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Encounters in West Africa

by Hossein Kamali

168 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #02-0023; ISBN 1-55369-210-1; US$19.50, C$26.95, EUR17.60, £12.20

A brief West African history, its past civilization and tourist attractions. Transatlantic Slave Trade and Amistad revolt; European colonialism, Chiefdoms, traditional beliefs in sorcery and witchcrafts celebration after midnight, cultural heritage, how women secret societies operate and their initiation ceremony...

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About the book      About the author      Sample excerpt      Catalogue info

About the Book Encounters in West Africa is perhaps unique in its kind, informative, critical and at the same time entertaining. It gives an overview of West African history, the Transatlantic Slave Trade and the Amistad Revolt. It refers to major events since the European colonialism; aspects of cultural heritage and traditional beliefs in sorcery and witchcraft, secret societies, initiation and wedding ceremonies and the status of African women. The author explains how slavery fueled the engine of western economies through draining African wealth and human resources and addresses the critical question "Why Africa endowed with rich resources remains the world's poorest region in the twenty-first century!" In response, while recognizing the internal political conditions and social instability as the major constraints, he blames the West and the United States in particular for ignoring Africa despite giving much attention to some other territories. He then draws attention to the pressing issues facing Africa and the challenging role of the international community and Western media for a change of policy. The author believes that education should be given first priority in any donors' assistance package to Africa which should include health care education and sharing knowledge and technology transfer with effective community involvement. The author's aim is to enrich the awareness of the reader about the potential resources, rich heritage and traditional values of Africa with the hope to promote international partnership with the continent. The last parts of the book cover the author's interesting memoirs, some advice to visitors before travelling to the region and references to institutions and NGOs affiliated with West Africa.

About the Author Hossein Kamali, a consultant and former Senior United Nations Field Advisor and Director in West Africa, educated in Iran and the United States, obtained his BS and MS in Mathematics, Public Administration and Economic Development. His association with the UN and Africa dates back to 1969 when he joined UNIDO in Vienna, Austria as a development officer, served in West Africa from 1987 to 1992 and then in Sudan from 1993-1994. A recipient of Ford Foundation scholarship while attending Macalaster College, Harvard and Washington State universities, has extensively traveled worldwide and throughout Africa.

Sample Excerpt

Marriage ceremonies

Cultural and ethnic diversity in Africa has influenced the way when each tribe practices its own rituals and traditional ceremonies. In West Africa, marriage is considered an important agreement, which carries certain obligations by each party. Society also views marriage as the legal and appropriate means for sexual relationship.

Marriage ceremonies, like other traditions, may differ in various tribes and societies. It appears however, that the philosophy of marriage and its legitimacy is finalized in a form of an agreement, and, in this case, West Africa is not an exception from the rest of the world. Even some traditions appear to be the same as in many other regions, particularly, in the developing world. For instance, the age of marriage for a girl in tribal communities is when she reaches puberty. In most parts of West Africa, however, the girl has to go through initiation process before she becomes eligible for marriage.

As for ceremonies in traditional marriages, let us take those of a tribe called "Limbas" which is in the northern area of Bombali District, its inhabitants are mostly with no or little education. In fact they believe or feel that sending a child to school is a waste of time and money, and therefore prefer to become herbalists or farmers.

The Limba people propose marriage for their son by sponsoring a girl, financially, until she becomes mature. This happens when a woman becomes pregnant. The father of the boy will tell the woman that if she gives birth to a baby girl, he wants her for his son. Sometimes, boys refuse to go through with such arrangement, but the girls are forced to get married even to an old man, because he is rich and has properties. If a boy chooses a girl himself, he brings up the matter to his parents, who will then investigate the girl's characters and her family. If they are satisfied, they approach the girl's relatives and inform them of their son's desire to marry their daughter. If the girl's response is positive, it will be communicated to the boy and, preparations for the marriage shall begin. In the meantime, prior to the wedding ceremony, the boy is obliged to assist the girl's parents in their farming. Even, as a good gesture, the boy will bring friends along to help, while the girl's parents provide food for the group.

