Ghanian Traditional Wedding

SO, I went to a wedding today in Accra with Dela. It was a Ghanian Traditional Wedding, but it turns out it was the "engagement," not the wedding...I'll explain.

So first what happens here in Ghana is the guy proposes to the girl. When she says yes, he goes and asks her parent's permission. When they say okay, they start planning. The family of the girl gives the guys family a list, called an "engagement list" of stuff they want for their daughter....like the ring, a bible, money, cattle (depends on where the people are from, of course), and other things. Then they plan the engagement ceremony (which is what we went to) and then the guy's parents bring all the stuff for the girl's parents (neither bride nor groom are present for this part) and see if it is enough for the son to marry the daughter. Sometimes, it is not enough. The whole thing is a negotiation. Perhaps the family wants more money or something, that is to be negotiated at the ceremony. Everyone else sits outside and enjoys drinks and things while this goes on. Which is what we did. When the bargaining is done, the bride and groom come and then people eat and party. We stayed for a bit but not the whole time because it was a tad boring and it was hot and we were hungry.

THE COOLEST PART, though, was that the immediate ex-president of Ghana was AT the engagement ceremony. John Kufuor. This guy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kufuor

Or, this guy:

 

Also, here is Dela and I at the wedding! The dress I am wearing is the one I had made here in Ghana.