Ghana, a land of vibrant diversity, boasts a tapestry of wedding traditions woven intricately through its various ethnicities and cultures.
From the bustling streets of Accra to the serene landscapes of the Upper Regions, each tribe brings its unique flavour to the timeless ceremony of matrimony.
The Knocking Ceremony (Opon-akyi bo)
The “Knocking on the Door” ceremony or “Opon-akyi bo” is arguably the most famous ritual in Ghana and is even more prevalent in Nigeria, Cameroon, and other West African countries.
This ceremony involves the potential groom, alongside senior members of his family and community, going to the bride’s father’s house to announce the marital intentions of the future husband.
This ceremony is often performed a month or two before the traditional marriage. The “knocking ritual” (kookoo ko) dates back to the ancient custom of a visitor who knocks on the host’s door to announce his arrival.
Knocking on the door with an “empty hand” is taboo. Consequently, the groom and his family members must bring some traditional items, which vary from tribe to tribe.
Bride Price
The bride price is on this list because it’s the only ritual that completes a Ghanaian wedding ceremony by itself. A man may skip all the traditions, customs, and mandatory procedures.
But so long as he pays the bride price in full, the woman is legally his wife according to culture and law. The contents of the bride’s price or dowry depend on the tribe and community.
While cash is prevalent in many Ghanaian cultures, other dowry types include farm animals like cows, goats, or sheep or precious metals like gold.
The bride price is often symbolic and doesn’t necessarily mean the groom is ”buying” the bride like an object.
Some families prefer to receive a token sum which symbolizes the fulfillment of this tradition to make the Ghanaian wedding valid under law and custom.
Under Akan custom, in addition to the bride price, the groom’s entourage must also present the akontasekan (money) to the bride’s brothers and male cousins if she’s the only female child in the family.
The Acceptance
In some Ghanaian communities, the bride must accept the wedding proposal. After the groom pays the bride pride, the bride is ushered into the arena and asked if she would like to marry the groom.
Some tribes, like the Asante, will ask three times, while others, like the Fante, will ask only once. If she accepts his proposal, drinks and money will get presented and shared with her family.
The cash distribution amongst her clan indicates that each member bears witness to the wedding ceremony.
After her acceptance, the eldest amongst the bride’s family (often her father’s uncle) will present the bride to the abusuapanyin (head of the groom’s family).
He will tell the delegation that the bride must be taken care of. She, in turn, must continue to look as beautiful in the future as she is today.
Presentation of Drinks (Tiri Nsa)
No Ghanaian marriage is complete without the presentation of drinks. Most custodians of Ghanaian culture do not accept the validity of a wedding where the groom doesn’t provide drinks – to show the importance of this ritual.
Africa, as a whole, emphasizes “respect” for elders, and this is even more so during a wedding ceremony.
The groom’s family’s eldest delegate presents the drinks, also known as “head drinks” or tiri nsa. He begins by using the most flowery speech to state the purpose of their visit.
For instance, he might say, “Our most beloved son (pointing to the groom) was passing by when he saw the most beautiful flower in your lovely garden. “He wishes for your permission to pick this flower.”
The significance of this praiseful speech is that the groom is ready to do what is right by custom to ask the bride’s family for their daughter’s hand in marriage.
The Engagement List
This is the part of the Ghana wedding tradition the groom is most wary of. The infamous list. The engagement list is not to be confused with the presentation of gifts for the bride’s family.
The engagement list contains all the items required to pacify the community into giving away the daughter to the groom.
This engagement list and the gifts within are of higher significance when the groom is from another district or tribe. When the bride marries the groom, she becomes a member of his community and no longer the society of her father.
The gifts within this list take care of the different age-grade unions, the elders, women, and the youths – all the other groups that make a community. A Ghanaian marriage can face significant problems when the items on the engagement list don’t get fulfilled.
Some brides even help their would-be husbands with funds to purchase the engagement list items, including Kente fabric for the female folk, cows, sheep, whiskey, crates of Fanta and coke for the youths, and boxes of beer for the male elders.
The bride’s family may give the groom a “soft landing” by demanding little gifts that won’t set the groom back financially.
However, they have little to no say regarding the engagement list. The elders in the community decide what goes into the list, including the sharing formula for the community.
In conclusion, a Ghanaian traditional wedding is not merely a ceremony but a celebration of love, unity, and heritage. As we navigate the intricate web of customs and traditions, let us cherish the beauty of our cultural legacy, embracing the timeless spirit of Ghanaian matrimony.
