We nigerians are really having mad love for y'all for showing up here. We so much like ur thougts and ur contributions on some issues. Let us into ur beliefs, cultures, traditions of ur land. We can as well rub mind to discuss on how it's similar to ours. love y'all

hello, i am AA (called akata on here ) my dad is jamaican and my mom is AA. i had a dna test and on my mother's side i am of yoruba decent,

What exactly do you wanna know about me, my culture and the country i live in?   I'm swedish, born there and live there too

Love this web community btw!

Wow! eerrr! we do I start let me talk about one thread came across on traditional weddings. I am a Mo Tsawana girl and in our culture we belive in dawry and al that jazz. We call the dowry Magadi and the man is the one that pays for it. The process is quiete costly as the whole thing goes in stages as follows:

Stage 1

1. Guy's family has to send girls family about the guy's intentions, its called Kopa sego sa metsi.

2. Girl's family will reply re their acceptance or regret. If guy is accepted then they will ask how soon will the guy's family show. Guy's family will respond with date. By the way everyhing happens in letter its a sign of respect, so no e-mails and no phone calls until the first meeting.

3. On the day of the first meeting girl's family may refuse to talk to guy's family until they pay a certain amount. It doesnt matter how far guy's family had to traveled. Guy's family can pay in cash or kind and its called Pula Molomo meaning pay me to open my mouth so I can speak to you. Dont Laugh its hilarious I know 

Oh! by the way only the uncles to the two love birds can have this meeting.

4. On the day of the first meeting the girl's will be hidden and the wrong girl will be brought before the guy's uncle and they will be asked if this is the girl they came to ask for a hand in marriage. This game could go on and on, but its just for fun. I understand in the olden day it was taken seriously and if you didnt know who you came to ask for you'd be sent back.

Again girls family will put a price on the table and state why, and so the negotiation process begins. Its always important for guy to give the uncles the amount he can afford before the uncles commit him to any amount he cant afford.

Guys uncles can leave any little bit of money as a down payment to the money asked for as a sign to return, but by all means should never leave all the money asked for as it seen as a sign of disrespect, like you are insinuating that tier daugther is cheap and affordable, so no dont do that.

I'll continue with stage two tomorrow.

@bammykake,
actually sometimes we come across people not knwing we are related, nt until we knw the dna stuff. It happens to a coz' dat resides in d US, when he was 'bout 2get married, they discoverd dat d girl is related somehow to d him.
@martina,
pls your cultures or ur beliefs which we can as well relate to.
@SA lady,
in africa marriage&dowry payment is really a very serious aspect of our traditn wich we cnt do away wit. Pls waiting for part2

sunch:

@bammykake,
actually sometimes we come across people not knwing we are related, nt until we knw the dna stuff. It happens to a coz' dat resides in d US, when he was 'bout 2get married, they discoverd dat d girl is related somehow to d him.
@martina,
pls your cultures or your beliefs which we can as well relate to.
@SA lady,
in africa marriage&dowry payment is really a very serious aspect of our traditn wich we cnt do away wit. Pls waiting for part2

M lazy, sorry for not keeping my promise. Coming soon though.

Hello Nairaland,

I'm new here and been enjoying many of the various forums you have here. I am a 34yr. old christian African American female born and raised in Detroit, Michigan U.S.A. My parents are black and from the south (Tennessee). I'm currently engaged to a wonderful Yoruba man. I do plan on visiting Africa in the near future as I am curious about your culture.

Black and Hispanic. Mom's Colombian, St.Lucian and a whole buncha other shiyyt!

Dad's Black. . . his fam is from the South.

Me I'm from NY, and I'm hot as hell. j/k

Oh, and Ileke Idi, Michelin89, Inked Nerd, and a whole lotta other chics on here is begging to have my baby!

Stage 2

This is when guy's uncles return to girs family to make full payment. I am told that a lot about these negotiations depends on the girl as she has the advantage of knowing her man's size of the pocket. So she can pull her uncles aside and ask them not to charge too much. So she can influence the pricing from that angle. A lot of girls dont use this opportunity and I dont know why, as everybody is aware that a lot of things can go horribly wrong during the pricing and the negotiations. A lot of people end up with no marriage or enter a marriage with lots of resentments because of the rediculous pricing.

On the day of the full payment this then becomes a full traditional celebration, there'll be a slaughter, its usually sheep/goat/cow depending on the tribal norm and these days its about what you can afford. There'll be an exchange of gifts the whole ceremony is called MATLHABISO, I know you wont get the pronounciation correct so please get a tsawna speaking person to read and pronounce the words for you.

This is pretty much wedding number one, its usually meant to be intimate with very few guests invited being the girl and guy's close family members mainly. Today friends do get invited and it becames one hell of a traditional wedding, and everybody comes in thier traditional attire.

In this ceremony the couple is counselled by the elders its called GO LAYA Girl is told about her new man's right (which he's always had access to by the way LOL) and guy the same.  The saddest part about this go laya story is that, girl is told (this is for when they live together) never ever to question her man's where abouts, when is he coming home and if he has a certian someone she must just shut up as long as he pays for the home upkeep and that's it. With guy the strong message is that he should never raise a hand at his wife and would rather return the girl home if he no longer wants her.

