wolof wedding traditions

Wolof's independence can be seen in the succession of their first king or burba, the semi-legendary Ndiadiane N'diaye, traditionally placed in the 13th century CE but more likely to have been in the second half of the 14th century CE. 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. 2 (2002): 224-235. Trainee Wolof manual, Dakar: Peace Corps, 2012. The villagers detained him; he settled among them and became the one who settled disputes and sovereign authority. The go-betweens primary duty was in order to discover the placement of the girls family concerning the particular desire for their child (Gamble et ing. Scholars carry out these research studies in the quest to trace the historical development of the different cultures because it is believed that humankind descended from a single ancestry, and thus all people must have shared one culture at one time. Historians differ regarding the origins of the bridal veil, but some trace this tradition all the way back to Ancient Greece. (2019) 'The Marriage Traditions of Wolof Culture'. 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). IvyPanda. In traditional Wolof wedding ceremonies in Senegal, the parents of the husband-to-be sends elders to the bride parents with money and kola nuts to ask for her hand in marriage. [43][44], Marriages are endogamous. 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. 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". 9 February 2015. 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. Each womans purse, shoes, and even eye shadow matched her dress. In some cases, the rigid traditional systems in which the parents make all the decisions concerning matters of marriage are still witnessed (Melching 68). 31). The male sheep is slaughtered and its fat is used to decorate the brides wedding dress and applied to her head. The Jolof or Wolof Empire was a medieval West African state that ruled parts of Senegal and the Gambia from approximately 1350 to 1890. Later politico-religious changes, such as those brought during the Wolof Empire era, introduced major changes in the social structure among the Wolofs and many other ethnic groups, including a shift to a patrilineal system. Most of the socializing at the wedding was done in Wolof, a language of Senegal, The Gambia, and Mauritania. 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 . This is IvyPanda's free database of academic paper samples. Both have traditionally been hereditary castes. This research paper on The Marriage Traditions of Wolof Culture was written and submitted by your fellow [43], A village is headed by a chief, called the borom dekk. 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. One longstanding wedding tradition revolves around a bride's attire. [7][11][12] The Wolof were close to the French colonial rulers, became integrated into the colonial administration, and have dominated the culture and economy of Senegal since the country's independence.[13]. 32). 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. The arrival of European colonizers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries had a profound impact on the Wolof people and their kingdom. Something borrowed offers borrowed happiness. If this proposal is accepted, the parents of the bride-to be . Southern folklore says that to prevent rain on your big day, you should bury the beverage upside down at the wedding site one month before and dig it up after the ceremony to enjoy. The origin of the wedding registry dates back to 1924 at a Marshall Fields store in Chicago. 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. Print. Family members flank the happy couple clothed in blue traditional dress.] The population of the world is constituted by an array of cultural groupings and ethnicities. 32). Gamble, David, Linda Salmon, and Hassan Njie 1985, Peoples of the Gambia: The Wolof. IvyPanda. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. All of these customs are expected at modern weddings, but these wedding traditions actually date back to ancient times. Music Eventually, the kingdom of Jolof was absorbed into the larger state of Kaabu, but the Wolof people maintained their distinct cultural and ethnic identity. By the early 18th-century, all sorts of charges and petty crimes resulted in the accused being punished for the slave strata. Governor The Wolof as a people are largely Muslim and they practice Islam as religion. When she moves, the tinkling sound is supposed to deflect. Gunmen IvyPanda, 28 Nov. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/the-marriage-traditions-of-wolof-culture/. people are found in North Eastern part of Senegal, Mauritania, and Gambia. Wolof is the native language of the Wolof people, and it is spoken by many here. 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! 32). US Extends Visa Validity For Nigerians To Five Again, R. Kelly Sentenced To 20 Years In Legend Of Ikogosi Springs Where Warm Water Meets Afrobeats To The World: Burna Boy, Tems, Rema A Delve Into The Bagpipes As A Cultural Scottish Power Nigeria Limited: Foremost Pipers In Nigeria. The Wolof are a large ethnic group with a population of several million. The typical farmers in a village pay rent (waref) to the landowner for the right to crop his land. Multiple marriages have been common, with many Wolof households featuring two wives. 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. 