However, scholars and historians have increasingly raised concerns over the authenticity of todays cultures, for as the world continues to open up due to phenomena such as globalization, many cultures have been waning and becoming a hybrid of several cultures. [30][32] Caste status has been hereditary, and endogamy among the men and women of a particular caste status has been an enduring feature among the Wolof people, according to Leonardo Villaln, a professor of Political Science and African Studies. For instance, in Africa, there are hundreds of ethnic groupings each with its own culture. Nigeria The bridal party would then make its way to the grooms compound. Another important part of Wolof culture is their music, which is characterized by complex rhythms and intricate melodies. 5. If successful, theyd enjoy a lifetime of good fortune as a couple. If this proposal is accepted, the parents of the bride-to be . 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. They continued to practice their customs, pass down their stories and songs, and celebrate their cultural festivals. All Right Reserved. In the 20th century, the Wolof people played a key role in the struggle for independence and the formation of a modern Senegal.They however became a dominant power in the region, forming a state that spanned across present-day Senegal, The Gambia, and Mauritania. Breaking News: Onitsha Born Dr. Chinelo Dies From Train Attack. The now-traditional wedding favor of five Jordan almonds symbolizes five wishes for the newlyweds of health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity. 31). These types of include the part that marriage performs in the family members formation in the particular Wolof society, exactly what the economic history of the dual marriages is, plus which traditions explain wedding ceremony ceremony from the Wolof culture. Sumaiya Ismail The Wolof oral tradition reports that the Wolof are from the Nile Valley, as evidenced by the research of Yoro Boli Diaw which, by bringing together the various Wolof oral traditions, describes the six migrations between the Nile and the Senegal River Valley. Tal Tamari, an anthropological researcher at the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) in Paris, suggests that a corollary of the rising slavery system was the development and growth of a caste system among Wolofs by the 15th century, and other ethnic groups of Africa by about the 13th century. Japanese brides are decorated in white from head to toe, with white paint masking their faces to convey their utmost virtue and innocence. The bridesmaids would each wear the same dress as the bride in order to confuse the evil spirits and prevent them from finding her. Melching, Molly. [8] Ira Lapidus, a professor of Middle Eastern and Islamic History, states that the early-19th-century Senegambian fighters "swept through Senegambia burning villages, killing pagans and enslaving their enemies," and were responsible for the conversion of substantial numbers of Wolof to Islam. 2. The Wolof people are the largest ethnic group in Senegal, particularly concentrated in its northwestern region near the Senegal River and the Gambia River. Anambra state The Marriage Traditions of Wolof Culture. [39] She places the development and spread of castes in these societies to about the 10th century, because slave capture, slave trade, and slave holding by elite families across the Sahel, West Africa, and North Africa was an established institution by then, and slavery created a template for servile relationships and social stratification. 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. If the payment is made in full, the couple is considered legally divorced and may remarry without any problems (Gamble et al. If the brides parents agree to the union, then the groom must gift the bride with three black cows and two sheep. Men of certain caste are smiths, leatherworkers, weavers (now the profession of former slave descendants). [8] The Sufi leaders and marabouts exercise cultural and political influence amongst most Muslim communities, most notably the leader of the Muridiyya also called the Mouride brotherhood. The Wolof culture any associated with most affected ethnicities by Western impact in comparison in order to other cultures within the region (Diop 101). Once it was decided that his character was good, further gifts would be presented to the girls family to seal a covenant that left the young man as the sole suitor. They are known for their rich culture, history, and traditions, which have been passed down through generations. Most of the socializing at the wedding was done in Wolof, a language of Senegal, The Gambia, and Mauritania. 31). Since cakes represent fertility, Ancient Romans would bake wheat cakes and break them over the brides head. This particular paper seeks to research the culture of the particular Wolof individuals with focus on their relationship traditions. The circle represents eternity, because it doesnt have a beginning or an end. The Wolof people are known for their rich and diverse culture, which includes music, dance, oral traditions, and spiritual practices. After the ceremony, the grooms family coats the bride in butterfat from cows, marking her acceptance into the family. However , scholars plus historians have progressively raised concerns on the authenticity of the current cultures, for since the world is constantly on the open due to tendency like globalization, numerous cultures have already been waning and having the hybrid of a number of cultures. 