African marriage rituals vary somewhat from region to region.  However, all Africans believe marriage is the most important ceremony in their culture. 

There is an old African proverb, “A man without a wife, is like a vase without a flower.”  Further, African marriages mean more than the joining of a man to his wife, it actually involes the joining of both families.

One of the main African marriage rituals is a “Kubama.”  This is a ceremony in which the bride-to-be gathers before the people living in her area, and this ritual shows she is now accepting herself to be a woman, and no longer an unmarried girl.  The crowds make merry as she makes her appearance. The bride dons her best cultural dress for this colorful event and all who see her applaud heartily.

Some African marriages are still arranged by the parents. This seems to be more so if there is wealth in the families.  However more marriages are taking on the appearance of the Western world. For instance, in Nigeria, it is said due to the influence of the Nigerian Church, the wedding will be more of a traditional Western-style. The bride and groom almost always change into thier tribal traditional African clothes in order to celebrate their wedding reception.

Polygamy marriages are still considered legal in Nigeria, however they are less common.  This is due mostly to economics and a rapid influence of modernization, and the losing of African traditions.  A bride price is expected.

In more traditional and rural tribal weddings, both families of the bride and husband-to-be, will share in building a hut together for the new couple.  There is gift exchanging. When the hut is finished, the parents of the bride take her to the newly built hut and the groom will be sitting by the door waiting for her.

They next bring in coal from both families’ huts and start a new fire in front of the new hut.  All enjoy the festivities that follow, except the new couple. They are like bystanders. Then the couple are left alone in the hut.  The next day the mothers rub oil on their married children and then depart to their own huts. This concludes the marriage rituals.

Every wedding is accompanied by a lot of music and feasting, in all parts of Africa.  The attendess dress in their best clothing, which is usually very colorful and beautiful.  It is a happy celebration. 

One last ritual is “jumping the broomstick.”  This ritual was better made known to the world through the mini series, “Roots” created by Alex Hayley’s search for his African ancestry. 

At the time of African American slavery, jumping the broom together made clear the couple were officially man and wife.  It is also been said, in Africa,  jumping the broomstick was a way to decide who would be running the household.  Who ever jumped the highest, ended up being the home manager.

However we look at it, African marriage rituals are rich in meaning, colorful and joyous celebrations. The most outstanding factor seems to be the joining and close blending of two families, instead of just the two newlyweds, when a couple decide to marry.  Marriage and family are uppermost in the order of importance in the African culture. 

The proverb at the beginning of this article, indicates marriage appears to be held in high regard. Indeed, “a man without a wife, is like a vase without a flower,” and that sentiment should be held true in all cultures.

Source:  www.eng.umu.se/vw/Culture/African%20wedings.htm

Source:  www.muslin-marriage-guide.com/african-marriage-rituals.html