customary marriage in ghana
The custom as concerns marriage among the Gbi tribe transcend arts and cultural aesthetics. Marriage remains a sacred customary practice that involves a number of processes and stages.
The Gbi people located in two separate locations of Peki and Hohoe in the Volta Region of Ghana. The artistic aspects of customary marriage among the people of Gbi are diverse.
Ufofo – The first stage of the marriage arrangement is done only on Asigbe (market day) when everybody is at home. It serves as an official notification of the interest of a man in a woman.
Akpedada (thanksgiving drink) – This is the stage of acknowledgment from the groom’s parents to be that they are happy and their proposal has been accepted.
On an agreeable day, they present two big pots of palm wine and two crates of soft drinks to the bride’s family to be to thank them for accepting to give their daughter’s hand in marriage.
The marriage contract is partially fulfilled and by custom the woman’s parents cannot give their daughter to another man without breaking the contract. The groom-to-be can now visit his prospective in-laws’ home, usually in the evening to fraternize with them.
Sagbledede (Service to in-laws) – This is the stage of customizing the marriage present the suitor to show his prospective in-laws how hardworking and productive he may be.
If he is a salary earner, he gives out gifts in the form of commodities but if a farmer, he occasionally presents firewood and foodstuffs to his in-laws.
During the farming season, he would arrange with his friends to help his prospective in-laws in farming work.
Gbomekploga – A hundred thousand old Ghana Cedis is collected from the groom as the bridewealth. It is assumed that when the married woman is no longer living in the community the money paid would cater for her communal duty.
Srohakpakpa (Tapping the marriage palm wine) – This is a traditional art activity by which the uncles of the groom to be tap palm wine purposely for the other members of the bride and to be extended family.
Toviseseha – Two kegs of palm-wine known as kakraha (saying good-bye) is mainly for the bride’s clan. This is the day tovi (spiritual father) who will represent the groom’s father and will lead him to the bride’s family anytime he needs to present anything to them or perform any rite will be appointed for the groom’s family.
Noha (mother’s drink) comprises one full keg of palm wine, two bottles of gin and half a piece of wax print. In drinking noha, the family wishes their daughter and her husband good luck.
The half piece of cloth in the bridewealth is an acknowledgment to the bride’s mother for bringing up a good wife.
Saha (thanksgiving day) the marriage ceremony climaxes in this stage. Usually, this day is fixed on agblemigbe (a non-farming day) which is Thursday.
This stage involves everybody in the village where marriage is formally consummated by an act known as sahanogbe “the art of adorning the wife by the groom’s family”.
On this occasion, the fiancé equips his fiancée with all the customary marriage items demanded by the bride’s family.
The ghanaian customary marriage list items include two crates of soft drinks or more, two bottles of foreign Schnapps or more, two bottles of akpeteshie (local gin) or more, nugbedosige (engagement gold ring), three or six half pieces of wax prints, and three big pots of palm-wine. The palm wine is shared among family members.
Marriage rites and rituals also hold an esteem position among the Gbi during the marriage ceremony. Of great significance is the stool that is presented as a gift to the bride.
This one of the requirements for the bride has links with the ancestors and encourages effective social relationships in the society.
It also expresses essential provisions of life e.g. the warmth or hospitality of the married woman
