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EveryShaadi

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.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

🇿🇦 South AfricaUmemulo The Zulu coming of age ceremony that marks a woman as ready for marriageRite · The weeks before

🇸🇿 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 · The eve

🇳🇬 Lagos, Nigeria and 3 moreAso ebiAsọ-Ẹbí Matching outfits worn by groups to show solidarity at Yoruba weddings and other ceremoniesAttire · The weeks before

🇳🇬 Nigeria and 2 moreGeleGèlè The towering Yoruba head tie that crowns the bride and marks her status on the wedding day.Attire · The weeks before

🇪🇹 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and 1 moreZuria The ankle-length dress with woven hem bands worn by Tigrinya and Amhara women for weddings and holidays.Attire · The weeks before 🇪🇹 Addis Ababa, EthiopiaWedding customs in Ethiopia A collection of diverse marriage rites across Ethiopian tribes and the Orthodox Christian community.Rite · Finding a match

🇳🇬 Iseyin, Nigeria and 2 moreAso okeAṣọ òkè Hand-woven cloth worn by the Yoruba for weddings and formal gatheringsAttire · The ceremony

🇬🇭 Ghana and 2 moreKente clothnwentoma Hand-woven silk and cotton strips from Ghana that mark weddings and graduationsAttire · The ceremony

🇲🇱 MaliWeddings in Mali Multi-day Malian wedding traditions blending Islamic rites, civil law, and local customs with bazin attire.Rite · Engagement and betrothal

🇳🇬 NigeriaIgbo traditional marriageIgba Nkwu The multi-stage Igbo marriage process that formalizes a union through family negotiations and the wine-carrying ceremonyRite · Finding a match

🇳🇬 Nigeria and 1 moreHausa traditional marriage The Islamic marriage rites of the Hausa people in Northern Nigeria and Niger.Rite · Finding a match

🇸🇿 EswatiniUmtsimbauntsimba The multi-day Swazi wedding journey where the bride joins her husband's village with songs, dances, and symbolic gifts.Rite · The weeks before

🇺🇬 UgandaGomesi The floor-length traditional dress worn by women in Buganda and Busoga for weddings and formal events.Attire · Engagement and betrothal

🇳🇬 NigeriaYoruba traditional weddingIgbeyawo The multi-day Yoruba marriage ceremony featuring traditional attire, family introductions, and the Eru Iyawo gift list.Attire · Engagement and betrothal

🇿🇦 Cape Town, South AfricaSame-sex marriage in South Africa The legal recognition of same-sex unions established by the Civil Union Act of 2006.Modern · The ceremony 🇰🇪 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 · Engagement and betrothal 🇳🇬 Kano, NigeriaPolygamy in Nigeria A marital practice where men take multiple wives, legally recognized in twelve northern states under Sharia law.Family role · Engagement and betrothal

🇳🇬 Nigeria and 1 moreOkpu Aguokpu agụ A traditional knitted cap worn by Igbo men at weddings and ceremonies to signal status and heritage.Attire · The ceremony 🇺🇬 Uganda and 1 moreEkikibi A circular dance by the Bakonzo that mimics swimming fish to celebrate marriage.Performance · The ceremony

🇰🇪 Kenya and 1 moreAdumuEnkipaata or Aigus The high-jumping warrior dance performed by the Maasai at weddings and rites of passage.Performance · The ceremony

🇿🇦 South AfricaUkusina An energetic Zulu dance where performers kick and stamp to drums during weddings and ceremonies.Performance · The ceremony

🇳🇬 Iseyin, Nigeria and 2 moreYoruba wedding attire Traditional garments worn by Yoruba couples and guests to mark marriage celebrations.Attire · The ceremony

🇿🇦 South Africa and 1 moreShweshweSeshoeshoe A printed cotton fabric worn by Xhosa and Sotho brides and married women in Southern Africa.Attire · The ceremony

🇳🇬 Nigeria and 5 moreDashiki suit The tailored tunic and trousers worn by grooms in West African and diaspora weddingsAttire · The ceremony

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Okpu Agu: Justice kelechi achinefu, CC0, source
Yoruba traditional wedding: Fhadekhemmy, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Aso oke: Wolf D., Public domain, source
Recognition of same-sex unions in South Korea: Nerd271, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Gomesi: sarahemcc, CC BY 2.0, source
Adumu: K15photos, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Shweshwe: HelenOnline, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Zuria: Kurt Bauschardt, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Ukusina: Vulane Mthembu, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Kente cloth: ZSM, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Igbo traditional marriage: Olugold, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Weddings in Mali: HawaG, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Yoruba wedding attire: Wolf D., Public domain, source
Umhlanga: Amada44, Public domain, source
Hausa traditional marriage: Bembety, CC0, source
Umtsimba: Cat7624, CC0, source
Aso ebi: SUPREME LACE, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Gele: Royalesignature, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Dashiki suit: Emilio Labrador, CC BY 2.0, source

The weekly EveryShaadi

Every week: one wedding tradition from somewhere new, the wedding days coming up around the world, and one idea explained.