A Ghanaian Wedding: Customs And Traditions

Ghanaian weddings are a vibrant affair, full of colour, music, and symbolic rituals. The ceremonies are a unique blend of traditional and modern customs, with a focus on family, love, and celebration.

The bride and groom dress to impress, with regal attire and gold jewellery. The bride wears a crown-like headdress and a special wedding cloth called Kente, featuring intricate patterns and bright colours, each with a special meaning.

The ceremony begins with a playful negotiation between spokespeople from both families, who exchange jokes and friendly banter while asking for the bride's hand in marriage. Gifts are then presented to the bride and her family, including a dowry of clothes, jewellery, and household items.

The bride makes a grand entrance, surrounded by her female friends or sisters, with music and dancing. She greets the groom's family and accepts their gifts. The groom is then presented with a string of fake brides to test if he can identify his true love, but it's all in good fun as the real bride always enters the room last.

Ghanaian weddings are a feast for the senses, with delicious traditional foods, lively music, and vibrant African prints. It's an honour to be invited to a Ghanaian wedding, where guests are immersed in a rich cultural experience filled with joy and love.

The 'knocking' ceremony

The knocking ceremony is a long-held tradition and the first stage before conducting a traditional marriage in Ghana. It is locally called "kookoo ko" or "Opon-akyi bo", derived from the Ghanaian tradition of knocking on a neighbour or friend's door before entering.

During the ceremony, the man's family visits the woman's family to present gifts, money, drinks, and other valuables. This is to officially announce the man's intention to marry the woman. A date, time, and location are set, usually at the woman's father's compound. The man's family appoints a spokesperson to represent them as the man himself is not permitted to speak directly. The spokesperson will reply to the woman's family about their intentions.

After the intention is made known, the drinks, gifts, and herbs (kola nuts) are presented to the woman's family. If they are accepted, it means the man's family is welcome, and the woman's family will ask the woman if she knows the man and if she wants to marry him. If she replies yes, both families proceed with planning and discussing other marital rites that must be fulfilled before or during the traditional wedding.

The knocking ceremony is an interesting event that intending couples and their families look forward to. It serves as proof that the lovers are serious about their relationship and gives both families the opportunity to meet and get to know each other.

Gifts for the bride and her family

Gifts play a significant role in Ghanaian weddings. In a traditional Ghanaian wedding, gifts are presented to the bride and her family by the groom and his family. This includes a dowry, also known as a "wedding registry", which serves as a list of items the bride needs to begin her new life. The dowry typically includes personal effects, household items, and other gifts for the bride, such as kitchen utensils, jewellery, makeup, and clothes. These gifts are usually presented at the wedding ceremony in a decorative display.

The parents of the bride also receive gifts as a sign of appreciation for taking care of her. Additionally, the bride's siblings are given gifts called "Akonta Sikan". The groom may also offer money to the bride's brothers, known as "Akonta Sekan", as a token of gratitude for protecting their sister.

The presentation of gifts is an important aspect of the Ghanaian wedding ceremony, symbolising the joining of the two families and showcasing the value placed on family in Ghanaian culture.

Bride's grand entrance

The bride's entrance is the star attraction of a Ghanaian wedding. Here are some ideas for a grand entrance:

The Bride's Entrance

The bride's entrance is a highly anticipated moment at Ghanaian weddings, and it can be a drawn-out process, especially with the presentation of gifts. The bride makes a grand appearance, greeting the groom's family, welcoming them to her home, and accepting their gifts. This entrance is accompanied by music, with the bride's family entering to the sound of traditional "adowa" groups or a live band.

The Bride's Attire

The bride wears a special wedding dress called Kente, which features beautiful patterns and colours, each with a special meaning. The bride can also opt for other colours besides the traditional Kente hues. She also wears a bridal headdress called Tekua, which resembles a crown with massive decorations. The overall look is completed with colourful beading and gold jewellery.

The Procession

A professional announcer, such as a DJ or band member, can introduce the bridal party and create a seamless transition into the reception. This person can ensure a smooth flow by managing the crowd and avoiding awkward pauses. The announcer should be provided with a list of names and the order of entry, as well as the phonetic spelling of each name to ensure correct pronunciation.