31). This aspect makes family a very important dimension in the economic wellbeing of the Wolof people. Weddings The Wolof attaches more importance to the stability and success of the family unit. 4 (1955): 391-403. Weve compiled a visual of 16 popular wedding traditions and their origins, so you can learn more about how these common customs came to be. The kingdom was founded by the Wolof people and was ruled by a series of powerful kings and queens. The marriage traditions of the Wolof people show a clear picture of how the Wolof people regard family relationships and their expected contribution to the wellbeing of society. 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. Males became responsible for gathering food, while females stayed at home to rear children. [8] In the 19th century, as the colonial French forces launched a war against the Wolof kingdoms, the Wolof people resisted the French and converted to Islam. professional specifically for you? Once a man and woman get married, it is the primary duty of the woman to make her husband happy. "The Marriage Traditions of Wolof Culture." It contains thousands of paper examples on a wide variety of topics, all donated by helpful students. All rights reserved. prayer (Senegal is a predominantly Muslim country). The Monetary Base of Wolof Polygamy. Many of these customs have stood the test of time and have evolved into the wedding traditions we are familiar with today. Weddings can be very elaborate, involving feasting and dancing for days within a community, they can be very simple, or they can even be performed in huge marriage ceremonies involving many different couples. Something borrowed offers borrowed happiness. However, in the contemporary times, different parts of the world are littered with different cultural groupings. Anambra State Government (ANSG) Wolof Tribe: An Exploration Of Their Culture And Tradition. Soon the idea spread across the country and was popularized in the retail industry to include wedding gifts for the couple. ", When Talk Isn't Cheap: Language and Political Economy, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wolof_people&oldid=1137220874, Short description is different from Wikidata, "Related ethnic groups" needing confirmation, Articles using infobox ethnic group with image parameters, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2016, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2012, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 3 February 2023, at 13:09. Though French is the official language of Senegal, it is not difficult to find people in Dakar (the capital city) who only speak Wolof. It defines their perception of how the world should be inhabited. This favors the idea that such measures provided the best and most stable marriages. Although this scenario has slightly changed with time, this practice is still prevalent in rural areas albeit with some minor adjustments. [15], The origins of the Wolof people are obscure, states David Gamble, a professor of anthropology and African studies specializing in Senegambia. Governor Willie Obiano This research paper on The Marriage Traditions of Wolof Culture was written and submitted by your fellow It should also be noted that divorce could be subject to many other issues among them the social classes of the couples. 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. In some cases, the rigid traditional systems in which the parents make all the decisions concerning matters of marriage are still witnessed (Melching 68). Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Today, a young man may identify a particular girl and after the approval of parents, the father initiates talks to ask for the girls hand in marriage (Gamble et al. Multiple marriages have been common, with many Wolof households featuring two wives. Religious and political functions have been the domain of men, while women typically keep the household, bring water from their sources such as wells or nearby rivers. This role belongs to a caste and has been hereditary. [38][39] However, according to Susan McIntosh, a professor of anthropology specializing in African societies, the emergence of caste systems in West African societies such as the Wolof, Mande, Malinke, Serer, and Soninke was likely older. 2019. 32). Agreements would then be made on how much further payments (marriage money) needed to be made and when the time for its payment came, other gifts were also given to the brides mother, father and peers. In Ancient Rome, the purpose of having bridesmaids at a wedding was to protect the bride. Neighbors would walk down the streets and bang their pots and pans to make as much noise as possible throughout the village in order toscare away evil spirits. Also known as a bridal registry, it was a way for the couple to choose their fine china and silver for their big day. InlandTown Together with religious beliefs as an identifying factor for polygamy, the conventional Wolof tradition viewed as many spouses just like a sign associated with prosperity and consequently, one of satisfaction plus prestige; as a result, regarding 45% associated with Wolof lots of men polygamous (Ames 396). November 28, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-marriage-traditions-of-wolof-culture/. In Nigeria, the Igbo bless the newlywed couple by throwing bank notes on them or rubbing their foreheads with banknotes, expressing the prosperous future they hope the couple shares. [36], Slaves have historically been a separate, endogamous group in the Wolof society. Prior to the arrival of Europeans to regions inhabited by the Wolof, slaves there were either born into slavery or enslaved via purchase or capture in warfare. IvyPanda, 28 Nov. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/the-marriage-traditions-of-wolof-culture/. It's located in Berlin, Germany.Dies ist mein erster Tradi, welcher dem einstigen Prunkstck des deutschen Kommunismus gewidmet ist - der Ksliner Strae. 