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. . Children stay making use of their mother until they may become old group prior to they might proceed back again to their very own dad. [16], With the Arab conquests of West Africa in last centuries of the 1st millennium CE, one theory states that the Wolof people were forced to move into north and east Senegal where over time villages and towns developed into autonomous states such as Baol, Kayor, Saloum, Dimar, Walo, and Sine the overall ruling state being that of Jolof who came together voluntarily to form the Jolof Empire. November 28, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-marriage-traditions-of-wolof-culture/. The Wolof ethnic group (or Jollof, Jolof as they are sometimes known) in Gambia make up 16% of the population and are the third largest ethnic group. In English tradition, Wednesday is considered the "best day" to marry, although Monday is for wealth and Tuesday is for health. Ames, David. Sumaiya Ismail The wedding party might then escape in order to the grooms substance. Their total population exceeds 6 million in the three countries. Wolof smiths produce tools for agriculture, while another group works on gold jewelry. 5. Print. Itty Okopide Wolof ceremonial traditions Ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, and baptisms, while not unique, have traditional elements distinctive to the Wolof. These new colonial regimes moved to outlaw slavery, and by the 1890's the French authorities in West Africa had largely abolished the institution. After the ceremony, the grooms family coats the bride in butterfat from cows, marking her acceptance into the family. Soon the idea spread across the country and was popularized in the retail industry to include wedding gifts for the couple. This favors the idea that such measures provided the best and most stable marriages. More and more, couples are opting to include specific cultural traditions on their wedding day, and 43% of couples say that they are including at least one or a few meaningful cultural . prayer (Senegal is a predominantly Muslim country). Although this scenario has slightly changed with time, this practice is still prevalent in rural areas albeit with some minor adjustments. Accept Read More. Since cakes represent fertility, Ancient Romans would bake wheat cakes and break them over the brides head. Have you ever been a flower girl, a bridesmaid, or caught the bouquet at a friends wedding? Children remain with their mother until they are of age before they can go back to their father. [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. If the payment is made in full, the couple is considered legally divorced and may remarry without any problems (Gamble et al. The style of the Wolof jewelry collection is called kayor and was worn by Ngone Latir, the mother of the last king of Senegal. IPOB The couple are then expected to clean the mess up together signifying that marriage is not easy, but together they can work through anything. Diop, Elhadji. Divorce is quite common in the Wolof society and according to the Islamic tenets. [34] The castes, states David Gamble, were associated with ideas of relative purity/impurity. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 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. Like the neighbouring languages Serer and Fula, it belongs to the Senegambian branch of the NigerCongo language family. Southwestern Journal of Anthropology 11. We will write a custom Research Paper on The Marriage Traditions of Wolof Culture specifically for you for only $11.00 $9.35/page. [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. These acts gave the girls family room to assess the character of their prospective in-law. Males became responsible for gathering food, while females stayed at home to rear children. Their name as the Wolof first appears in the records of 15th-century Portuguese travelers. After identifying the right girl, the father of a young would man would enlist the help of a 3rd party to function as a go-between. "The Marriage Traditions of Wolof Culture." The Wolof people are a good ethnic grouping within North Eastern a part of Senegal, parts associated with Mauritania, and Gambia. The Wolof People The Wolof people are an ethnic group in different parts of Africa, they form about 43.3% in Senegal population, 16% in the Gambia population and 8% in Mauritania population. This trend was the norm in the rural settings, but there have been adjustments where young people residing in towns marry at later ages. The cultures of the different ethnic groupings have been a subject of research for a long time. The slaves could not marry without the permission of their owner, and it was usually the responsibility of the slave owner to arrange the marriage of or among his slaves. 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. Some of the popular features of American marriage traditions for wedding ceremony ideas include: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. 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. 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. populace) and in Gambia they are about 12% of the Gambian populace. The now-traditional wedding favor of five Jordan almonds symbolizes five wishes for the newlyweds of health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity. 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). The Himba people kidnap the bride before her ceremony and dress her in a leather headdress. 32). 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