African Peoples Cultures And Traditions
Africa is the birthplace of civilization. There have been so many societies that started on this continent, and some would dare to call it the birthplace of humanity. There are many different religions, different people, and so many cultures to take in.
Weddings
Every society has some sort of wedding ceremony. The centerpieces of weddings in any culture have always been religion and spirituality as a rule, though in Africa there is a sense of family. This is more than two people joining, this is an entire family. The traditions involved in the ceremony date back hundreds or thousands of years.
In Africa, the entire continent is ruled by it’s religious diversity. Everywhere you go you can find a melting pot of different religions. Muslims, Christians, Hindus, even religions that are unique to Africa.
But no matter which part of Africa you are in, wedding ceremonies are often elaborate, some of them lasting for several days and involving several couples who are married at the same time.
Polygamy is not uncommon in many parts of Africa. For example, in the Sudan a man is permitted as many as four wives. In this instance, the groom is expected to pay the brides family a set fee or bride wealth for the loss of their daughter and her labor. Often this is paid in livestock like cattle.
Not all marriages are by choice however. There are a some prearranged marriages in which a girl is either engaged before she is even born, or because of a business arrangement. Such things are common in Africa.
African traditional wedding ceremonies always involve song, dance and bright, festive colors. They also symbolize the transition between childhood and adulthood, although most African newlyweds are little more than children themselves. In fact, it is not uncommon for people in African to be married at thirteen or younger.
You won’t find much evidence of divorces in African culture, and therefore it is not done very often. Typically problems that could be seen as a divorce are discussed and a solution will be found. It is an investment by the entire family, as the two families are joined once the wedding ceremony is completed.
Music
Though many cultures are based around reading and writing, these are things that didn’t come to Africa until later on. Right now, music and dance are the primary forms of communication, which is perfectly understandable. The drum is the most important instrument in the fast Africa orchestra, though African musicians are masters of many different instruments.
To learn more about African culture and traditions and listen to free African traditional music at the African Side site.
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