African Brides

Staying in a residence where each year I meet new people coming from different countries, I met some Africans, to whom I befriended, both men and women. Because I am interested in cultural diversity and finding out new things about cultures and countries and their rituals, one day I was talking to them and I was wondering what traditions they have related to big events in a man’s life. Of course, this means I asked about what rituals they have regarding the holy matrimony. I find that the cultural differences between people are interesting and worth looking into. This friend of mine first told me Africans have special costumes they dress when they marry. African women don’t usually dress in a white gown like European women. Of course, I’m refering to ones that want to keep traditions alive and continue with their cultural inheritance along the years.

The traditional wedding costume of African women is very different from what you know. Very few look like European ones, and if that happens, they still have aspects common to the traditional wedding outfits. The colors don’t really matter, but mostly white is used for the fabric, because it is the festive color, in combination with other colors. Not as complex, not so many embroideries and not as colored as the traditional wedding costumes of Indian women, the wedding costumes of African brides still have some decorations on the fabric, representing different motifs, symbols and drawings

Some of them are tribal and some are just lines, dots and geometrical figures. Sometimes images with animals are used in the making of the outfits. Both the groom and the African bride wear hats on their heads, looking like cilinders and with similar patterns found on the dress/costume. The groom’s costume is similar to the bride’s. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not refering to the fact that African grooms wear dresses, I’m just saying that both of the outfits have similar patterns and colors. It’s like because they are soulmates their clothing must have common traits.

Some of the decorations that are sown to the dresses or to the costumes imply many beads, whether the costume belongs to the bride or to the groom. To some wedding outfits, African brides match wooden jewelry. I believe this is also related to tradition and some might be handmade too. They are usually big and colored, depending on the design of the outfit. Bracelets, rings and earrings are never missing from the accessories. As far as I can tell, African brides don’t use strident make-up. Whether they use natural colors, like brown, golden, beige or they don’t use make-up at all. They are wonderful as God made them and that is enough!

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