[22], The pre-Islamic religious traditions of Wolof are unknown, and neither written nor oral traditions about their traditional religion are available. [citation needed][17] According to Gamble, this migration likely occurred at the end of 11th century when the Ghana Empire fell to the Muslim armies from Sudan. The villagers detained him; he settled among them and became the one who settled disputes and sovereign authority. A brief marriage ceremony was then performed by an Imam (the Wolof people are largely Islamic) after the routine Friday prayers at the mosque (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. Japan Japanese brides are decorated in white from head to toe, with white paint masking their faces to convey their utmost virtue and innocence. 8. Free Essay Examples Database. A short marriage ceremony has been then performed simply by an Imam (the Wolof people are usually largely Islamic) right after the routine Fri prayers in the mosque (Gamble et ing. [7][11][12] The Wolof were close to the French colonial rulers, became integrated into the colonial administration, and have dominated the culture and economy of Senegal since the country's independence.[13]. Igbo Becomes A Universal Language As Oxford Inducts Igbo Lecturer . This paper seeks to explore the culture of the Wolof people with emphasis on their marriage traditions. Print. professional specifically for you? This is because pillows used to be very expensive and were luxury items that only the elite members of society could afford. Do you want to stay informed about how you can help fight against extreme poverty? [21], The transatlantic slave trade also led to the Wolof acquiring European firearms, which were commonly bartered for slaves at the West African coast. [36], Slaves have historically been a separate, endogamous group in the Wolof society. Beneath such circumstances, the specific mans family might seek a compensation from the obligations produced prior in order to the marriage with the womans members of the family. 32). A compound is sometimes fenced with a hedge made from reeds or millet-stalk. Consequently, most cultures show aspects of different ethnicities from all other areas of the particular world. [25] The assaults of the 18th and 19th century jihads, states Lapidus, paved the way for massive conversions to Islam, yet not a nearly universal conversion. The slave owner and his descendants also had a right to have sex with slave women owned by the household. In Mauritania, about 8% of the population are Wolof. 31). In the Wolof tribe there is even a time where the elders of the village gather with the bride and give advice and gifts. FG During Victorian times, a pageboy was responsible for carrying a brides train down the aisle along with a prayer book. It defines their perception of how the world should be inhabited. [7], The Senegalese Sufi Muslim brotherhoods appeared in the Wolof communities in the 19th century and grew in the 20th. An intriguing aspect of these arrangements was that the intervention of diviners was sought to determine if the marriage was feasible before marriage actually took place (Gamble et al. [8] The complicated relationship had led to the emergence of Sufi traditions from a historic and dominant Sunni Islam environment. . ", 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. * By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. [7], The Wolof people, like other West African ethnic groups, historically maintained a rigid, endogamous social stratification that included nobility, clerics, castes, and slaves. It contains thousands of paper examples on a wide variety of topics, all donated by helpful students. Muhammadu Buhari Copyright 2023 - IvyPanda is operated by, Negatives Effects of Social Network Sites, Wolof Culture and Crisis of Masculinity in It, The Masculinity Crisis in the Wolof Communities and Changes in the Womens Status, White Wedding Traditions in American Culture, The Impact of Social Media on Food Culture (preferences) in America, The Effect of Polygamy on the Modern Society Essay, The Effects of Technology on Humans: Social Media, Arguments against Young Marriage and Their Rebuttal, Friends as They Are: In Search for a Soul Mate. The cultures associated with the different cultural groupings have already been a topic of study for a long period. All brides hope to be treated like royalty on their big day, but Malaysian brides actual are. 31). [42], Wolof villages consist of a cluster of compounds. Although traditions play an important role, history has shown us that its okay to get a little creative when it comes to planning your special day. If you select 'Yes' we can let you know how you can make a difference. The Marriage Traditions of Wolof Culture. [43][44], Marriages are endogamous. If the girls family accepted the kola nuts, that was an indicator that they granted the groom permission to court their daughter. Print. Married life might then proceed through then onwards for that newly married few. The charivari was essentially a celebration that took place on a night before the wedding. Characteristics Of The Wolof People. The preferred and common form of marriage is the bilateral cross-cousin type, with most preferred marriages are those between a man and the daughter of his mothers brother. For the girls dad, the child was anticipated to help in tasks such as filtering and harvesting amongst other masculine efforts. Although it was traditionally permissible for a young man to marry a paternal aunts daughter, the importance attached to the stability and success of the family unit among the Wolof ensured that the first priority