Fascinating Facts about African Culture and Tradition

By Samson Ogaye

Most of Africa countries receive 365 sunny days, and they have more outdoorsy grounds: rain forests, fertile grassland, parks, as well as rugged mountains home to a plethora of flora as well as fauna. Undoubtedly its extensive array of flora and fauna is unmatched by many continents. However, do you know something fascinating about this continent? 

In many African traditions, marriage is an important rite of passage where the bride’s family asks for dowry. They set the dowry price and the bride’s and groom’s family agree on what is the price is best. Many factors about the bride are considered. If she is more educated the bride price will be higher and vice-versa.  It is usually a ceremony of its own, and the bride and groom families could either agree or disagree on the price necessitating another seating. It can also take a much-heated debate, more so when the bride’s family puts a higher price on their daughter. 

Africans have a strong regard for the ancestors, and in many communities, they are damn confident a link exists between the world we are in and the next. Ancestors are supreme beings and venerated by many Africans. In many of the African communities, they believe that when one honors ancestors they acknowledge the divine energy given at the beginning of their life, which allowed their birth.

Africans believes in tattooing as well as other charms. Tattooing has been in existence in the continent for many years, and some tattoos believed to protect people from witchcraft and evil beings, other put on this ink to show off their class, origin with other communities using tattoos for beautification purposes. Native Africans draw most tattoos either temporarily or permanently. 

Many African communities dominant diet is carbohydrate. Popular carbohydrate dishes include yam, cassava, and Ugali, with higher regards for other meals as meat as well as eggs. Vegetables are also highly consumed, and some of them are not just as food but also for medicinal purposes. Most of them grow naturally in the forests gardens, and they are planted in the farms.

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