All wedding traditions
674 traditions so far, best known first. 108 more are on the list to be written. Filter by region, kind and stage of the wedding.
RegionSouth AsiaSoutheast AsiaEast AsiaCentral Asia and the CaucasusMiddle EastNorth AfricaSub-Saharan AfricaEuropeNorth AmericaLatin America and the CaribbeanOceania
πΈπΏ Ludzidzini Royal Village, Eswatini and 1 moreUmhlanga
The annual Swazi and Zulu gathering where young women cut reeds to preserve chastity and offer tribute labour.Rite Β· The eve
π³π¬ Iseyin, Nigeria and 2 moreAso okeAαΉ£α» Γ²kΓ¨
Hand-woven cloth worn by the Yoruba for weddings and formal gatheringsAttire Β· The ceremony
πΏπ¦ South AfricaUmemulo
The Zulu coming of age ceremony that marks a woman as ready for marriageRite Β· The weeks before
π³π¬ Lagos, Nigeria and 3 moreAso ebiAsα»-αΊΈbΓ
Matching outfits worn by groups to show solidarity at Yoruba weddings and other ceremoniesAttire Β· The weeks before
π³π¬ NigeriaFattening room
A traditional Nigerian retreat where Efik women are secluded to learn skills and gain weight before marriage.Betrothal Β· Engagement and betrothal
πΏπ¦ South Africa and 1 moreLobololobola (Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Ndebele), mahadi (Sesotho), mahari (Swahili), magadi (Sepedi), bogadi (Setswana), lovola (Xi
The livestock or cash payment from a groom's family to a bride's family that formalizes a customary marriage in SouthernGift custom Β· Finding a match
π°πͺ KenyaKoito
A Kalenjin dowry negotiation ritual that marks the formal agreement between families.Gift custom Β· Engagement and betrothal
π³π¬ NigeriaLefe
The presentation of gifts from the groom to the bride in Hausa weddings.Gift custom Β· The weeks before
πΊπ¬ UgandaGomesi
The floor-length traditional dress worn by women in Buganda and Busoga for weddings and formal events.Attire Β· Engagement and betrothal
πΈπΈ South Sudan and 1 moreGhost marriage in South Sudan
A union where a living brother stands in for a deceased groom to secure lineage and wealth.Betrothal Β· Engagement and betrothal
πΉπ© ChadPolygamy in Chad
A legally recognized marriage structure where one husband has multiple wives across Chadian communities.Family role
πΏπ¦ South AfricaPolygamy in South Africa
The practice of men marrying more than one wife under customary and Islamic law in South Africa.Vow Β· Engagement and betrothal
π·πΌ RwandaPolygamy in Rwanda
The traditional practice of men having multiple wives, now illegal but still found in rural areas.Gift custom Β· Engagement and betrothal
πΏπ¦ South AfricaUkungenwa
A South African custom where a widowed woman is inherited by her late husband's male relatives.Family role Β· After the wedding
π¬π² GambiaPolygamy in the Gambia
The legal recognition of men having multiple wives in West African society.Family role
π¬π³ GuineaPolygamy in Guinea
A polygynous marriage structure regulated by Guinean family law since 2019.Gift custom Β· Engagement and betrothal
π°πͺ KenyaRecognition of same-sex unions in Kenya
The legal ban on gay marriage alongside traditional female-to-female unions that persist in some communities.Vow Β· Engagement and betrothal
π³π¬ Kano, NigeriaPolygamy in Nigeria
A marital practice where men take multiple wives, legally recognized in twelve northern states under Sharia law.Family role Β· Engagement and betrothal
πΊπ¬ Uganda and 3 morePolygamy in Uganda
The legal practice of a man having multiple wives simultaneously in Uganda and neighboring nations.Family role Β· Engagement and betrothal
πΏπ² ZambiaPolygamy in Zambia
A legal form of marriage allowing one man to have multiple wives under customary law.Family role Β· Engagement and betrothal
πΈπΈ South SudanPolygamy in South Sudan
A common marital structure where men take multiple wives, often measured by cattle wealth.Family role
π³π¬ Nigeria and 1 moreSurrogate marriage
A woman marries another woman to bear children for her lineage when she cannot have them herself.Betrothal Β· Finding a match
π¬π GhanaPolygamy in Ghana
A practice where a man has multiple wives, recognized under customary law but illegal under civil statutes.Family role Β· Engagement and betrothal
π±π· LiberiaPolygamy in Liberia
A customary practice allowing men to have multiple wives despite civil law.Modern
πΊπ¬ UgandaBakisimba
A lively Baganda circle dance performed at weddings and royal ceremonies in Uganda.Performance Β· Reception, dance and gifts
π²πΊ Mauritius and 1 moreGeet-Gawaiππ²π ππ«π°π (Bhojpuri)
A pre-wedding ritual of Bhojpuri-speaking people in Mauritius featuring songs and dance.Performance Β· Engagement and betrothal
π³π¬ Nigeria and 5 moreDashiki suit
The tailored tunic and trousers worn by grooms in West African and diaspora weddingsAttire Β· The ceremony
π³πͺ Niger and 5 morePolygyny
A marriage structure where a man has multiple wives simultaneouslyGift custom
πΏπ¦ South Africa and 1 moreShweshweSeshoeshoe
A printed cotton fabric worn by Xhosa and Sotho brides and married women in Southern Africa.Attire Β· The ceremony
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Aso oke: Wolf D., Public domain, source
- Bakisimba: Kalungi Nathan, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Lefe: Useendk, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Gomesi: sarahemcc, CC BY 2.0, source
- Shweshwe: HelenOnline, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Lobolo: Iwuala Lucy, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Polygamy in South Africa: Unknown author, CC BY 4.0, source
- Umhlanga: Amada44, Public domain, source
- Polygyny: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Aso ebi: SUPREME LACE, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Dashiki suit: Emilio Labrador, CC BY 2.0, source