wolof wedding traditions

The tradition of a wedding cake comes from ancient Rome, where revelers broke a loaf of bread over a bride's head for fertility's sake. The Wolof individuals are the biggest ethnic collection in Senegal because they form about 35% from the Senegalese people regarding 12% from the Gambian populace (Diop 112). IvyPanda. Most are located in the West African countries of Senegal and The Gambia. Back then, it was customary for a bride to toss her garter to a crowd of men at the wedding party. The term Wolof also refers to the Wolof language and to their states, cultures, and traditions. 32). [43], Wolof society is patrilineal, and agricultural land is inherited by the landowning caste. peter obi However, Wolof language and culture have a disproportionate influence because of their prevalence in Banjul, the Gambian capital, where a majority of the population is Wolof. Despite these factors, that will ought to in order to improve marriages, separation and divorce will be section associated with the Wolof custom. IPOB IvyPanda. This has become a beloved tradition worldwide, as it symbolizes good luck and happiness for the newlyweds. Romans then began to substitute the material with iron, which ultimately led to the use of gold to make the first betrothal rings. 32). Wolof is the native language of the Wolof people, and it is spoken by many here. Once this payment is made, it is time for the bride to move to the grooms compound formally (Gamble et al. During this time, the Wolof people gather together to dance, sing, and honor their ancestors. [39] According to Victoria B. Coifman, a professor of Afro-American and African studies, historical evidence suggests that the Wolof people were a matrilineal society before the 14th-century. The bridal party would then make its way to the grooms compound. However, these slave raids eventually began to subside as European and American governments progressively outlawed their nations' involvement in the slave trade. This will then prompt a meeting of her parents and her to accept or reject the proposal. An intriguing aspect of these arrangements was that the intervention of diviners was sought to determine if the marriage was feasible before marriage actually took place (Gamble et al. The Wolof society is divided into castes, which entail nobles and slaves among several others. Gunmen Weddings can be very elaborate, involving feasting and dancing for days within a community, they can be very simple, or they can even be performed in huge marriage ceremonies involving many different couples. Wolof ceremonial traditions Ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, and baptisms, while not unique, have traditional elements distinctive to the Wolof. Polygamy is also a normal phenomenon among the Wolof people because as already noted, they are largely Muslim and the Islam religion permits polygamy (Ames 395). [citation needed]. The bridesmaids would each wear the same dress as the bride in order to confuse the evil spirits and prevent them from finding her. [6] They refer to themselves as Wolof and speak the Wolof language, in the West Atlantic branch of the NigerCongo family of languages. Cattle are also raised, not for food, but milk, tilling the land, and as a reserve of wealth. Males became responsible for gathering food, while females stayed at home to rear children. They have a deep respect for their ancestors and a strong belief in their cultural heritage, which they celebrate through a variety of festivals and rituals. Trainee Wolof manual, Dakar: Peace Corps, this season. A brief marriage ceremony was then performed by an Imam (the Wolof people are largely Islamic) after the routine Friday prayers at the mosque (Gamble et al. festival The cultures of the different ethnic groupings have been a subject of research for a long time. This practice was founded on the idea that parents were more suited to choose what was best for their children due to the accumulated wisdom and experience (Mbaya 226). The age-old wedding tradition of a flower girl stems from an Ancient Roman tradition where young virgins would carry sheaths of wheat, which was believed to bring on well-being and good fortune to the newlyweds. Prior to traditional Wolof wedding ceremonies, the parents of the groom-to-be sends elders to the girl's parents with kola nuts and money to ask for . All brides hope to be treated like royalty on their big day, but Malaysian brides actual are. Family members flank the happy couple clothed in blue traditional dress.] President Muhammadu Buhari The Wolof people's traditional culture and practices have survived the colonial era and are a strong element of the Senegalese culture. [43][49] Wolof farmers raise chickens and goats, and dried or smoked fish purchased, both a part of their diet. Entertainment Under such marriage arrangements, the bride and the groom did not have much of an influence over what happens. In the conventional traditional arrangement, the parents were the ones to decide that their son is ripe for marriage, seek a suitable bride for him, and initiate marriage talks (Agorsah 61). 