Somali Wedding Essay

Somalia is known as the horn of Africa with a huge culture and many subcultures within, where I’ll be focusing on Somali weddings. There are many important traditions that go into making this a special day for not only the bride and groom but the families as well. Many traditions may sound familiar with other cultures as there are many Islamic influences as it is the official religion of Somalia as well as western influences. In this subculture, I will discuss the values, norms, language, symbol and material goods that all contribute to the process of the “aroos” (Somali wedding). There are many subculture in the Somali culture, but they all go hand in hand in creating traditions that has gone back centuries and helped us feel connected since many of us are in different parts of the world. In the Somali culture, the most important part of a Somali wedding is your family.
The values of a Somali family are non-negotiable as religion is the basis of the whole culture. From a young age, girls were told to not be promiscuous and be respectful of our parents and elders so we could find a good husband when we get older. The Somali culture places an importance on marriage as it shows that your parents raised you right. In the Somali culture, we are not …show more content…
There are many symbols that can communicate meanings as well as language does. In a Somali wedding, when the bride walks in at the second wedding ceremony, she is to be greeted by every guest to show their support of the wedding. When greeting elders, you must kiss each cheek twice as a sign of respect as well. The bride must sit at the front of the room as the “baranbuur” starts, where each immediate family member is named and shouted out. There will be a lady who is sings each name and tribe as well as a drummer that will beat to the sound of her singing. As each name is shouted, many women will jump in the middle of the circle and dance while chanting and shouting