A african white wedding is a celebration of love and unity. While our day-to-day lives change, the trend of weddings will always be a part of human history. But, what about the African culture? It is no secret that weddings of African origin tend to err on the side of vibrant and bold colours. But, there is an exception to this – the African white wedding.
While the traditional wedding ceremony usually consists of various cultural traditions like the exchanging of gifts, cowries, or money to represent the bride price, The African White wedding is its westernized version. This type of wedding is mainly observed in countries where Christianity is the leading religion. While some of us may have attended one, not much is known about what this type of wedding entailed.
In this blog post, we will take a much closer look to the African White Wedding, its origin, and what it entails. Our aim is to provide an in-depth view of this rich African tradition for engaged women that may want to incorporate it into their wedding.
The African white wedding roots can be traced to the westernization of African culture due to the influence of colonialism. The African wedding, unlike a white wedding, is more of a community union and an extension of the families, with several elaborate ceremonial traditions. But, as Africans began embracing Christianity in significant numbers, the church adopted a central role in African marriages, resulting in the creation of the African white wedding.
The African white wedding is similar to American and European weddings in many ways. However, several cultural aspects distinguish it, one of which is the attire. A white wedding dress, veil, and accessories are worn, but the attire for the groom’s side are usually suit jackets or traditional attire, depending on his preference and culture. The bride and groom usually wear outfits that reflect their African heritage, such as the Aso Oke, a Nigerian traditional wedding attire, or the Lesotho Seshoeshoe. Aso Oke is a hand-woven fabric from Nigeria, while Seshoeshoe is a Basotho heritage fabric from Lesotho in South Africa.
Another unique feature of an African white wedding is the presence of the broom ceremony, which signifies the sweeping away of evil spirits and obstacles in the couple’s marriage life. The couple jumps over a broom that has been placed and decorated with ribbons to mark the start of their new life together.
African white weddings are rich in culture and tradition. For instance, in Ghana, the wedding ceremony starts with drumming and dancing. You can also expect to see palm wine being served in an earthenware pot before the ceremony starts, symbolizing the couple’s new life that is being woven together.
The African white wedding is not complete without the breaking of the kola nut. This ceremony is a symbol of the couple’s union and unity. An elder breaks the nut in two and gives each person a piece to eat, signifying the couple’s unification.
At the end of the day, a wedding represents the start of a new life together. And, while traditions and cultures may develop over time, they keep us connected to our roots, heritage and families. The African white wedding is a way of embracing our culture while celebrating our union.
We hope this blog post provides insight into African White Weddings and inspires engaged women to incorporate this rich tradition into their big day. Remember, your wedding is not just a celebration of love but a celebration of your heritage, connect with your past, and make the most out of your present and future.
