Wedding Traditions of Africa’s Northwest Region
Wedding traditions in Africa have some of the oldest customs in the world, as it is the oldest
continent on earth. Many of the traditions are of religious, cultural or tribal spirited. In the
northwest region of Africa, where you will find such countries as Algeria, Morocco, Niger and
Nigeria, you will see the true spirit of those customs in their ceremonies.
Algeria
- Since parents give the parental guidance, they must approve of the spouse before the couple
marries.
- Generally the male will express interest and love of a woman to his mother. She will then
verify suitability of the woman and her family with her own.
- Algerian weddings and receptions are filled with robust colors and with much emotion.
- After the engagement is announced, Shore begins. This the process of the family making
purchases of items such as: clothes, wool, gold and other household goods.
- The couple will then spend as much time together as possible to really get to know each other
and plan out what their roles will be before the wedding takes place.
- In Algeria, it is believed that the more money that is paid toward the wedding, the prouder they
are. In addition, the bigger the meal is at the reception, the more the generous.
- After the reception, the bride is taken to the groom’ s place wearing an elaborate wedding gown.
She is seated in a chair that has been decorated for her. She is all made up in jewelry, make-up
and with henna designs on her feet, as well as her hands. The guests will dance as they say good-
bye to her. When the couple leaves, they are now officially married.
M orocco
- The traditional wedding ceremony can last anywhere from four to seven days.
- A Moroccan wedding is usually done in three stages, the Hammam, the Henna and the
Ceremony.
- The brides’ jewelry must be made from gold. This includes her bracelets, rings, earrings and
necklaces.
- During a normal six months to two year engagement, the man will send his fiancé gifts.
- The Hammam is a pre-wedding ceremony where the brides’ friends and other women throw a
party and the bride is then bathed in a milk bath. This also includes black soap as to purify the
bride.
- The Henna is the painting of the brides’ hands and feet for the wedding. A specialist known as
the Nekkacha, paints her appendages in geometrical and floral designs. This is meant to scare off
any evil spirits.
- The Ceremony contains customary dress in which the couple is dressed by the Neggafates. This
is when the exchanging of the rings takes place.
- When the ceremony is done, guests partake in milk and dates. This symbols the sweetness and
fruitfulness that life has to offer. The couple is then carried across the room by young men on a
Amairya.
- A customary Moroccan wedding is generally impressive and very expensive.
Niger
- Often in Niger, the cousins will court each other for marriage.
- Male cousins often wear amulets that allegedly increase their attractiveness.
- In the event two male cousins have the same desires for the same female cousin, she will decide
as to which cousin she will marry.
- For the cousin she does not select, he would be welcomed to their home. If she consents, often
the bride may share her bed with both cousins.
Nigeria
- Nigeria respects their wedding traditions from the past, but has also incorporated more
contemporary rituals into their ceremonies.
- Engagement ceremonies take place in different parts of Nigeria. During this fun time, the
couple-to-be’ s family and friends enjoy nuts and colas, while the officiating elder drinks palm
wine; as does the couple.
- The officiating officer serves as the speaker for both families as they share messages between
each other.
- The family of the groom pays a price for the bride to her family. The price is generally made up
of shoes, clothing and jewelry.
- Often the family elders will assist in giving the bride a bath prior to her wedding day.
- For the ceremony, the bride often wears Indian fabrics that have been imported in. They may
include such items as: necklaces, ankle bracelets and decorative headpieces.
- Much like most weddings, a gala event follows the ceremony. Live bands playing all night long
with much singing and dancing is the norm at most Nigerian weddings.
- After the party, the groom, along with his family, will go to the bride’ s house to claim her from
her dad.
Wedding Traditions of Africa’s Northwest Region
Wedding traditions in Africa have some of the oldest customs in the world, as it is the oldestcontinent on earth. Many of the traditions are of religious, cultural or tribal spirited. In thenorthwest region of Africa, where you will find such countries as Algeria, Morocco, Niger andNigeria, you will see the true spirit of those customs in their ceremonies.
Algeria
- Since parents give the parental guidance, they must approve of the spouse before the couplemarries.
- Generally the male will express interest and love of a woman to his mother. She will thenverify suitability of the woman and her family with her own.
- Algerian weddings and receptions are filled with robust colors and with much emotion.
- After the engagement is announced, Shore begins. This the process of the family makingpurchases of items such as: clothes, wool, gold and other household goods.
- The couple will then spend as much time together as possible to really get to know each otherand plan out what their roles will be before the wedding takes place.
- In Algeria, it is believed that the more money that is paid toward the wedding, the prouder theyare. In addition, the bigger the meal is at the reception, the more the generous.
- After the reception, the bride is taken to the groom’ s place wearing an elaborate wedding gown.She is seated in a chair that has been decorated for her. She is all made up in jewelry, make-upand with henna designs on her feet, as well as her hands. The guests will dance as they say good-bye to her. When the couple leaves, they are now officially married.
M orocco
- The traditional wedding ceremony can last anywhere from four to seven days.
- A Moroccan wedding is usually done in three stages, the Hammam, the Henna and theCeremony.
- The brides’ jewelry must be made from gold. This includes her bracelets, rings, earrings andnecklaces.
- During a normal six months to two year engagement, the man will send his fiancé gifts.
- The Hammam is a pre-wedding ceremony where the brides’ friends and other women throw aparty and the bride is then bathed in a milk bath. This also includes black soap as to purify thebride.
- The Henna is the painting of the brides’ hands and feet for the wedding. A specialist known asthe Nekkacha, paints her appendages in geometrical and floral designs. This is meant to scare off
any evil spirits.
- The Ceremony contains customary dress in which the couple is dressed by the Neggafates. Thisis when the exchanging of the rings takes place.
- When the ceremony is done, guests partake in milk and dates. This symbols the sweetness andfruitfulness that life has to offer. The couple is then carried across the room by young men on aAmairya.
- A customary Moroccan wedding is generally impressive and very expensive.
Niger
- Often in Niger, the cousins will court each other for marriage.
- Male cousins often wear amulets that allegedly increase their attractiveness.
- In the event two male cousins have the same desires for the same female cousin, she will decideas to which cousin she will marry.
- For the cousin she does not select, he would be welcomed to their home. If she consents, oftenthe bride may share her bed with both cousins.
Nigeria
- Nigeria respects their wedding traditions from the past, but has also incorporated morecontemporary rituals into their ceremonies.
- Engagement ceremonies take place in different parts of Nigeria. During this fun time, thecouple-to-be’ s family and friends enjoy nuts and colas, while the officiating elder drinks palmwine; as does the couple.
- The officiating officer serves as the speaker for both families as they share messages betweeneach other.
- The family of the groom pays a price for the bride to her family. The price is generally made upof shoes, clothing and jewelry.
- Often the family elders will assist in giving the bride a bath prior to her wedding day.
- For the ceremony, the bride often wears Indian fabrics that have been imported in. They mayinclude such items as: necklaces, ankle bracelets and decorative headpieces.
- Much like most weddings, a gala event follows the ceremony. Live bands playing all night longwith much singing and dancing is the norm at most Nigerian weddings.
- After the party, the groom, along with his family, will go to the bride’ s house to claim her fromher dad.
