African weddings that make us go gaga

Nigeria

It’s hard to pick out just one thing from a Nigerian wedding, one is caught between the beautiful matching attire, food and the crazy party that is the reception. What makes Nigerian weddings unique are their customs, which include:

• Open invitation
• One is not enough: Nigerians get to have two weddings a religious and cultural wedding.
• Unique traditions: Hausa men have to prove their love to their bride by enduring one hundred lashes.

Ethiopia

Ethiopian weddings are the stuff that dreams are made of-mixing the old with the new, traditional with modern. Here are some of the things that make Ethiopian weddings stand out from the rest:

• Rituals: The coffee ceremony is performed at occasions such as weddings. According to epicurean.com “Ethiopia’s coffee ceremony is an integral part of their social and cultural life. An invitation to attend a coffee ceremony is considered a mark of friendship or respect and is an excellent example of Ethiopian hospitality.”
•  The Dowry: The dowry given by the groom’s family  to the bride’s family  can range from livestock, money to other valuable objects.

Morocco

Moroccan weddings are basically a festival. With all the ceremonies that need to be done the festivities can last between three days to a week depending on the family. The following wedding customs and traditions will make you love the Moroccans.

• Pre-wedding ceremonies: There are three pre-wedding ceremonies, the first being sending gifts to the bride, the second is called a “furnishing” party which takes place five days before the wedding. It is the delivery of furniture and decorations for the bride’s future home. Lastly the “milk bath” is to purify the bride, and she is assisted by other older married women.
• Henna or Beberiska Party: The bride gets a henna party before her wedding day which is attended by the women of the family.
• Centre of attention: The couple gets carried in a huge chair called the Amariya. Four men carry them around the reception venue for every guest to see and wish the couple well.