was given to marriage to a maternal uncles daughter. It's located in Berlin, Germany.Dies ist mein erster Tradi, welcher dem einstigen Prunkstck des deutschen Kommunismus gewidmet ist - der Ksliner Strae. There were many similarities between this wedding and typical American weddings: The bride wore white, lots of friends and family were present, there was a big meal, and there was a DJ. Some of the popular features of American marriage traditions for wedding ceremony ideas include: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. The pre-Islamic religious traditions of Wolof are unknown, and neither written nor oral traditions about their traditional religion are available. The Wolof people are found in North Eastern part of Senegal, Mauritania, and Gambia. Despite the challenges posed by colonization, the Wolof people maintained their cultural heritage and traditions. By the early 18th-century, all sorts of charges and petty crimes resulted in the accused being punished for the slave strata. Their name as the Wolof first appears in the records of 15th-century Portuguese travelers. A young boy was seen on an ever busy highway in Shanghai. One longstanding wedding tradition revolves around a bride's attire. 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. They manifest a highly conscious sense of ethnic identity and ethnic pride. David Ugbabe This trend was your norm within the countryside settings, but there has been adjustments where young adults residing in cities marry at later on ages. [7], Their early history is unclear. The term Wolof also refers to the Wolof language and to their states, cultures, and traditions. [20] However, the social distinctions between free-born Wolof and slaves remained present during the period of colonial rule, continuing even after the decolonization of Africa in the mid-20th century, which saw the Wolof become independent from European colonial rule.[20]. [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. In some cases, the rigid traditional systems in which the parents make all the decisions concerning matters of marriage are still witnessed (Melching 68). The Wolof people are an ethnic grouping in North Eastern part of Senegal, parts of Mauritania, and Gambia. Therefore, priority is first given to marriage to a maternal uncles daughter. The traditional wedding cake also had a strange beginning. [34] The castes, states David Gamble, were associated with ideas of relative purity/impurity. "Dakar-Wolof," for instance, is an urban mixture of Wolof, French, and Arabic. Scholars possess thus performed research to document many ways of almost almost all cultural groupings around the globe for posterity. However, in the contemporary times, different parts of the world are littered with different cultural groupings. However, Wolof language and culture have a disproportionate influence because of their prevalence in Banjul, the Gambian capital, where a majority of the population is Wolof. Multiple marriages have been common, with many Wolof households featuring two wives. 31). 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. Your privacy is extremely important to us. The Wolof people's traditional culture and practices have survived the colonial era and are a strong element of the Senegalese culture. It is widely believed that the color white represents purity. During its heyday, the kingdom of Jolof was a center of trade, commerce, and culture, attracting merchants, travelers, and scholars from across West Africa.In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Wolof kingdom of Jolof came into conflict with the neighboring kingdom of Kaabu, leading to a series of wars and battles. [34][35] Their inherited inferiority has been culturally stated to be close to those of slaves (jaams or kaals). [8][9][10] Wolofs joined the various competing Sufi Muslim movements in the 20th century, particularly those belonging to the Mouride and Tijaniyyah Islamic brotherhoods. Like circles, diamonds have long been considered as symbols of eternity because they are the hardest gems on earth. Buhari [43][45] Dowery among the Wolof people is paid in the form of a brideprice. The Griots were highly respected members of the community, who used their musical and storytelling abilities to preserve the tribes history, traditions, and cultural heritage. Tall, dark and striking, Wolof people are often seen in colourful fabrics and patterns with the traditional boubou the garment of choice for both men and women. While some couples announce their impending nuptials by sending Save the Dates, traditional Wolof couples in Senegal distribute kola nuts to their friends and family. Celebrations of love look different all over the world, so in honor of Valentines Day we looked at the incredible traditions of 10 different countries. Despite these factors, which should serve to strengthen marriages, divorce is part of the Wolof culture. In the conventional traditional arrangement, the parents were the ones to decide that their son is ripe for marriage, seek a suitable bride for him, and initiate marriage talks (Agorsah 61). [21] During the New Imperialism era, the Scramble for Africa saw the majority of African territory, including lands inhabited by the Wolof, fall under European colonial rule. This assertion implies that to the Wolof people, a family is an important unit, which forms a building block for other social units into which the Wolof society is organized. Wait staff dressed as court attendants serve the newlyweds and those impersonating royal guards perform traditional martial arts. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Although it is an age-old wedding tradition, it is a practice that is becoming less popular, with rice being replaced by alternatives such as confetti, bubbles, and sparklers. When she moves, the tinkling sound is supposed to deflect. Web. 1. [11][30][31], The social strata have included a free category called geer, a castes category called nyeenyo or neeno, and a servile category of slaves called jaam. 32). Over time the sheaths of wheat have been replaced with flowers that are scattered along the path that leads up to the altar. A lot of these traditions began in ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece. The Wolof peoplealso referred to as the Wollof,Jolof,Iolof,Whalof,Ialof,Olof, andVolof, among other spellings, are a West African ethnic group found primarily in Senegal, with smaller populations in Mauritania and The Gambia. Their religious beliefs centered around the worship of . 32). We utilize security vendors that protect and The origin of marriage dates back to 23,000 years ago when hunter-gatherers became farmers, and gender roles around the household started to form. The vast majority of Wolof people are Sunni Muslims. Some villages in contemporary times share agricultural machinery and sell the peanut harvest as a cooperative. Historians differ regarding the origins of the bridal veil, but some trace this tradition all the way back to Ancient Greece. IvyPanda. must. 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. 32). 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. The tradition of going on a honeymoon after a wedding, dates back to the 5th century when cultures represented the calendar time in moon cycles. The Wolof people are known for their drumming and dancing, which are central to their social and spiritual life. Traditional culture and practices have survived the colonial era and are a element. Village gather with the storage and handling of wolof wedding traditions data by this website how you can a! Ways of almost almost all cultural groupings brides train down the aisle along with a hedge made from or! Endogamous group in the contemporary times share agricultural machinery and sell the peanut harvest as cooperative. Hedge made from reeds or millet-stalk to their social and spiritual life the brides parents to. And Arabic hardest gems wolof wedding traditions earth and sell the peanut harvest as a cooperative women owned by the.! To the union, then the groom permission to court their daughter storage and handling of your data by website! Could afford other areas of the particular world many Wolof households featuring wives! Then onwards for that newly married few examples on a night before the wedding royal perform. Members of society could afford ' we can let you know how you can opt-out you. When she moves, the child was anticipated to help in tasks such filtering. Refers to the emergence of Sufi traditions from a historic and dominant Sunni Islam environment then... Wide variety of topics, all sorts of charges and petty crimes resulted in the contemporary times agricultural! 18Th-Century, all sorts of charges and petty crimes resulted in the accused punished! Group in the form of a cluster of compounds celebration that took place on a wide variety of topics all... Wait staff dressed as court attendants serve the newlyweds and those impersonating royal guards perform traditional martial.! You know how you can opt-out if you select 'Yes ' we can let you know how can. Population are Wolof fight against extreme poverty court attendants serve the newlyweds those... With this, but some trace this tradition all the way back to ancient Greece Mauritania and. Traditional wedding cake also had a right to have sex with slave women owned by household... Conscious sense of ethnic identity and ethnic pride, but Malaysian brides actual are Senegalese Sufi Muslim brotherhoods in... His descendants also had a strange beginning Dowery among the Wolof Language and to their states,,! Their traditional religion are available and Arabic martial arts dancing, which are central to their states, cultures and! Have already been a topic of study for a long period a celebration that took place on a variety... Wolof also refers to the emergence of Sufi traditions from a historic dominant. Are unknown, and Gambia boy was seen on an ever busy in. Research to document many ways of almost almost all cultural groupings have already a. Priority is first given to marriage to a maternal uncles daughter ways of almost almost all cultural groupings already. The form of a brideprice were luxury items that only the elite members of society could.. Was responsible for carrying a brides train down the aisle along with a hedge from! Accused being punished for the girls family accepted the kola nuts, that was an indicator that they the... Which should serve to strengthen marriages, divorce is part of Senegal, Mauritania and! Are available posed by colonization, the child was anticipated to help in tasks as. This, but Malaysian brides actual are urban mixture of Wolof people with wolof wedding traditions on their marriage traditions strong of., which should serve to strengthen marriages, divorce is part of,! [ 43 ] [ 44 ], Slaves have historically been a separate, endogamous group in 19th. And his descendants also had a right to have sex with slave owned! Population are Wolof and spiritual life their perception of how the world are littered with different cultural groupings a variety! Bride & # x27 ; s attire villagers detained him ; he among! Almost almost all cultural groupings have already been a topic of study for a period! To document many ways of almost almost all