31). Religious and political functions have been the domain of men, while women typically keep the household, bring water from their sources such as wells or nearby rivers. Like circles, diamonds have long been considered as symbols of eternity because they are the hardest gems on earth. If a marriage takes place across this social system without the knowledge of those involved and the truth comes out later, a divorce is inevitable. Unfortunately, the groom would have to save his bride from the mob, and a new tradition was born in which the bride would simply toss her bouquet instead of her garter to avoid all the trouble. He was called Ndyadyane Ndyaye, and his descendants were called Ndiayes or Njie, and these led to ruling families of Wolof, Mali according to this mythical legend. You want to personalized your v As the name implies singles day is a day set aside for young people to celebrate their youthfulness and independence. Do you want to stay informed about how you can help fight against extreme poverty? 41. Marriage Traditions of Wolof People The institution of marriage is an intrinsic part of the Wolof culture. In the Wolof tribe there is even a time where the elders of the village gather with the bride and give advice and gifts. For starters, it used to be a pie, and it contained oysters, lamb testicles, sweetbreads, rooster comb, and pine kernels, according to a . Once it was decided that his character was good, further gifts would be presented to the girls family to seal a covenant that left the young man as the sole suitor. During its heyday, the kingdom of Jolof was a center of trade, commerce, and culture, attracting merchants, travelers, and scholars from across West Africa.In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Wolof kingdom of Jolof came into conflict with the neighboring kingdom of Kaabu, leading to a series of wars and battles. It's a Small size geocache, with difficulty of 1, terrain of 1.5. Culture as a whole makes a wide area of study that cannot be examined effectively in this paper; therefore, this paper focuses on the marriage traditions of Wolof people. Naturally, the responsibility of tossing the garter shifted to the groom. 31). [23], In and after the 18th century, the Wolofs were impacted by the violent jihads in West Africa, which triggered internal disagreements among the Wolof on Islam. Each womans purse, shoes, and even eye shadow matched her dress. 31). If the brides parents agree to the union, then the groom must gift the bride with three black cows and two sheep. When discussing marriage with the bride's parents, the groom is expected to present kola nuts and money. Whether youre planning your wedding ceremony and reception, attending one soon, or just want to learn more about the history of marriage, youre sure to be surprised by how much these wedding traditions have changed since theyve originated! InlandTown Before the Wolof people became involved in goods and slave trading with the Portuguese merchants on the coast, they had a long tradition of established trading of goods and slaves with the Western Sudanese empires and with Imamate of Futa Toro and other ethnic groups in North Africa. Married life would then proceed from then onwards for the newly married couple. Some clusters are random with no central plaza, and many are clustered around a plaza with a mosque in the center. This aspect causes one to want to know the kind of social environment in which this culture is practiced and why it would be subject to more Western influence than other cultures in the region. 2 (2002): 224-235. anambra While some traditions take place on the wedding day, others are done in advance of the nuptials, such as burying a bottle of bourbon. This ceremony demanded the presence of representatives from both families and witnesses. Agorsah, Koffi. The French, who had established a colony in Senegal, sought to expand their control over the region and began a process of forced assimilation and cultural suppression. If accepted the Kola nuts are distributed amongst family, and neighbors which is an informal . The oral traditions of the Wolof have legends that state them to have been adherents of Islam since the founding of their Kingdom of Jolof. [7][8] The Wolof belonged to the medieval-era Wolof Empire of the Senegambia region. In recent years, however, the expansion of peanut cultivation and an acceleration towards urbanization has motivated many of the Wolof to spread out into Cote d'Ivoire and Mali. Anambra state Wedding cakes are one of the centerpieces of a wedding but Norwegian wedding cakes known as Kransekake, offer a unique take on the staple dish. This would be accomplished after colorful traditional wedding rituals meant to free the marriage of evil and make it fruitful and successful. The circle represents eternity, because it doesnt have a beginning or an end. Drawing a Fine Line Between Friendship and Acquaintanceship, Police Will Battle MASSOB/IPB , If Says AIG Usman Gwary, History: Igwe Ofala Okagbue, Longest Ruling Obi of Onitsha. anambra citizens During ancient times, women would wear rings made of papyrus around their wrists and ankles. [8][24], In the late 19th century, as the French colonial forces launched a war against the Wolof kingdoms, the Wolof people resisted the French and triggered the start of near-universal conversion of the Wolof people in Senegambia to Islam. Traditionally, around the early morning following the brides first night, the blood stained fabric will be displayed in order to show that this bride-to-be was a virgin (Agorsah 80), that was the great supply of satisfaction that inspired praise-filled songs for that bride-to-be and her mom. 9 February 2015. They migrated from the western regions of the kingdom and settled in the Senegal River Valley in the 11th century where they lived as farmers and herders. Women of the pottery caste group, also help in steps involved in making pottery.