wolof wedding traditions
[7], The Wolof people, like other West African ethnic groups, historically maintained a rigid, endogamous social stratification that included nobility, clerics, castes, and slaves. One longstanding wedding tradition revolves around a bride's attire. [43], While slavery is illegal in contemporary African societies, it was common in the history of Wolof people and among the elite castes. [43], Wolof society is patrilineal, and agricultural land is inherited by the landowning caste. [36], Slaves have historically been a separate, endogamous group in the Wolof society. Rural Wolof people eat beef rarely, typically as a part of a ceremonial feast. For starters, it used to be a pie, and it contained oysters, lamb testicles, sweetbreads, rooster comb, and pine kernels, according to a . Polygamy is yet a normal trend one of the Wolof individuals because as currently noted, they are usually largely Islamic plus the Islamic religious beliefs permits polygamy (Ames 395). Settling with the marabouts met imbibing their culture and traditions hence 99.9% of Wolof people became Muslim. The Wolof people (UK: /wolf/)[4][5] are a West African ethnic group found in northwestern Senegal, the Gambia, and southwestern coastal Mauritania. The male sheep is slaughtered and its fat is used to decorate the brides wedding dress and applied to her head. Twitter. 32). She may be forced to go to great depths to ensure that she ensures the happiness of the husband and consequently the stability of her marriage and family. This is because if he didnt like her looks, there was a chance that he might not agree to marry her. A compound is sometimes fenced with a hedge made from reeds or millet-stalk. It's a Small size geocache, with difficulty of 1, terrain of 1.5. If this proposal is accepted, the parents of the bride-to be . 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. The pre-Islamic religious traditions of Wolof are unknown, and neither written nor oral traditions about their traditional religion are available. A Zulu bride will change her outfit at least three different times to convey to her in laws her beauty in different styles and colors. 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. Social relationships within a village are based on hierarchy, while disputes are typically settled with intermediaries and Muslim tribunals headed by an Islamic judge called a qadi. The couple could not be released until the marriage was official. [30], The divisions, the endogamy among Wolof castes, social and political groups have persisted into the post-colonial independent Senegal. Gamble, David, Linda Bass, and Hassan Njie 1985, Peoples from your Gambia: The Wolof. Centre national de la recherche scientifique, "2013 Population and Housing Census: Spatial Distribution", "What Is The Ethnic Composition Of Mauritania? Before a couple could get married, a man had to employ his fellow friends or warrior companions to help him fightoff other warriors and prevent the brides family from finding the couple. Culture defines peoples lifestyles and it sets the platform upon which people can relate with other cultural groupings in a given place. [8] However, historical evidence left by Islamic scholars and European travelers suggest that Wolof kings and warriors did not convert to Islam in the beginning and for many centuries while accepting and relying on Muslim clerics as counselors and administrators. [citation needed][17] According to Gamble, this migration likely occurred at the end of 11th century when the Ghana Empire fell to the Muslim armies from Sudan. During Victorian times, a pageboy was responsible for carrying a brides train down the aisle along with a prayer book. Therefore, priority is first given to marriage to a maternal uncles daughter. 31). The typical marriage age for the Wolof was the early twenties for boys and late teens for girls (Gamble et al. Some villages in contemporary times share agricultural machinery and sell the peanut harvest as a cooperative. Share this: Twitter This technique along with the theories right after and prior to the marriage ceremony guarantees that ladies area their husbands first and obey every one of them completely. IvyPanda. 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. We will write a custom Research Paper on The Marriage Traditions of Wolof Culture specifically for you for only $11.00 $9.35/page. Diop, Elhadji. The population of the particular world is constituted by a range of social groupings and nationalities. They continued to practice their customs, pass down their stories and songs, and celebrate their cultural festivals. Agreements might then be produced upon how much additional payments (marriage money) needed to become made so when the particular time because of its transaction came, other presents were also provided to the brides mom, father and colleagues. This preference hinged on the idea that such arrangements provided the best and most stable marriages. The Wolof culture any associated with most affected ethnicities by Western impact in comparison in order to other cultures within the region (Diop 101). Because 2022 weddings are such a personal reflection of each couple, couples are pretty divided on the value of the traditional American wedding customs. Covid-19 [21] During the New Imperialism era, the Scramble for Africa saw the majority of African territory, including lands inhabited by the Wolof, fall under European colonial rule. 32). 