A Modern Somali Wedding

Whereas our work in Northeastern province is among pastoral Somalis, Eastleigh is largely home to urban Somali refugees who have fled the conflict in Mogadishu and other major Somali centres. In this short essay, our ESL student Axmed Shakiib shares his urban perspective on a modern Somali wedding. It is quite a contrast from the traditional wedding described by Zahra in our last post. (this photo is from Google images)
A Modern Somali Wedding by Axmed Shakiib

When two friends agree with each other to marry, She must first introduce her future husband to her family and the some elders from the man’s family go to the girl’s house in order to ask for her father and mother to give the girl. Afterward, if her parents accept the request, they are given an amount of money for that acceptance. After that the girl is given dawry [which means whatever the girl says].

When the wedding begins, the wedding is officiated between the two families. Everyone wears the latest style. The bridegroom wears a special suit, like a black coat, trousers, white shirt and tie. Also the bride wears a white dress. The wedding mostly takes place in the bride’s home where her family prepares delicious foods and different cold drinks are provided like Pepsi, Coke, and Fanta. The wedding lasts until midnight where dancing and playing of different music, like rock music.

Everybody in her family happily host the guests from the bridegroom’s family and other relatives. If the groom has other wives and children, they can’t attend because jealousy begins, even though our religion permits a man to marry as many as four wives.

At evening cars with flowers on them come and carry the couple to the most beautiful hotel in the town where everyone dances and drinks until midnight. Everywhere are flashes and video camera.

After midnight, the couple go to their beautiful special home. Their family and friends will not visit until the honeymoon month ends.