Africa has diverse and fascinating marriage customs that often test a groom’s strength, courage, endurance, or appeal in ways that differ sharply from Western norms.
In some tribes, men are chosen by women or their families based on their strength, bravery, and even beauty, apart from family alliances and cultural values.
Here are some of the most unique ways certain African tribes choose the perfect groom: 
1.Wrestling with the Bride-to-be
The Karamojong people of Uganda have a notable tradition where a man must wrestle the woman he wants to marry. The women of Karamajong are usually very strong, so if he wins, he proves his strength and ability to protect and provide for her. After the battle, the man is allowed to proceed with marriage negotiations, which include the bride price in cattle.
If the man loses the fight, he’s not considered ready for marriage within the community. He will have to go to another community where a wrestling match is not required to get a wife.
SEE ALSO: Africa’s Richest Families
2. Stick Fight
The Suri men of Ethiopia compete in Sagine, which is an intense stick-fighting duel with long poles. This competition is important when seeking a bride.
The winners gain prestige, attract brides, and prove their bravery. Girls often watch and select their favoured fighters afterward. These fights can be bloody and occasionally fatal, as there are records of deaths from the competition, serving as a key rite of passage for marriage eligibility.
3. Flogging with Canes
Another interesting way African tribes choose the perfect groom is found in Nigeria among the Fulani.
The Sharo festival involves young men enduring severe public flogging with sticks or canes without flinching, crying, or showing pain. For the Fulani, it is a test of endurance, courage, and manhood. It is also a major pre-marriage ordeal for them.
Success, sometimes in competitions between rival suitors, allows them to marry the girl of their choice. In some cases, the number of wives the winner can have is linked to his performance during the flogging.
SEE ALSO: African Countries With the Highest Rates of Early Marriage and Where Women Wait the Longest
4. Kidnapping the Bride
In Himba (Namibia) and some parts of Frafra (Ghana), the bride is captured by the groom’s family, followed by guarded seclusion and gifts to formalize the union.
In the Frafra tribe, the groom’s family visits the bride-to-be’s family with tobacco, guinea fowl, and kola nuts to make known to her family where their daughter is. However, the proposal can be rejected by the family.
In some cases, the family may challenge the groom to impregnate the bride to prove his seriousness.
5. Makeup and Beauty Pageantry
During the annual Gerewol festival, the Wodaabe (a Fulani subgroup) young men adorn themselves with makeup and elaborate attire. They perform dances to showcase their beauty, stamina, charm, and features like tall stature, white teeth and eyes, and narrow noses.
The women, who are usually marriageable teenagers, judge and select the men, sometimes for marriage or courtship.
About The Author