1. They manifest a highly conscious sense of ethnic identity and ethnic pride. [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. festival "The Marriage Traditions of Wolof Culture." Wolof originated as the language of the Lebu people. Clearly, the family unit is a fundamental unit of the Wolof culture, and apart from being a building block for society, it defines the economic status of a man. [43][50], Occupation is traditionally based on gender and inherited caste. 32). [43], While slavery is illegal in contemporary African societies, it was common in the history of Wolof people and among the elite castes. Wolof women are hard workers and they strive to accumulate wealth through tending personal farms as well as assisting their husbands in the family farms. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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! 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). Saturday is the unluckiest wedding day, according to English folklore. The slave owner and his descendants also had a right to have sex with slave women owned by the household. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. As the European demand for slaves increased during the 17th and 18th centuries, the era saw a corresponding increase in Wolof slave raids with the purpose of acquiring captives to transport to the coast. Polygamy is also a normal phenomenon among the Wolof people because as already noted, they are largely Muslim and the Islam religion permits polygamy (Ames 395). 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. Older French publications frequently employ the spelling Ouolof; up to the 19th century, the spellings Wolluf, Volof, and Olof are also encountered, among rarer variants like Yolof, Dylof, Chelof, Galof, Lolof, and others. [34] The castes, states David Gamble, were associated with ideas of relative purity/impurity. 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. 31). While we waited I was introduced to another piece of Senegalese culture: the griots. 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. This will then prompt a meeting of her parents and her to accept or reject the proposal. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you The Wolof people are found in North-Eastern part of Senegal, Mauritania, and Gambia. Under such marriage arrangements, the bride and the groom did not have much of an influence over what happens. Twitter. However, within the contemporary occasions, across the globe are littered along with different cultural groups. Variants are worn on a day-to-day with the whole shebang coming out on special occasions; the most important for the Wolof is the feast of Tabaski (the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice). Rural Wolof people eat beef rarely, typically as a part of a ceremonial feast. Married life would then proceed from then onwards for the newly married couple. The slave owner and his descendants also had a right to have sex with slave women owned by the household. Mbaya, Maweja. The term Wolof also refers to the Wolof language and to their states, cultures, and traditions. In a bid to explore the topic exhaustively, the paper poses three fundamental questions that it seeks to address. Free Essay Examples Database. Similarly, a West African rice dish is known in English as Jollof rice. [43], Those Wolof people who are of artisan castes work on metal, weave and dye textiles, produce leather goods, make pottery and baskets, tailor clothes, produce thatch and perform such economic activity. Print. [7][8] The Wolof belonged to the medieval-era Wolof Empire of the Senegambia region. Originating from an Old English rhyme that went, 'Something olde, something new, something borrowed, something blue, a sixpence in your shoe', this tradition bears plenty of symbolism. Agreements might then be produced upon how much additional payments (marriage money) needed to become made so when the particular time because of its transaction came, other presents were also provided to the brides mom, father and colleagues. In this article, we will explore the history and background of the Wolof tribe, tracing their roots and discussing the key events that have shaped their identity and cultural heritage. Under such circumstances, the mans family can seek a refund of the payments made before the marriage from the womans family. The Economic Base of Wolof Polygamy. Southwestern Journal of Anthropology 11.4 (1955): 391-403. [8] The complicated relationship had led to the emergence of Sufi traditions from a historic and dominant Sunni Islam environment. This is IvyPanda's free database of academic paper samples. If a woman at some point feels that her marriage life is unbearable, she can go back to her kin and refuse to come back. For the girls dad, the child was anticipated to help in tasks such as filtering and harvesting amongst other masculine efforts. Federal Government Young Boys now Use Diapers and Sanitary Pads as Drugs. @2015-2019 - INLANDTOWN.COM. Cassava is also grown, but it has been a source of income for the Wolof farmers. . During ancient times, women would wear rings made of papyrus around their wrists and ankles. 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Must gift the bride in order to confuse the evil spirits and prevent them from finding her, states Gamble..., in Africa wolof wedding traditions there are hundreds of ethnic groupings each with its own culture. culture: the.! More importance to the grooms family coats the bride in order to confuse the evil spirits prevent... Medieval-Era Wolof Empire of the bride-to be Wolof households featuring two wives to include wedding gifts for couple! Wolof individuals with focus on their relationship traditions with different cultural groupings evil spirits and prevent them finding.