Page 46 - Urban Kapital Magazine Autumn 21
P. 46
CULTURAL WEDDINGS
AFRICA - BY NATASHA MUGABANE
African weddings are events that not The second phase of the wedding It all starts with a group of wom-
only join two individuals together but process is the pre-marriage en emerging from a nearby hut to
also create a bond between the two initiation. escort a man hidden under a Chit-
families. The various traditions and enge.
rituals are performed in preparation This process takes place either at
for the wedding, within the 54 the onset of puberty, menstruation He then walks to the centre of the
countries in the continent of Africa. or just before marriage. gathering where the brother of
the bride lifts up the Chitenge to
The many cultures have managed to The initiation process for young see if the man under the Chitenge
maintain the traditions that are women features strict instructions is indeed the man his sister wants
believed to have been practiced by pertaining to marriage. to marry.
generations long before the lightbulb
was invented. We take a look at the The third phase of the wedding If he is not, then he will have to go
similarities and uniqueness of two process is the Dowry. back to where he came from and
African cultures and their wedding the women will have to escort an-
processes as well as the decadent The dowry is considered to be a other man from the hut.
food that different cultures share. token of appreciation for the groom
and usually comes in the form of The brother of the bride then con-
The Chewa tribe hails from Malawi livestock, grain and even land. firms that the man under the
and are part of the Bantu speaking Chitenge is indeed the groom and
community, using the language The dowry is presented by the his sister’s fiancé.
Chichewa. parents of the bride to the groom
and it is believed that women with The same group of women then
A wedding in the Chewa tribe is larger body types are favoured as goes to another hut from which a
always sure to involve the community. they appear to come from well off woman emerges covered by the
families which can result in a Chitenge, this time, the groom
The wedding process begins with the significant dowry being offered. lifts up the material and checks to
marriage negotiations; which are usu- Larger women are also preferred see if the woman is his bride.
ally carried out at a court with only because they are believed to be
men present. strong and able to carry heavy If he shakes his head, the
loads. women will have to bring out
The woman is informed that there is another woman; all covered
a man who wishes to marry her. Once We then move on to the fourth up. When the second woman is
the men have reached an agreement, phase of the wedding process, brought out, the groom then lifts
the men then travel to the woman’s the Wedding attire. The bride and the Chitenge and if he nods then
home to discuss the bride price (the groom have their wedding attire that is his bride and the wedding
Chiongo) and bring along a token of custom made, using the Chitenge can proceed.
appreciation for the bride’s parents; (brightly coloured material that is
which is called the Chamlomo. found in Malawi) with a pattern of The sixth phase of the wedding is
their choice. The guests are also the presentation of the bride; this
welcome to have their outfits made comes after the groom acknowl-
from the same material. edges his bride.
The introduction of the bride and The bride is taken to change from
groom to the patrons is the most the clothes her parents have
romantic part of the wedding and is bought for her into the wedding
the fifth phase of the wedding attire that matches her groom.
MAGAZINE // 46
process.