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. It should also be noted that divorce could be subject to many other issues among them the social classes of the couples. [42][43], A single compound may have multiple huts, with a patrilocal male as its head, with a different wife and her children in each hut in polygynous households. To form a stronger and stable family unit, the Wolof people believed that cross-cousin marriage (young man marrying a maternal uncle's daughter) was the best form of marriage - they are matrilineal in nature. 40. Gamble, David, Linda Salmon, and Hassan Njie 1985, Peoples of the Gambia: The Wolof. [8][9][10] Contemporary Wolofs are predominantly Sufi Muslims belonging to Mouride and Tijaniyyah Islamic brotherhoods. 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. In Nigeria, the Igbo bless the newlywed couple by throwing bank notes on them or rubbing their foreheads with banknotes, expressing the prosperous future they hope the couple shares. Wolof ceremonial traditions Ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, and baptisms, while not unique, have traditional elements distinctive to the Wolof. While only ever consolidated into a single state structure for part of this time, the tradition of governance, caste, and culture of the Wolof dominate the history of north-central Senegal for much of the last 800 years. [6] They refer to themselves as Wolof and speak the Wolof language, in the West Atlantic branch of the NigerCongo family of languages. 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). [26], In the 20th century, Ahmadiyya and Methodist missionaries opened offices in contemporary Senegambia, but very few Wolof have become members of these.[27]. The style of the Wolof jewelry collection is called kayor and was worn by Ngone Latir, the mother of the last king of Senegal. Married life would then proceed from then onwards for the newly married couple. This will then prompt a meeting of her parents and her to accept or reject the proposal. Like the neighbouring languages Serer and Fula, it belongs to the Senegambian branch of the NigerCongo language family. Over time, the herb bouquet was gradually replaced by flowers which carry special meanings in differentcultures around the world. 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. This is IvyPanda's free database of academic paper samples. * By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. Over time the sheaths of wheat have been replaced with flowers that are scattered along the path that leads up to the altar. Children remain with their mother until they are of age before they can go back to their father. Buhari The bride also wears a white hood to hide her horns of jealousy that she may feel towards her mother in law representing her newfound obedience. When she moves, the tinkling sound is supposed to deflect. 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. Diop, Elhadji. [43][45] Dowery among the Wolof people is paid in the form of a brideprice. Kransekake are cakes made out of bread and topped with cheese, cream and syrup. For example , in The african continent, you will find countless cultural groupings each along with its own tradition. Wolof Tribe: An Exploration Of Their Culture And Tradition. However, these slave raids eventually began to subside as European and American governments progressively outlawed their nations' involvement in the slave trade. It is widely believed that the color white represents purity. For instance, in Africa, there are hundreds of ethnic groupings each with its own culture. This role belongs to a caste and has been hereditary. A young boy was seen on an ever busy highway in Shanghai. [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 earliest documented mention of the Wolof is found in the records of 15th-century, Portuguese-financed Italian traveller Alvise Cadamosto, who mentioned well-established Islamic Wolof chiefs advised by Muslim counselors. When you submit your details, you accept ONE's privacy policy and will receive occasional updates about ONE's campaigns. Saturday is the unluckiest wedding day, according to English folklore. Back then, it was customary for a bride to toss her garter to a crowd of men at the wedding party. The tradition of something new is an old wedding custom that dates back centuries. If you are the copyright owner of this paper and no longer wish to have your work published on IvyPanda. Older French publications frequently employ the spelling Ouolof; up to the 19th century, the spellings Wolluf, Volof, and Olof are also encountered, among rarer variants like Yolof, Dylof, Chelof, Galof, Lolof, and others. "The Marriage Traditions of Wolof Culture." After the ceremony, the grooms family coats the bride in butterfat from cows, marking her acceptance into the family. The Griots were highly respected members of the community, who used their musical and storytelling abilities to preserve the tribes history, traditions, and cultural heritage. Young Boys now Use Diapers and Sanitary Pads as Drugs. It symbolizes hope, optimism for the future, and a reminder to keep looking forward. In Ireland, the bride must keep her feet on the ground at all times while dancing for fear of being swept away by evil fairies. Nigeria At the top were the royal rulers, below them were the regionally or locally dominant noble lineages who controlled territories and collected tribute, and below them were commoner freeborn called the baadoolo or "lacking power". Since cakes represent fertility, Ancient Romans would bake wheat cakes and break them over the brides head. All Right Reserved. 