At the end of the day all of guys uncles and their wives will get gifts in the form of clothes, blankets and a half potion of the goat/sheep/cow. Guys family will exchange the same or even more gifts with girls unties and uncles. The half potion of the sheep/goat/cow is called SETLHANA. Oh! I should have mentioned that parents to the pair are not allowed to speak to each other even indirectly. They will be introduced to each other on this particular day of celebration. However its not always practical especially when you have a traditional ceremony to put together and sometimes the reps are not always available as this is a lengthy process, some parents may already have met each other before.

Guys eldest uncle or may be his father's first male cousin will get the priviledge of getting the head of that slaughtered sheep/goat and its for his family alone this head is called THLOGO and uncle in this role is called MALOME MOJA THLOGO.

I also didnt mention that both families should visit their ancestors graves before and after the ceremony to inform them about the happenings. It would be very very careless if you dont do this part, as the whole idea about the ceremony is believed to get the ancestors to know each other and to protect the couple during their marriage. So its essentialy an ancestral ceremony and rituals will be performed.

Please dont ask me what actually happens when the rituals are performed I am clueless.

MzDarkSkin:

[size=12pt][font=Arial Narrow]^^Hispanic is not a race.

Huh? Ok, sorry! Next time I'll just describe myself as Black and "Rice-and-beans-and-Platanos-eating". . . . U think thats a better description?!

bk.babe97y:

Huh? Ok, sorry! Next time I'll just describe myself as Black and "Rice-and-beans-and-Platanos-eating". . . . U think thats a better description?!

[font= Arial Narrow]Clearly you are offended. But BK it is common sense. Do you see me going around and saying"I am WEST INDIAN and black"? No! You have'nt and you WON'T! Because Whites, Asians, Indians etc. have their presence in the West Indies as well. So with that said I am black. I just happen to be bi-ethnic. The whole "Rice and beans w/ plantanos" thing is cute but rediculous. We West Indian eat the SAME foods as Spanish speaking countries, in fact language is the ONLY difference. We all speak either English, French or Spanish but we are the SAME people. Nothing makes us any more special than or different from African Americans because we speak a different language or eat different foods from them. There are Dominicans, COLOMBIANS, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Panamanians; etc who look just like me - dark skinned and ALL! [I have even been confused for being Costa Rican! LOL.] You should know that esp. living in New York and then being of Latino descent too.[/font]

I am an Arab- African Francophone

MzDarkSkin:

[font= Arial Narrow][size=12pt]Clearly you are offended. But BK it is common sense.

Hun, I'm not offended! There are certain people who could never piss me off on here, and ure one of them, my dear. So, dont fret!

Now, can u help me convince Ileke Idi that I really, really, really wanna hit "that"?!

hi,I AM ALSO NEW IN THIS SITE and I am enjoying it a lot.I am ASIAN(The Philippines)

I am going to share some of our Culture and wedding ceremonies.


Filipinos still adhere to numerous widely-held folk beliefs that have no scientific or logical basis but maybe backed-up by some past experiences (yet can be dismissed as mere coincidence). Below are just a few that concerns weddings. Some are still practiced to this day primarily because of 'there's nothing to lose if we comply' attitude while the others are totally ignored for it seemed downright ridiculous. Read on,
Brides shouldn't try on her wedding dress before the wedding day or the wedding will not push through.

Knives and other sharp and pointed objects are said to be a bad choice for wedding gifts for this will lead to a broken marriage.

Giving arinola (chamberpot) as wedding gift is believed to bring good luck to newlyweds.

Altar-bound couples are accident-prone and therefore must avoid long drives or traveling before their wedding day for safety.

The groom who sits ahead of his bride during the wedding ceremony will be a henpecked husband.

If it rains during the wedding, it means prosperity and happiness for the newlyweds.

- A flame extinguished on one of the wedding candles means the one on which side has the unlit candle, will die ahead of the other.

Throwing rice confetti at the newlyweds will bring them prosperity all their life.

The groom must arrive before the bride at the church to avoid bad luck.

It is considered bad luck for two siblings to marry on the same year.

Breaking something during the reception brings good luck to the newlyweds.

The bride should step on the groom's foot while walking towards the altar if she wants him to agree to her every whim.

A bride who wears pearls on her wedding will be an unhappy wife experiencing many heartaches and tears.

An unmarried woman who follows the footsteps (literally) of the newlyweds will marry soon.

Dropping the wedding ring, the veil or the arrhae during the ceremony spells unhappiness for the couple.

In early Filipino custom, the groom-to-be threw his spear at the front steps of his intended's home, a sign that she has been spoken for. These days, a ring suffices as the symbol of engagement.


The Engagement

After the couple has decided to marry, the first order of business is the pamanhikan, where the groom and his parents visit the bride's family to ask for her hand in marriage. Wedding plans are often made at this time, including a discussion of the budget and guest list. Don't be surprised if the groom-to-be is expected to run some errands or help out around the bride's house. This tradition is called paninilbihan, where the suitor renders service to his future wife's family to gain their approval.


