Before the introduction of church marriages, everything was obviously done the traditional way. Couples didn’t need to exchange rings or publicly exchange vows to solidify their union and also make it official.
With varying customs and rituals surrounding traditional marriages across the various ethnic groups on the continent, one peculiar requirement cuts across – the groom has to pay or fulfil the bride price or dowry.
Though church weddings have become popular in recent times, traditional marriages are still of great importance as the couple need to fulfil that side of the custom before taking it to the altar, that is, if they want to do the latter.
Traditional marriages are equally recognized by society as official unions and couples only need to sign at the law court to legalise their status.
With the pomp and pageantry that usually surrounds traditional marriage ceremonies, your ultimate destination for global black lifestyle news, Nsuri, shares with you how couples from some of the most popular ethnic groups on the continent dress for their weddings.
Check them out below:
Akan Marriage (Ghana)
![Image result for ashanti marriage](http://www.thinkingcrumpets.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ashanti-weddn.jpg)
Akan Marriage — Photo via thinkingcrumpets.org
![Image result for ashanti marriage](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rCRzmTkjiiM/maxresdefault.jpg)
Akan Marriage — Photo Credit: Maxwell Jennings
![Get to know how couples from these ethnic groups in Africa dress for their traditional marriages](https://i2.wp.com/www.weddingdigestnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/image2-1.jpeg?resize=1170%2C780&ssl=1)
Akan Marriage — Photo Credit: Louisa Fofie
Traditional Cameroonian Marriage
![Image result for bamenda wedding](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/94/91/1d/94911d4d27e239ef56b0782f3043cc13.jpg)
Traditional Cameroonian marriage — Photo Credit: brinsimageblog.com
![Image result for cameroonian wedding](https://rootstoglory.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Asa3.jpg)
Traditional Cameroonian marriage — Photo via rootstoglory.com
![Image result for cameroonian wedding](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DcKJWIJVMAEq9zq.jpg)
Traditional Cameroonian marriage — Photo: @yungcxo (Twitter)
Zulu Marriage (South Africa)
![Image result for traditional zulu wedding](https://news365.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mpiyakhe-Zungu.jpg)
Zulu Marriage — Photo Credit: news365.co.za
![Image result for traditional zulu marriage](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/0a/24/89/0a248928d5dbb36f5a25874dea50835b.jpg)
Zulu Marriage — Photo via Pinterest
Yoruba Wedding (Nigeria)
![Image result for traditional yoruba wedding](http://weddingchannelafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/37141750_210694366310304_2602430541319897088_n-819x1024.jpg)
Yoruba Wedding — Photo via weddingchannelafrica.com
![Image result for traditional yoruba wedding](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/cc/fc/bc/ccfcbc893141a2608f2904c6a63fe7f4.jpg)
Yoruba Wedding — Photo Credit: Klala Photography
![Image result for traditional yoruba wedding](https://estheradeniyi.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Adesua-Etomi-and-Banky-W-Nigerian-Wedding-Introduction-Mayonikks-Photography-LoveWeddingsNG-2.png)
Yoruba Wedding
Ndebele Wedding (South Africa)
![Image result for ndebele wedding](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/41/fc/73/41fc730f609a0131da6867d92622c46e.jpg)
Ndebele Wedding — Photo via Pinterest
![Image result for ndebele wedding](https://www.mybeautifulblackancestry.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/NDEBELE12-bontlebride.com_.jpg)
Ndebele Wedding — Photo via mybeautifulblackancestry.com
![Related image](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/0b/75/78/0b7578f51ae66cb60c290d6df840ffdd.jpg)
Ndebele Wedding — Photo via mybeautifulblackancestry.com
Maasai Wedding
![Image result for maasai wedding](https://i2.wp.com/www.zumi.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/maas.jpg?fit=750%2C400&ssl=1)
Maasai Wedding — Photo via zumi.co.ke
![Related image](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/z2YJYhiDw8M/maxresdefault.jpg)
Maasai Wedding — Photo Credit: Bethel Productions Kimana
![Get to know how couples from these ethnic groups in Africa dress for their traditional marriages](https://face2faceafrica.com/nsuri/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Maasai.jpg)
Maasai Wedding — Photo via zumi.co.ke