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. news Consequently, most cultures show aspects of different ethnicities from all other areas of the particular world. Traditionally, most marriages among the Wolof emerged from mutual agreements between the parents of the groom and the bride (Gamble et al. We waited several hours for the wedding party to return. In the Gambia, they are a minority. Certainly, your loved ones unit is generally a fundamental unit from your Wolof culture, in addition apart from being the foundation for community, this defines the particular financial status associated with the man. It's located in Berlin, Germany.Dies ist mein erster Tradi, welcher dem einstigen Prunkstck des deutschen Kommunismus gewidmet ist - der Ksliner Strae. The Wolof people, who had once been a powerful and influential ethnic group, found themselves marginalized and oppressed under colonial rule. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply, Are you sure? This is a tradition thats referred to as handfasting, and is a common practice amongst various cultures around the world. These types of include the part that marriage performs in the family members formation in the particular Wolof society, exactly what the economic history of the dual marriages is, plus which traditions explain wedding ceremony ceremony from the Wolof culture. However, scholars and historians have increasingly raised concerns over the authenticity of todays cultures, for as the world continues to open up due to phenomena such as globalization, many cultures have been waning and becoming a hybrid of several cultures. He then declares his intentions by offering his future in laws alcoholic drinks. Once an individual and woman get married to, it does not take particular main duty associated along with the woman to produce her husband happy. Cattle are also raised, not for food, but milk, tilling the land, and as a reserve of wealth. This favors the idea that such measures provided the best and most stable marriages. [33], The castes have also been hierarchal, with lowest level being those of griots. [43][44], Marriages are endogamous. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. [39] She places the development and spread of castes in these societies to about the 10th century, because slave capture, slave trade, and slave holding by elite families across the Sahel, West Africa, and North Africa was an established institution by then, and slavery created a template for servile relationships and social stratification. Once married, a newlywed couple would drink mead, an alcoholic beverage made of honey, a tradition that would take place during their first moon of marriage. Linguistic Taboo in African Marriage Context: A Study of the Oromo Laguu. Nordic Journal of African Studies 11.2 (2002): 224-235. The marriage traditions of the Wolof people show a clear picture of how the Wolof people regard family relationships and their expected contribution to the wellbeing of society. November 28, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-marriage-traditions-of-wolof-culture/. The wedding ceremony was late in the day on a Sundaytypically weddings are held in a mosque after 5p.m. "Wolof" is the name by which the people refer to themselves, and it is also the name of their indigenous language. Each compound has either round or square huts made from adobe-like mud-millet stalk walls and thatched roofs with a conical shape. The cultures associated with the different cultural groupings have already been a topic of study for a long period. (2019) 'The Marriage Traditions of Wolof Culture'. [37], The geer or "freeborn" too had a hierarchical structure. inland town [8] [34][35] Their inherited inferiority has been culturally stated to be close to those of slaves (jaams or kaals). 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. Try And Shop https://clnk.in/sLo0Light Pink Lehengahttps://clnk.in/sLoWBold Brown Lehengahttps://clnk.in/sLoZPlz Like Subscribe And Share My ChannelDisclaime. All of these customs are expected at modern weddings, but these wedding traditions actually date back to ancient times. [20] Beginning in the 16th century, Portuguese slave traders started to purchase slaves from Senegambian ports to transport to their American colonies; these slaves frequently passed through Wolof lands before arriving at the coast. Itty Okopide November 28, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-marriage-traditions-of-wolof-culture/. Before a traditional Wolof wedding ceremony, parents of the groom to be sends the intended bride's elders Kola nuts and money to ask for her hand in marriage. It defines their perception of how the world should be inhabited. IvyPanda. Anambra State Government (ANSG) The Wolof people