The Wedding Outfits

The white wedding dress has become popular in the last hundred years or so with America's influence in the Philippines. Before that, brides wore their best dress, in a festive color or even stylish black, to celebrate a wedding. Orange blossom bouquets and adornments were a must during the turn of the last century. For men, the barong tagalog is the traditional Filipino formal wear. It is a cool, almost transparent, embroidered shirt, made from silky pina or jusi, two native ecru fabrics. It is worn untucked, over black pants, with a white t-shirt underneath. These days, a Filipino American groom might wear the conventional black tux, but Filipino male wedding guests will usually show up in their finest barongs.


The Ceremony

In pre-colonial days, a wedding ceremony lasted three days. On the first day, the bride and groom were brought to the house of a priest or babaylan, who joined their hands over a plate of raw rice and blessed the couple. On the third day, the priest pricked the chests of both bride and groom and drew a little blood. Joining their hands, they declared their love for each other three times. The priest then fed them cooked rice from the same plate and gave them a drink of some of their blood mixed with water. Binding their hands and necks with a cord, he declared them married. The majority of Filipino weddings are now Catholic weddings, but some native traditions remain. Most have special "sponsors" who act as witnesses to the marriage. The principal sponsors could be godparents, counselors, a favorite uncle and aunt, even a parent. Secondary sponsors handle special parts of the ceremony, such as the candle, cord and veil ceremonies. Candle sponsors light two candles, which the bride and groom use to light a single candle to symbolize the joining of the two families and to invoke the light of Christ in their married life. Veil sponsors place a white veil over the bride's head and the groom's shoulders, a symbol of two people clothed as one. Cord sponsors drape the yugal (a decorative silk cord) in a figure-eight shape--to symbolize everlasting fidelity--over the shoulders of the bride and groom. The groom gives the bride 13 coins, or arrhae, blessed by the priest, as a sign of his dedication to his wife's well-being and the welfare of their future children.


The Food

The Filipino wedding feast is elaborate. One feast celebrated at the turn of the last century involved these foods: First was served cold vermicelli soup. The soup was followed by meats of unlimited quantity--stewed goat, chicken minced with garlic, boiled ham, stuffed capon, roast pork and several kinds of fish. There were no salads, but plenty of relishes, including red peppers, olives, green mango pickles and crystallized fruits. For dessert, there were meringues, baked custard flan, coconut macaroons and sweetened seeds of the nipa plant.

mediatrix8:

hi,I AM ALSO NEW IN THIS SITE and I am enjoying it a lot.I am ASIAN(The Philippines)

I aint read much after reading the first line.

Anyways, how do u look on a scale of 1-10. Been wanting to do another Phillipina for the longest!

Wut u say?

Huh , 10 out 10 hahahha

juzt kidding lol, See me and you will judge

mediatrix8:

juzt kidding lol, See me and you will judge

WHAAAAAATTTTT!!!!! Thats u?!

Darling, youre a 15/10! You blew the scale apart!

Now, tell me se*xy, are you anyway close to NY or do I have to fly to Manila to come get u. . . . .


P.S: I can tell this convo is gonna grow into a very loving relationship so beware, haters are gonna come out the wood works. i.e My wifies on here (Ileke Idi and co), groupies, funny dudes that got a crush on me (I aint talking bout you Aloy Emeka). But, stand strong baby, in the end we both know true love prevails!!!

[font= Arial Narrow]BK. . . STOP IT lol. [/font]

Hi peops, i've been missing in action and wich as made me to really missed reading about ur people. It is very very interesting 2knw dat there slight similarity wit ours. Whao! mediatrix8 da filipino wat a tang do u mean there wld be a kind blood ritual. No i wldnt allow dem 2dat. It's implicating as dat be an eternal convenant be it dead or alive. Pls people i need 2read more

MzDarkSkin:

[font= Arial Narrow]BK. . . STOP IT lol. [/font]

Lol. Hey, I'm just doin my job my luv!

I'm an African-American.

bk.babe97y:

WHAAAAAATTTTT!!!!! Thats u?!

Darling, youre a 15/10! You blew the scale apart!

Now, tell me se*xy, are you anyway close to NY or do I have to fly to Manila to come get u. . . . .


P.S: I can tell this convo is gonna grow into a very loving relationship so beware, haters are gonna come out the wood works. i.e My wifies on here (Ileke Idi and co), groupies, funny dudes that got a crush on me (I aint talking bout you Aloy Emeka). But, stand strong baby, in the end we both know true love prevails!!!

,

you wanna fly to Manila t do what? Well,YOU can visit my country anytime.I am working in China now but will probably visit Nigeria with my babe

hey! where y'all at. we want more details my africans, asians, americans, carribeans, european people

I am African American,

My culture is uhmmm mmmmm well it complicated,

:/

:/

Including Biafrans?

Wow. This is nice. @Mrs. Eve
Please explain as much as you can! I really wish to know!
-
@The swede
You custom, language, etc. ^v^
Come on! Don't be bashful. ^;'

This is a very good thread.

thumbs up poster.

This is the kind that ought to be on the homepage, not . . .