When the boy and his parents are prepared for the wedding, they will fix a convenient date mutually agreed for the wedding. Normally there is one month's notice for the preparation of the wedding ceremony.

A week before the day of the wedding, the girl's family will call a family meeting during which each person will make a commitment to contribute for the wedding expenses. Some would bring palm oil, rice, fish or firewood for the feast, while some will contribute cash to purchase needed items for the ceremony.

On the wedding day, the girl's house will be busy with people preparing food for the guests, while the boy's family will bring along with them a mat and a calabash containing the money, kola-nuts, a needle and threads. It is a tradition that a virgin girl will carry the calabash to the ceremony. When the boy's parents reach the house, the girl along with an elderly person shall be waiting outside while the others enter the house. Inside, the guests, called strangers will be introduced and presents in cash will be offered. Here, the boy's parents offer extra money to the girl's family telling them that they have seen a "rose" in their compound and that they want her to marry their son.

After all guests are assembled, the girl's family will appear with a girl covered with a white cloth and ask if she was the girl they were looking for. The response will be negative. They will bring another girl with a different dress and ask the same question and again the reply will not be positive; this will be repeated several times until the real girl, the "rose", will come out of a room and appear before the guests.

After everyone has recognized the real girl, all shout with joy that they have seen their "rose", and then cash comes to the girl from all directions as a sign of joy and appreciation. A mat will be put on the ground for the girl to sit, and prayers are offered in local languages before the Christians and Moslems are requested to pray.

One elder member of the boy's family will hand over the money with the calabash to the girl's family, which passes it on to the girl herself. The girl will then pass this to her elder brother, who in his turn will hand it over to their father. The latter will thank the guests and soon leave with some of his family members to count the money. Food and refreshments will served to the guests, and after the counting of the money, a final blessing will be given to the girl's family, and a date will be fixed for the girl to leave the house and join her husband. On the day before she joins her husband, the parents give her a bowl with rice, salt, palm oil and pepper. Some rich families buy pots, pans and mortar for their daughters to take to their husband.

In East Africa, weddings are also joyful events for which the Preparation begins well in advance. In some countries such as Sudan, the relatives and women in particular, get together and make a task force to ensure the smooth running of the happy occasion. But here again, the ceremony may differ according to the traditions of the community concerned.

Marriage in most parts of West Africa generally begins with engagement. First, the female members of the groom's relatives such as mother and the sisters will pay a visit to the girl's family to get to know more about her qualities and the family as a whole. If their findings are satisfactory, then the father and other leading male members of the family will set a date for the marriage ceremony.

The marriage ceremonies of the Congos tribe in Liberia and the Creoles in Sierra Leone always take place in a church. It is the tradition of these tribes that their children should be married before they are allowed to leave their parents or families to live with their spouses.

An interesting aspect of marriage within four tribes in Liberia, and two tribes in Sierra Leone, is that when a man marries the eldest sister, he has the right to have an affair with any of the younger sisters whenever over they visit the eldest sister and her husband. I did not mention the relevant tribes' names here since I could not consult the matter with resource persons.

Another tradition in parts of West Africa is that at the wedding night, after the guests have left, the bride is taken to the wedding chamber and given a briefing by the elders as how she should act and behave in her initial contact with the groom. Then they call the groom into the chamber, put couple's hands together, and then leave them alone and hide themselves in the next room to eavesdrop on the culmination of the wedding ceremony. The purpose is to help the bride feel comfortable and ensure the smooth running of the event!

Almost every tribe and ethnic group in Africa allows men to marry more than one wife with the understanding that the husband will treat his wives equally, including the extended family, though in reality this is seldom practiced. Having more than one wife will depend on the financial status of the man and the communities' attitude towards polygamy.

Catalogue Information