Traditions in Africa

Traditional African woman

1. Spiritual power

• woman were often in charge of the spiritual figures
• also responsible for announcing where ceremonies were take place and what events would occur during them
• had power to replace or remove curses
• dominant feminine energy in the spiritual sphere helped o ensure that women were respected in society.

http://africanwomenculture.blogspot.com/2011/04/african-womens-role-in-society-and.html

Education

• lack of political will to provide woman with equal access to education
• woman were not allowed education because it would make them "too independent" and not allow them to properly tend to their family and home.
• poor family's first provide the male child with the opportunities to claim whatever education is available
• The drop out rate in Tanzania was half for girls ages twelve to fourteen leaving school because of pregnancy.
• woman were taught how to care for the home and children, and how to preserve the beauty of girlhood.

http://archive.une.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu37we/uu37we0t.htm

Bridal Marriage Traditions

• arranged marriages are common. Usually the family's will arrange who their children will marry.
• in Egypt the bride gets henna tattoos with religious symbols on their hands and feet
• In Kenya an older woman teaches the bride how to satisfy her husband. She will hide under their bed incase and unexpected problem arises.
• Polygamous marriages are common in Niger
• in Igbo weddings traditionally an elder presents a "Ofo" (a wooden stick) to the couple that symbolizes unity, truth, and indestructibility.

http://traditionscustoms.com/wedding-traditions/african-wedding-traditions