Perhaps, one of the best expressions of this unique community bond is at marriage ceremonies, where entire communities rally in support of the two families coming together.
The wearing of Aṣọ-Ẹbí (pronounced: ah-shaw-eh-be) to ceremonies started amongst the Yoruba tribe in West Africa, but has spread to many other tribes. Yorubas can be found in Nigeria, Bénin, Togo, Ghana and Sierra Leone. Aṣọ-Ẹbí (loosely translated as “family cloth”), is often some colour-coded fabrics chosen by the matriarch of a family, to be worn by her close relatives and friends in solidarity or support of the family on the day of the ceremony. Thus at weddings, there are usually two main Aṣọ-Ẹbí - one marking out the bride’s family and the other marking out the groom’s.
The result is an unrestrained display of colour and flamboyance, as each family (with its array of aṣọ-ẹbí wearing supporters) tries to outdo the other on the fashion stage. Albeit, all done in the spirit of conviviality and joie de vivre! Aṣọ-Ẹbí are also worn on sombre occasions, for example at funerals. You know what type of occasion it is usually from the colour scheme of the aṣọ-ẹbí. To explore traditional wedding ceremonies + cultural events in West Africa, please click on link below.
Cultural Journeys
Colourful, vibrant, pulsating….just a few words that describe the magnificence of Black Africa’s cultural scene, yet there’s so much to explore. This is a place where every life event - birth, marriage or death is celebrated with vigour, aplomb and a great communal spirit. The spirit of Ubuntu - I am, because we are. In other words, community is at the centre of everything.
For music lovers,
Why not tour West Africa on a musical sojourn for a true flavour of African music? Here is the home of Highlife, Afrobeats and music greats such as Fela Kuti, Youssou N’Dour, Angélique Kidjo, and more. From the St. Louis in Senegal, through Accra, Ghana and unto The Afrika Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria. The Afrika Shrine was a magnet for famous musicians back in Fela’s day – Bootsy Collins and other members of James Brown’s band, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder were among early visitors. While you may not always predict which famous person you will bump into at the Shrine, what you are guaranteed is one of the best live music performances you’ve ever seen.
Spiritualism and Healing Journeys
African traditional religion is alive and gaining in popularity by the day. Although not openly practiced in many African countries, numerous socio-cultural norms in society have their origin in the ancient spiritist religion. Bénin in West Africa is considered the home of Voodoun - Africa’s most popular spiritist religion - and one of the few countries where traditional religion is openly embraced. An annual Voodoun festival takes place every February in Ouidah - a port city in Bénin Republic.