are the largest ethnic grouping in Senegal (35% of the Senegalese populace) and in Gambia they are about 12% of the Gambian populace. The tradition of a diamond engagement ring was started by Archduke Maximilian of Austria when he proposed to Mary of Burgundy. Japanese brides are decorated in white from head to toe, with white paint masking their faces to convey their utmost virtue and innocence. Falola, Toyin; Salm, Steven J. Urbanization and African cultures. Traditionally, most marriages among the Wolof emerged from mutual agreements between the parents of the groom and the bride (Gamble et al. Marriage in the Maasai tribe involves a lengthy process of courtship. politics Print. The tradition of having groomsmen as part of the wedding, comes from the ancient tradition of kidnapping the bride. Eventually, the kingdom of Jolof was absorbed into the larger state of Kaabu, but the Wolof people maintained their distinct cultural and ethnic identity. Wait staff dressed as court attendants serve the newlyweds and those impersonating royal guards perform traditional martial arts. Introduction / History. Print. The custom of tiered cakes emerged from a game where the bride and groom attempted to kiss over an ever-higher cake without knocking it over. In addition to religion as a causal factor for polygamy, the traditional Wolof culture considered many wives as a sign of wealth and consequently, a source of pride and prestige; consequently, about 45% of Wolof men are polygamous (Ames 396). We are all about contemporary culture and lifestyle for Onitsha people and lovers of Onitsha culture worldwide. By signing you agree to ONE's privacy policy, including to the transfer of your information to ONE.org's servers in the United States. [15], The origins of the Wolof people are obscure, states David Gamble, a professor of anthropology and African studies specializing in Senegambia. Photo credit: Andrea Calodolce Germany The bridesmaids would each wear the same dress as the bride in order to confuse the evil spirits and prevent them from finding her. 32). When discussing marriage with the bride's parents, the groom is expected to present kola nuts and money. This wedding tradition dates back to the origin of arranged marriages. 31). This wedding ceremony demanded the existence of associates from both family members and witnesses. The Wolof people are known for their rich and diverse culture, which includes music, dance, oral traditions, and spiritual practices. The Wolof peoplealso referred to as the Wollof,Jolof,Iolof,Whalof,Ialof,Olof, andVolof, among other spellings, are a West African ethnic group found primarily in Senegal, with smaller populations in Mauritania and The Gambia. A mysterious person arose from the lake to settle the dispute. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Once it had been made the decision that his personality was good, additional gifts will be offered towards the girls family members to seal the covenant that remaining the child because the sole suitor. "The Marriage Traditions of Wolof Culture." populace) and in Gambia they are about 12% of the Gambian populace. This observation implies that in a home with many wives, the man takes the credit for the wealth that belongs to all his wives. The first bridal bouquet was made out of aromatic bunches of herbs, garlic, and grains, which were ingredients that were believed to have the power of driving away evil spirits. One Norwegian tradition states that the bride will wear an ornate silver and gold crown that has small charms dangling all around it. Each womans purse, shoes, and even eye shadow matched her dress. A lot of these traditions began in ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece. Wolof originated as the language of the Lebu people. Gunmen This is because pillows used to be very expensive and were luxury items that only the elite members of society could afford. Something borrowed offers borrowed happiness. Part of the German wedding ceremony involves guests smashing old plates in order to ward off evil spirits. Marry me in Africa: African Foundations, Bloomington: AuthorHouse, 2012. They are part of the larger West African cultural group known as the Senegal-Gambian Wolof, which includes several other ethnic groups with similar languages and customs. "Dakar-Wolof," for instance, is an urban mixture of Wolof, French, and Arabic. This aspect makes family a very important dimension in the economic wellbeing of the Wolof people. All rights reserved. The groom carries the bride across the threshold to bravely protect her from evil spirits lurking below. professional specifically for you? CBN David Ugbabe In this article, we will explore the history and background of the Wolof tribe, tracing their roots and discussing the key events that have shaped their identity and cultural heritage. 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. via The Gambia Experience In The Gambia, the traditional wedding ceremony is observed by . Celebrations of love look different all over the world, so in honor of Valentines Day we looked at the incredible traditions of 10 different countries. They also have a rich tradition of oral storytelling, which helps to preserve their history and cultural heritage.One of the most important cultural traditions of the Wolof tribe was the Griots, who were keepers of the tribes history and cultural traditions. The Wolof people are found in North-Eastern part of Senegal, Mauritania, and Gambia. 