Learn about 7 strange tribal customs from Africa
From the San people in South Africa to the Amazighs in the far north of Morocco, a countless number of tribes extend throughout Africa. In fact, there are those who estimate the number of African tribes at about 3,000, and you can imagine the extent of the diversity in the unique tribal traditions of each tribe. There are Scientists and researchers were able to monitor it and reveal its secrets, and we were lucky enough to get to know it. There are secrets that we will never know, but in the following report we will learn about 7 tribal customs that are just a small part of the amazing African heritage.
Engagement dance...the Wodaabe tribe of Niger
Birds do this, and so do bees. We are talking about a courtship dance. In the “Wodaabe” tribe in Niger, the mating ritual between members of the tribe seems as if it was taken from one of the pages of a nature book, and “The Guérewol” is an annual ritual in which the young men of the tribe compete to gain admiration. Women.
Young men wear elegant clothes, adorn their faces, and gather in rows, dancing and singing to gain the admiration of 3 judges of young women in the process of marriage. In this tribe, a man’s beauty lies in his eyes and bright teeth, so men often apply kohl, file their teeth, and take good care of them to show their attractiveness.
Lip dishes...the Mursi tribe of Ethiopia
There is a strange custom that the women of this tribe adhere to, where they place wooden boards in their lower lips. When a “Mursi” girl reaches the age of sixteen, and sometimes fifteen, a cut is made in her lower lip by her mother, or any older woman from the tribe, and a piece is placed in her lower lip. Wooden plates for 3 months in which the lips expand, and women compete in the size of lip augmentation. They also decorate the plates with different drawings, and also write their names on them. Through their colors and shapes, the social status of a woman can be identified, whether she is married, single, or widowed.
Jumping over the bull.. the “Hamar/Hamar” tribe of Ethiopia
Everywhere men seek to prove their masculinity in many ways, but in the “Hamar” or “Hamar” tribe and its members who are shepherds who respect their livestock, they sometimes exploit those livestock in primitive sports, and in a tradition to prove their masculinity, they jump over the bull, a ritual that lasts for 3 days. All young men must participate in it, in which they seek to prove their dignity and superiority as men, and also protect the family’s dignity. The ritual begins with 15 bulls being rubbed with dung to make their backs slippery. If a person fails in his jump, he will not try again until after a full year, and if he succeeds, this means He is ready to marry a girl chosen by his parents, and he can raise his children and take care of his livestock.
Red dough.. “Himba” Namibia
The women of this famous Namibian tribe are known for their beautiful hair and red color, but what is the secret of this beautiful, rich color? It is a homemade paste called “otjize” to protect the skin in light of the scarcity of water and the hot climate in which they live. Women make this paste from aromatic resins from the omuzumba shrub, goat fat, and lead oxide, and apply it to their bodies to protect against insect bites and protect the skin from the heat of the sun. Red color is a sign of beauty; Therefore, applying this paste and taking care of the strength of the color and distributing it on the skin is similar to applying traditional makeup, just as we apply mascara and lipstick.
It is also a symbol of pride in the historic blessing of the land, and it is a symbol of blood. A symbol of life and continuity.
Spitting... “Maasai” Kenya
The Maasai people in Kenya and northern Tanzania view spitting as a form of blessing, and it is also a sign of respect. Men of the tribe use spitting to greet or bid farewell to friends, and it is also a sign of success in reaching an agreement on a deal or wishing someone good luck. It is not strange that You see two friends greeting each other by spitting into their palms before shaking hands.
When a child is born, family members spit on the child to wish him a long life and success in his life, just as a father spits on his daughter’s forehead on her wedding day to wish her a blessed marriage.
Healing dance... “San” of Botswana and South Africa
Among all the tribal traditions, this tradition is considered magical. It is practiced by the “San” people in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Angola, where they consider this dance to give sacred power. The entire tribe gathers in front of a ring of fire for several hours and sometimes for an entire night. The dance is led by healers and elders of the tribe. They dance around the fire, chanting and breathing deeply until they reach something similar to a coma. In this state, they claim that they can access the world of spirits and can walk over the fire. This dance is not only used to treat physical illnesses, but also to expel what is known as “star disease.” sickness, which is the force that causes feelings of jealousy and anger.
Marriage rituals.. “Ndebele” Zimbabwe
Wedding ceremonies in the “Ndebele” tribe revolve around the bride, who does not wear a white dress as in Western traditions, and the groom’s mother makes for her a “Jocolo”, which is a goatskin jacket embroidered with colored beads. All married women wear a “Jocolo” at the wedding, and they are surrounded by With children, the groom performs ceremonial rituals in honor of his new wife and to thank her for accepting his participation in his next life.
The marriage is celebrated in three stages, and can take several years. The first stage is paying the bride price “Labola” in installments of money or livestock. The second stage is separating the bride from her surroundings for two weeks; The women teach her how to be a good wife, and the third stage is completed when the bride gives birth to her first child.
The groom sends a letter to the bride’s family to request a date to negotiate the bride price, “Labola.” Then he must buy a sheep, blankets, a broom, and clothes for the girl’s family. The groom’s family visits the bride’s family to pay the Labola dowry, then they take the girl to the groom’s family to get to know her.
Wedding food is cooked in the traditional way in which the “traditional yellow corn meal” should include meats, salads, fruits, desserts and cakes.
Source : websites