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I want to start a thread on some weird cultures and facts in africa some will shock you. Please sit back and enjoy. You are free to add yours too. We are all here to learn. @Gidi_Traffic @trafficbutter @TrafficChiefNG.
Kidnapping your bride
In the Sudanese Latuka tribe, whe ttin a man wants to marry a woman, he kidnaps her. Elderly members of his family go and ask the girl’s father for her hand in marriage, and if dad agrees, he beats the suitor as a sign of his acceptance of the union.
In the Sudanese Latuka tribe, whe ttin a man wants to marry a woman, he kidnaps her. Elderly members of his family go and ask the girl’s father for her hand in marriage, and if dad agrees, he beats the suitor as a sign of his acceptance of the union.
Kidnapping your bride
If the father disagrees, however, the man might forcefully marry the woman anyway.
If the father disagrees, however, the man might forcefully marry the woman anyway.
2.Spitting your blessings
Members of the Maasai tribe in Kenya and Tanzania spit as a way of blessing. Men spit on newborns and say they are bad in the belief that if they praise a baby, it will be cursed. Maasai warriors will also spit in their hands before shaking hands
Members of the Maasai tribe in Kenya and Tanzania spit as a way of blessing. Men spit on newborns and say they are bad in the belief that if they praise a baby, it will be cursed. Maasai warriors will also spit in their hands before shaking hands
3.Wealth is measured by cows
In the Pokot tribe in Kenya, wealth is measured by how many cows a family has. Most Pokot people are either “corn people” or “cow people”— meaning that’s what they cultivate on their land — but all Pokot people measure their wealth by cows.
In the Pokot tribe in Kenya, wealth is measured by how many cows a family has. Most Pokot people are either “corn people” or “cow people”— meaning that’s what they cultivate on their land — but all Pokot people measure their wealth by cows.
The number of women a man can marry is determined by how many cows he has.
4.Beating the suitor
The Fulani tribe live in many countries in West Africa and follow a tradition called Sharo. Sharo happens when two young men want to marry the same woman. To compete for her hand, they beat one another up.
The Fulani tribe live in many countries in West Africa and follow a tradition called Sharo. Sharo happens when two young men want to marry the same woman. To compete for her hand, they beat one another up.
The men must suppress signs of pain and the one who takes the beating without showing signs of pain can take the wife.
5.A thorough cleansing
The Chewa people are one of the largest indigenous groups of Malawi but live throughout Central and Southern Africa.
The Chewa people are one of the largest indigenous groups of Malawi but live throughout Central and Southern Africa.
When a person dies, one family tradition involves taking the body into the woods, slitting the throat, and forcing water through the body to cleanse it. They do this by squeezing the corpse’s stomach until what comes out the rear end runs clear.
6.Lip stretching
When a girl becomes a teenager in the Surma tribe of Southern Sudan, she begins the process of lip stretching. The girl has her bottom teeth removed to make space for a lip plate, which is increased in size annually.
When a girl becomes a teenager in the Surma tribe of Southern Sudan, she begins the process of lip stretching. The girl has her bottom teeth removed to make space for a lip plate, which is increased in size annually.
7. Hamar Tribe, Ethiopia
To prove your manhood as a young boy in the Hamer tribe, it is expected that you run, jump and land on the back of a bull, before then attempting to run across the backs of several bulls while naked.
Before this ritual takes place,
To prove your manhood as a young boy in the Hamer tribe, it is expected that you run, jump and land on the back of a bull, before then attempting to run across the backs of several bulls while naked.
Before this ritual takes place,
female friends of the young boy undergoing the test must cover their whole body, including their head and hair, with red ochre mixed with fats. Â The girls are then expected to dance and get whipped by elders until they have scars and wounds on their backs.
This is done to show their unflinching loyalty to their friend.
8. Banyankole Tribe, Uganda
The Banyankole tribe is a minority tribe in Uganda. And the mention of marriage is definitely a burden to the bride’s aunt. When a couple is about to get married, custom dictates that the aunt of the bride sleeps with the groom to ensure the potency
The Banyankole tribe is a minority tribe in Uganda. And the mention of marriage is definitely a burden to the bride’s aunt. When a couple is about to get married, custom dictates that the aunt of the bride sleeps with the groom to ensure the potency
of the groom. Furthermore, she also has to test the bride’s virginity.