[43]. Apga delta state 32). 39. 31). Marriage between the two groups is generally not permissible. Gamble, David, Linda Bass, and Hassan Njie 1985, Peoples from your Gambia: The Wolof. With these firearms, the intensity and violence of Wolof slave raids (and conflicts with other ethnic groups in general) increased. Consequently, most cultures show aspects of different ethnicities from all other areas of the particular world. The Wolof Empire was ruled by a powerful king known as the Bakhou, who held absolute power over the entire kingdom. Tall, dark and striking, Wolof people are often seen in colourful fabrics and patterns with the traditional boubou the garment of choice for both men and women. [43][45] Dowery among the Wolof people is paid in the form of a brideprice. Historians differ regarding the origins of the bridal veil, but some trace this tradition all the way back to Ancient Greece. 3. [8][9][10] Contemporary Wolofs are predominantly Sufi Muslims belonging to Mouride and Tijaniyyah Islamic brotherhoods. In order to form a strong and stable family among the Wolof, it was traditionally believed that cross-cousin marriage (young man marrying a maternal uncles daughter) was the best form of marriage (Gamble et al. The bride and groom were challenged to kiss over the tower without knocking it over. politics Traditionally, on the morning following the brides first night, a blood stained cloth would be displayed to show that the bride was a virgin (Agorsah 80), which was a great source of pride that inspired praise-filled songs for the bride and her mother. The Wolof constitute a large ethnic group inhabiting the West African country of Senegal, a former French colony, and Gambia, a former British colony. professional specifically for you? To be able to form the strong and steady family among the Wolof, it was traditionally believed that cross-cousin marriage (young man marrying a maternal uncles daughter) was the best form of marriage (Gamble et al. At the same time, Victorians began to place the ring on small pillows as a display of their wealth. Their total population exceeds 6 million in the three countries. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [22], The pre-Islamic religious traditions of Wolof are unknown, and neither written nor oral traditions about their traditional religion are available. apc [28][29] It is the most widely spoken language in Senegal, spoken natively by the Wolof people (40% of the population) but also by most other Senegalese as a second language. For the girls father, the young man was expected to assist in chores such as weeding and harvesting among other masculine endeavors. * By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. The Wolof people, who had once been a powerful and influential ethnic group, found themselves marginalized and oppressed under colonial rule. Divorce is quite common in the Wolof society and according to the Islamic tenets. Ames, David. One Norwegian tradition states that the bride will wear an ornate silver and gold crown that has small charms dangling all around it. Married ladies can be found in closely-knit friendship systems, which create sure it really is extremely difficult for just about any woman to interact within functions of cheating (Gamble et ing. A compound traditionally operates a joint kitchen, but if there are internal disputes then each family unit cooks separately. [16], Another oral tradition tells of a legend in Walo, which starts with two villages near a lake in a dispute. The Wolof people (wlf/) - (wolf/) are an ethnic group in Senegal, The Gambia, and Mauritania. Under such marriage arrangements, the bride and the groom did not have much of an influence over what happens. Have you ever been a flower girl, a bridesmaid, or caught the bouquet at a friends wedding? Web. The origin of marriage dates back to 23,000 years ago when hunter-gatherers became farmers, and gender roles around the household started to form. ASUU 32). Wolof smiths produce tools for agriculture, while another group works on gold jewelry. This declaration means that towards the Wolof people, children is a good important unit, which usually forms a foundation with regard to other social models into that the Wolof society is structured. Although it was traditionally permissible for a young man to marry a paternal aunts daughter, the importance attached to the stability and success of the family unit among the Wolof ensured that the first priority was given to marriage to a mothers uncles daughter. Although this scenario has slightly changed with time, this practice is still prevalent in rural areas albeit with some minor adjustments. 31). Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. (2019, November 28). 31). 32). We arrived at the reception site just as the men were driving away to go to prayer. The slave owner and his descendants also had a right to have sex with slave women owned by the household. Of 1, terrain of 1.5 and money dates back to 23,000 years ago when hunter-gatherers farmers... The material with iron, which entail nobles and slaves among several others below or click an to... 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