Friday, October 17, 2008

Types of Wedding Ceremonies: African-American

Most African-American weddings have Western-style church ceremonies these days, although there seems to be renewed interest in incorporating more traditional elements from the various cultures involved. Angela Lawrence, a Toronto-based magazine editor with a Jamaican background, had a Protestant ceremony. She says that a prominent feature would be the music, usually a gospel singer or gospel choir. Lawrence explains that the concept of an "Afro-centric flavor to a wedding" is mainly a North American idea that attempts to gain some connection with the cultural heritage by borrowing ideas from Africa or the Caribbean. This could be done through music ­ drumming ­ or through wardrobe. For instance, the wedding party might wear African garb such as tunic type gowns and headwraps. While the colorful fabrics and patterns may not necessarily come from the same region of Africa as the bride's and groom's own ancestry, what is important is the symbolism of remembering the Black roots in general.

One tradition that is making a comeback among today's African-Americans is known as "jumping the broom." Back in the days of slavery, African slaves were not allowed by law to marry because they were viewed merely as property, not people, and therefore had no rights. There was also the fear that if the slaves were allowed to marry and live together, their strength in numbers would grow and could lead to revolt. With some ingenuity, the slaves came up with "jumping the broom" to signify the couple's union. With their master's permission, a couple could gather with witnesses, declare their devotion to one another, and then jump over a broom to indicate their step into married life. Among many African peoples, the broom held significance because it represented the beginning of homemaking. While "jumping the broom" is fairly well-known in the United States, the practice is not as common in Canada ­ not surprising, given the histories of the two countries.

At the turn of the century, another way for Black couples to show their commitment to one another was to cross sticks. The long, sturdy sticks, symbolizing the strength of trees, were crossed to signify the new union. Many traditions have links to African or Caribbean rituals. Sticks were used, too, for marriage ceremonies among the Samburu of Kenya; the groom would use them to brand the cattle that he gave to his bride. Cattle was also used as dowry for traditional Nigerian weddings.

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