A Somali Wedding
The closest Erica and I have come to a Somali wedding was on our first night in Dadaab with the Carline family. It was just after 7:00 pm and we were getting the children ready for bed by lamp light when we heard this huge uproar in the distance. The laughter and screams of women cheering was incredible. For nearly two hours we listened to the whooping, drumming and laughter. The only thing I can compare it to is the sound of a native Canadian dancing and song. I hope you enjoy this essay from our student and friend Zahra.
Wedding in Somali Culture by Zahra Abdi Aziz
"A wedding is a ceremony of marriage which I’ve always liked in my culture. It is a celebration performed to bring into close union two partners of opposite sex, a man and a woman or women. In other words, a wedding is a marriage anniversary. My culture performs it. In fact, every married couple must conduct it. It is enjoyable.
In my culture, a wedding is done in the bride’s home or apartment. A “sheik”, the Muslim leader, officiates the union duty. His presence really matters. Money is also needed for a number of needs. Funding is done by the bridegroom to achieve the following: ‘cilaan’ flowers drawn on the bride’s hands and legs, ‘diirac’ the wedding dress, ‘odhkac’ special small sliced fried meat, and salon make-ups for the bride.
On this occasion, in the morning, the Sheik approaches the bridegroom. He asks him if he would bear the responsibilities and love his bride in all aspects of life. The bridegroom always accepts. The Sheik then goes to ask the bride’s parents or guardian the price the bridegroom would pay if he divorces her. Following these negotiations is eating and conversation while waiting for lunch. At this moment, the partners are still separated (By this time the bride would still be in the salon).
After lunch, both the Sheik and the bridegroom’s parents or guardian may leave, a time at which other relatives and friends, who are his age-set come. Dancing would soon begin. It’s a cultural dance known as “buran bor”. At around this time, the bride plus a friend have come back from the salon, although staying in a separate room.
At around 7 p.m., the bride is brought in the playground (the dance). They may play together until around 9:00 pm, a time during which they are accompanied to a private room to have a honeymoon for seven days."
posted by four_kennys @ Monday, May 21, 2007
3 comments
3 Comments:
This is fascinating. What a great idea to post these on your blog!
I have a couple of questions. The essay mentions a marriage between a man and a woman or women. I am aware that Muslims practice polygamy, but can a man marry more than one wife at the same time?
Also, there does not seem to be an actual ceremony as we practice in the west. Am I understanding this correctly?
Linda
More great questions!
I'm not sure if a man can marry multiple women at the same time. I think that the practice is for a man to marry one wife and then once he has acquired more wealth marry a second or third. But I will have to do some inquiring.
And yes, there is a ceremony, but the bride is not included in it. The ceremony is officiated by the Sheik between the groom and the brides parents, with the grooms parents looking on. Erica and I will certainly be posting more essays on the Somali wedding as it is such an important part of Somali culture. We are looking forward to our first invite as well!
Hi I am a somali and a muslim. I happened upon your post and decided to answer your question. yes in islam a man can be married to more than one wife at a time, but no more than four. he must be able to provide for each wife equally, meaning if each wants her own separate house than he should do as said. Although it is allowed in Islam, the whole four wife thing, it is preferred and encouraged for a man to have only one, because it is very difficult for a man to emotion be fair to all women invovled. I hope that answers your question.
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