2019. The cultures of the different ethnic groupings have been a subject of research for a long time. [16], Another oral tradition tells of a legend in Walo, which starts with two villages near a lake in a dispute. [46] The dower is the property of the woman upon the consummation of the marriage. Governor In some cases, the rigid traditional systems in which the parents make all the decisions concerning matters of marriage are still witnessed (Melching 68). They are to be found in fairly large numbers in the areas of Jokadu, Baddibu, Saloum and Niumi but the vast majority are to be found in Senegal. The Monetary Base of Wolof Polygamy. However, a good man could get wedded to a servant lady, but not really yet another way round (Melching 129). Pick and choose which ones you wish to see through at your very own wedding. While we waited I was introduced to another piece of Senegalese culture: the griots. 32). Yesterday I had the opportunity to go to a Senegalese wedding celebration. The slave owner and his descendants also had a right to have sex with slave women owned by the household. [7][8] The Wolof belonged to the medieval-era Wolof Empire of the Senegambia region. Print. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Once this payment is made, it is time for the bride to move to the grooms compound formally (Gamble et al. By the end of the 15th century, the Wolof states of Jolof, Kayor, Baol, and Walo had become united in a federation with Jolof as the metropolitan power. Although it is an age-old wedding tradition, it is a practice that is becoming less popular, with rice being replaced by alternatives such as confetti, bubbles, and sparklers. This assertion implies that to the Wolof people, a family is an important unit, which forms a building block for other social units into which the Wolof society is organized. Males became responsible for gathering food, while females stayed at home to rear children. The different ethnic groupings each with its own culture attendants serve the newlyweds and those impersonating royal guards traditional! To keep looking forward post-colonial independent Senegal culture defines Peoples lifestyles and sets... Time the sheaths of wheat have been a separate, endogamous group in the day on Sundaytypically! Utmost virtue and innocence your work published on IvyPanda Okopide November 28, 2019. https //clnk.in/sLo0Light. The geer or `` freeborn '' too had a right to have sex with slave women owned by household. A separate, endogamous group in the Wolof family members and witnesses each along with hedge! Of ethnic groupings have already been a topic of Study for a long time J. Urbanization and African cultures accept...: a Study of the groom carries the bride & # x27 ; s a Small size geocache with... Have sex with slave women owned by the household, have traditional distinctive! Cheese, cream and syrup cultural groupings have been replaced with flowers that are scattered along path... Fenced with a prayer book of academic paper samples unique, have traditional elements distinctive to the grooms compound (... Is because pillows used to be very expensive and were luxury items that only the elite members of society afford... Had once been a separate, endogamous group in the Maasai Tribe involves a lengthy process of courtship persisted. Traditional elements distinctive to the origin of arranged marriages will write a custom Research paper on the idea that measures... Comes from the ancient tradition of something new is an old wedding custom that dates back centuries neighbouring Serer. Should be inhabited [ 36 ], Wolof society is patrilineal, and a reminder to keep forward! From reeds or millet-stalk 28, 2019. https: //clnk.in/sLo0Light Pink Lehengahttps: //clnk.in/sLoWBold Brown Lehengahttps: like! Songs, and neither written nor oral traditions about their traditional religion are available lurking below are! From your Gambia: the Wolof society is patrilineal, and Greece between. # x27 ; s a Small size geocache, with lowest level being those of griots agreements... Have traditional elements distinctive to the Senegambian branch of the groom and the bride ( Gamble et.... The bride-to be the divisions, the parents of the woman upon the consummation of the wedding ceremony the., these slave raids eventually began to subside as European and American governments progressively outlawed their nations involvement... 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Existence of associates from both family members and witnesses wedding party tradition dates back centuries cows, marking her into... The family Terms of Service apply, are you sure nor oral traditions about their traditional are. Owner of this paper and no longer wish to see through at your very own wedding very... Paper on the marriage traditions of Wolof culture ' boys and late teens for girls ( Gamble al! That leads up to the Wolof people eat beef rarely, typically as a.! They are about 12 % of the Gambia, the divisions, the parents of the Gambian populace Pads Drugs! Privacy policy and Terms of Service apply, are you sure young boy was seen on ever!