Music Selection

Music selection is crucial for the grand entrance. Instead of choosing a different song for each pair entering, opt for one or two upbeat wedding introduction songs to maintain a smooth flow. These songs can be classic tunes recognised by guests of all ages, such as "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang, or "I Feel Good (I Got You)" by James Brown. For a more modern touch, consider "ME!" by Taylor Swift or "Marry Me" by Bruno Mars.

Gifts and Dowry

The groom's family presents gifts to the bride and her family, including a dowry of items like clothes, makeup, jewellery, and kitchen utensils. These gifts are placed in a decorated trunk and presented to the bride. The bride's siblings also receive gifts, known as Akonta Sikan.

Bride gives consent three times

Ghanaian weddings are a beautiful celebration filled with regal clothing, symbolic traditions, and more. One such symbolic tradition is the bride giving her consent three times when asked for her hand in marriage. This tradition is to demonstrate that the bride is sure of her decision and has not been forced into the marriage. Although this tradition is dated, it is still very much a part of modern weddings and is included in the day's proceedings.

The "knocking" ceremony, or "Opon-akyi bo", must take place before a Ghanaian traditional wedding. This is where the family of the groom "knocks on the door" or approaches the bride's family to inform them of their son's wish to marry their daughter. It serves as an introduction between the families. Once the proposal has been accepted, the families can set a wedding date and present the "engagement" list, which is a dowry that includes gifts like clothes, jewellery, and money for the bride and her family.

On the wedding day, the bride and groom, along with the wedding party, dress in Kente cloth to give the feeling of royalty. The Kente is a colourful piece of cloth native to the Ashanti tribe of Ghana and is made of silk and cotton, featuring bright colours and intricate designs. The bride also wears a traditional headdress, sometimes resembling a crown.

At the wedding venue, members of both families will sit across from each other, and spokespersons assigned to each party will engage in friendly banter, asking for the bride's hand in marriage. This is when the bride will give her consent, three times. After her acceptance, the bride is presented to the groom's family.

The groom will then provide drinks to the father of the bride, such as palm wine or schnapps. This is called "Tiri Nasa" and in Ghanaian culture, this usually seals the marriage.

Traditional Ghanaian food

Ghanaian cooks also use a lot of flavourings, including ginger, onions, and native spices such as calabash nutmeg and alligator pepper. The country's coastal location means that fish makes up about 60% of the animal protein in the Ghanaian diet.

• Jollof rice: Enormously popular across West Africa, jollof rice is a national dish of Ghana, Senegal, and Nigeria. Ghanaian jollof rice is milder and sweeter than the Nigerian version and is often served with plantains. It is made by cooking rice in a stew of stock, tomatoes, spices, and meat boiled together.
• Peanut soup: A savoury dish made from ground peanuts or peanut butter, thinned with water or broth and seasoned with tomatoes, ginger, garlic, peppers, and onions. It is typically served with a choice of meat or seafood and a starchy side.
• Koko: A fermented corn porridge, often served with koose—crunchy, spiced fritters made from soaked, pureed black-eyed peas seasoned with ginger and Scotch bonnet chiles.
• Fufu: A dense mash of cooked cassava and green plantains, served with a soup or stew.
• Okra soup: A vibrant dish made by stewing tomatoes, onions, garlic, chiles, and other seasonings in palm oil, then adding broth and meat or seafood, and finally sliced okra.
• Red-red: A colourful stew of black-eyed peas cooked with palm oil and tomatoes, along with other flavourings including onions, ginger, and garlic. It is often served with fried ripe plantains and gari (dried, roasted cassava).
• Kelewele: A favourite side dish and snack of brightly spiced and fried plantain chunks.
• Waakye: A dish of rice and beans with a purple-brown colour from the indigenous grass, Sorghum bicolor. It is cooked and steamed with an indigenous leaf, coconut, and a pulse such as black-eyed peas or kidney beans.
• Bofrot: Small, round, fried yeasted doughnuts, often eaten as a snack or for breakfast.

Frequently asked questions