Some traditions claim that the group must have sex with the aunt before sleeping with the bride. Another tradition asserts that it was the responsibility of the aunt to prove the potency of the groom by
Some traditions claim that the group must have sex with the aunt before sleeping with the bride. Another tradition asserts that it was the responsibility of the aunt to prove the potency of the groom by
watching or listening to the couple while they’re having intercourse
9.Widowhood among the Igbos - Nigeria
It is a common custom among the Igbos to find widows subjected to humiliation to prove that she had no hand in her husband’s death. The widow is subjected to punishments such as forcing her to drink the water used in
It is a common custom among the Igbos to find widows subjected to humiliation to prove that she had no hand in her husband’s death. The widow is subjected to punishments such as forcing her to drink the water used in
washing her husband’s corpse, shaving off her hair, amongst them.
10.Taking pictures
The first rule to note is that the Tanzanian government considers taking pictures of structures such as government buildings, bridges, and military personnel as illegal. While this rule might be applicable in most African countries,
The first rule to note is that the Tanzanian government considers taking pictures of structures such as government buildings, bridges, and military personnel as illegal. While this rule might be applicable in most African countries,
there’s another weird fact attached to taking photos in Tanzania.
For instance, it’s advised that you seek permission before taking another person’s picture. This is attributed to natives’ beliefs about taking pictures. Some might go as far as asking you for payment (money)
For instance, it’s advised that you seek permission before taking another person’s picture. This is attributed to natives’ beliefs about taking pictures. Some might go as far as asking you for payment (money)
before taking their pictures. Other tribes such as the Massai people believe that taking pictures means stealing their souls.
.Namibia’s Offering of Wives to Visitors for Sex
In Northern Namibia, the Okujepisa Omukazendu treat is the most prestigious way the people of Ovahimba and Ovazimba tribes welcome their male visitors. To make the guest feel at home,
In Northern Namibia, the Okujepisa Omukazendu treat is the most prestigious way the people of Ovahimba and Ovazimba tribes welcome their male visitors. To make the guest feel at home,
a man would order his wife to go in and spend the night with the visitor. Although rare, wives can equally require their visiting friends to go in and be with their husbands.
It has has been speculated that the essence of this strange
It has has been speculated that the essence of this strange
African culture is to eradicate jealousy and encourage oneness. Meanwhile, it is believed that this culture is also practised by the Tiv people of Nigeria.
2. Southern Africa’s Reed Dance/Virginity Testing
Umhlanga, an annual dance ceremony meant to celebrate virginity in  Swaziland is known as Umkhosi woMhlanga in South Africa. The culture is peculiar to the Swazi and Zulu people.
Umhlanga, an annual dance ceremony meant to celebrate virginity in  Swaziland is known as Umkhosi woMhlanga in South Africa. The culture is peculiar to the Swazi and Zulu people.
It all has to do with maidens completely bare-breasted dancing for their respective kings. Before they can do this, they would have to queue up to have their virginity tested.
This is normally done in a traditional way which majorly revolves around examining the
This is normally done in a traditional way which majorly revolves around examining the
physical features of the vagina and shallow inserts into the organ to see if the hymen is intact. We learnt that ladies who are no longer virgins, for fear of being stigmatized, go as far as inserting raw meat into their vaginas so as to pass the test.
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3.Leblouh – Mauritania’s Force-Feeding of Girls for Marriage
Here, it is believed that a lady is more desirable and would attract fine suitors if she is well fed and robust. As such, young girls and maidens from as low as five years old to teenagers are being secluded and
Here, it is believed that a lady is more desirable and would attract fine suitors if she is well fed and robust. As such, young girls and maidens from as low as five years old to teenagers are being secluded and
forced to consume a large portion of food and milk by their fatteners who would inflict pain on them if they fail to do so.
While this practice is most common in Mauritania, Northwestern Africa, it has also been associated with the people of southern Morocco
While this practice is most common in Mauritania, Northwestern Africa, it has also been associated with the people of southern Morocco
We have taken a look at the few that I could think of. We are moving to the rest of the world. Seems like we are not the only ones who have bizarre cultures and tradition in africa. The rest of the world too have theirs.
To be sure am just not wasting my time let's see the amount of likes I can get to continue. And to see if people are really following this thread or not. It says 1800 are viewing this thread. Please like.
