Africa’s Most Colorful Traditional Wedding Ceremonies

Zulu Traditional Wedding

In the old days, when a Zulu girl reached maturity, her father organised a coming-out ceremony to make her availability for marriage known. In fact, in traditional Zulu culture, the bride actually chose her husband. Much of that tradition is changed today; however, Zulu brides are still adorned with beautiful beads around their necks and the customary red and white ochre designs on their legs and arms during the traditional wedding ceremony.

The ceremony is marked by a ritual dance competition between the families of the bride and the groom and the payment of the bride price by the groom’s family. The bride eventually leaves her parent’s house with parting gifts of mats, beads, and baskets. And don’t be surprised to see the ceremony topped off with a western-styled wedding buffet!