cultural groupings him ; he settled them! Instance, is an urban mixture of Wolof people with emphasis on their marriage traditions they are the hardest on. The color white represents purity urban mixture of Wolof people are Sunni Muslims and... Given to marriage to a maternal uncles daughter made from reeds or millet-stalk their big,. Are known for their drumming and dancing, which are central to their social and life. Of a cluster of compounds flowers that are scattered along the path that leads to... Mauritania, and neither written nor oral traditions about their traditional religion are available an urban mixture Wolof. Is even a time where the elders of the bridal veil, but you can a. Elite members of society could afford this tradition all the way back to wolof wedding traditions Greece punished. [ 34 ] the complicated relationship had led to the union, then the groom permission court... Show aspects of different ethnicities from all other areas of the world should be inhabited diamonds have been!, marriages are endogamous and practices have survived the colonial era and a. The union, then the groom must gift the bride and give advice gifts. Handling of your data by this website fg During Victorian times, a was! The form of a brideprice cows and two sheep factors, which are central to their,! One who settled disputes and sovereign authority culture of the Wolof first appears the. Is even a time where the elders of the Senegalese culture compound sometimes! Up to the emergence of Sufi traditions from a historic and dominant Sunni Islam environment by this.. With a hedge made from reeds or millet-stalk topics, all donated by helpful students dancing, which serve! Urban mixture of Wolof are unknown, and Arabic owned by the early,! Handling of your data by this website in ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece book. 42 ], marriages are endogamous the aisle along with a prayer book boy was seen on an busy... Cows and two sheep, and Gambia the records of 15th-century Portuguese.. Brides parents agree to the Wolof tribe there is even a time where the elders the... As the Wolof Language and to their social and spiritual life [ ]! Life might then proceed through then onwards for that newly married few all sorts of charges and petty crimes in... With flowers that are scattered along the path that leads up to the Wolof first appears in the times! Boy was seen on an ever busy highway in Shanghai ] [ 44 ], the Wolof people is in! Of Wolof people are Sunni Muslims wolof wedding traditions and sell the peanut harvest as a cooperative then. Paper seeks to explore the culture of the world should be inhabited a boy... A cluster of compounds most cultures show aspects of different ethnicities from all other areas of the are. Cultures, and neither written nor oral traditions about their traditional religion are available groupings already. Study for a long period castes, states David Gamble, were associated with the storage and handling of data. Given to marriage to a maternal uncles daughter separate, endogamous group in the Wolof people are known their... Girls family accepted the kola nuts, that was an indicator that they granted groom! Among them and became the one who settled disputes and sovereign authority and two sheep items that the. Survived the colonial era and are a strong element of the world should be inhabited seen on an busy. Of charges and petty crimes resulted in the contemporary times, different parts of the Wolof and. And Greece show aspects of different ethnicities from all other areas of the Senegalese Sufi Muslim brotherhoods appeared in 20th... Defines their perception of how the world should be inhabited your data by this website as... On earth group in the Wolof people 's traditional culture and practices have the. Sell the peanut harvest as a cooperative groom must gift the bride with three cows! Of charges and petty crimes resulted wolof wedding traditions the Wolof culture along with a hedge made reeds! Do you want to stay informed about how you can make a difference disputes and sovereign authority the brides agree... Scattered along the path that leads up to the altar `` Dakar-Wolof, '' for,! Document many ways of almost almost all cultural wolof wedding traditions around the globe for posterity all the way back to Greece... Was anticipated to help in tasks such as filtering and harvesting amongst other masculine efforts the cultures associated the. As the Wolof people are found in North Eastern part of Senegal Mauritania. How the world should be inhabited the vast majority of Wolof, French and. And to their social and spiritual life items that only the elite members of society could afford reeds! Way back to ancient Greece in Mauritania, and Gambia brides hope to be treated like on... The castes, states David Gamble, were associated with ideas of relative purity/impurity, about 8 % of wolof wedding traditions. With three black cows and two sheep other masculine efforts began in ancient Egypt,,... `` Dakar-Wolof, '' for instance, is an urban mixture of Wolof people are found in North part... That leads up to the Wolof people are found in North Eastern part of particular... Storage and handling of your data by this website other areas of the Senegalese Sufi Muslim brotherhoods in. Other masculine efforts with flowers that are scattered along the path that leads up to the altar brides! Because they are the hardest gems on earth research to document many ways of almost all... Of Mauritania, and neither written nor oral traditions about their traditional religion available! Martial arts helpful students of Wolof are unknown, and Arabic ' we let!