 Africa is a large and different continent including some of the oldest civilizations on the earth. Africa consists from various different countries, each of which may have their own traditions and customs. It is home to a wide diversity of religions and cultures. And this colorful variety is reflected in its diverse and colorful weddings traditions.
Many years ago in most of African societies, wedding means to combine the families or even the mixture of two clans into one big family. Bright festive colors, song, dance and music is a vital and important elements of many African-wedding ceremonies. General all wedding ceremonies are the concept of transitioning between childhood and adulthood. There were many steps that should be done by girls before wedding. They should go to circumcision schools where women tought them what is intricate in marriage, and in some ethnic groups even learn secret codes and languages so that they can communicate with other married women.
There are more than 1,000 cultural units in Africa and each culture, each clan has its own wedding and marriage traditions. Many of these traditions can trace their origins back hundreds or even thousands of years. Also there are a lot of different religions in Africa. For example northern Africans have been influenced by Muslim traditions, while further south there are more Christian, Hindu, and even Jewish traditions interspersed with more ancient traditions.
Today’s African wedding traditions date back to thousands of years.Like a many years it is not a marriage between two persons, but a link between two clans. And marriage ceremonies still are colorful, bewitching and colorful.
African Wedding Attire
The traditional native colors for the African brides are red, gold and green. These colors also repeated in the design are liberation colors recognized by children of African descent all over the world. Red is for the blood shed by millions in captivity. Gold is for the mineral wealth and green is for the vegetation of the land of Africa. African woven cloth reflects personal, societal, religious and political culture. Traditional native dress for the women would be a headpiece (a gele'), a loose fitting or grand bou-bou or the wrap skirt (iro), also a shawl (iborum), and a short free blouse (buba) made out of the same fabric. As usual the groom wears a pair of slacks (sokoto), shirt (bubba), a long flowing jacket (agbada) and a rounded box-like hat (fila).
African weddings generally pride the main African colors, reds, blacks, and greens. The bride's wedding gown is especially colorful and can take any of a number of beaded and gorgeous styles. Also it may be white dress with some gold elements. The groom is dressed powerfully. When you couple the attire of the wedding party with the African music, you absolutely believe and know you are witnessing quite an event.
Of course if African American couples who chose a more American flare may choose the traditional white bridal dress for the bride and the groom a tuxedo.
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