguably, Zulus are prevalent in the southern and central parts of Africa. Hence, many natives in these regions practice traditions distinct from the Zulu tribe. Among the most common is the Umabo\u2014which we also talked about earlier! A bridegroom&#8217;s family always hosts the Umabo. Hence, a bride will arrive with her family and bring the items on the list that the groom&#8217;s family prepared in advance. Upon arrival, the patriarch from the groom&#8217;s side is supposed to greet her. The patriarch from the bride&#8217;s side would, in turn, say a few words to express his approval for his daughter&#8217;s marriage into that family. After the greetings and a few other brief customs, a bride is to demonstrate respect by sitting on a mat with her bridesmaids. While she is to sit with them, she isn&#8217;t, in no way, supposed to talk with them or to anyone. At this point, elderly guests\u2014typically those whom the couple highly respects\u2014will offer advice and wisdom about their marriage in general. The bride will then present the gifts to the groom&#8217;s family, and she&#8217;ll dance in celebration afterward\u2014many singing and dancing also follows. She&#8217;ll also have to make the entire (groom&#8217;s) family&#8217;s beds to prove her wifely abilities. The newlywed is also likely to spend some time living with her in-laws. Umabo&#8217;s entire purpose is to greet and acquaint the bride with her new family. According to the Zulu people, if a couple doesn&#8217;t fulfill an Umabo, the ancestors will not acknowledge the makoti (the bride). Cheers! Importing your heritage into your wedding is your choice. You can always pick a thing or two (or more) African wedding traditions that align with your beliefs. Are you planning to incorporate your African heritage into your wedding ceremony? We hope this piece gave you insight. Choose any African custom you like to include on your wedding day to pay homage to your culture. And, remember to add your unique preferences to it. Congratulations and best wishes!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1637,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":""},"categories":[5,25],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>African Wedding Traditions to Note - The TrulyAfrican Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Infusing some of the age-old African wedding traditions\u2014regardless of where you&#039;re from\u2014can add a lovely spin to your big day.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.trulyafrican.com\/blog\/african-wedding-traditions-to-note\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"African Wedding Traditions to Note - The TrulyAfrican Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Infusing some of the age-old African wedding traditions\u2014regardless of where you&#039;re from\u2014can add a lovely spin to your big day.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.trulyafrican.com\/blog\/african-wedding-traditions-to-note\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The TrulyAfrican Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TrulyAfricans\/?ref=bookmarks\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-07-15T00:47:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-07-15T00:47:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.trulyafrican.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/TrulyAfrican-African-Wedding-Traditions-to-Honor-Your-Heritage.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1300\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Rometic\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@TrulyAfricans\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@TrulyAfricans\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Rometic\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.trulyafrican.com\/blog\/african-wedding-traditions-to-note\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.trulyafrican.com\/blog\/african-wedding-traditions-to-note\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Rometic\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.trulyafrican.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/2595c59b88695ebe8be5046c5919091e\"},\"headline\":\"African Wedding Traditions to Note\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-07-15T00:47:29+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-07-15T00:47:30+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.trulyafrican.com\/blog\/african-wedding-traditions-to-note\/\"},\"wordCount\":1373,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.trulyafrican.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"African Dating\",\"Dating &amp; 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