The Sukuma tribe is the biggest in Tanzania, found in several groups on or near the Southern shores of Lake Victoria. The Sukuma place great value on the institution of marriage, and as such, their wedding traditions are of great importance. Below are the most common wedding traditions of the Sukuma.
- Age of marriage
- Females often marry between the age of 18 and 20, while the age at which men marry varies. Once a young man gets to a mature age, he selects a girl to marry. He then informs his parents, who in turn visit the girl’s parents to declare their intentions and begin dowry negotiations.
- Dowry Grades
- According to the wedding traditions of the Sukuma, the amount of dowry paid is dependent on the bride’s appearance. Young women who are tall and light-skinned attract a higher bride price than those who are short and dark-skinned.
- Dowry Payments
- The Sukuma do not accept cash payments for dowry. Payments start from 50 cows, though the payment for dark-skinned girls may be negotiated downwards to 40 cows.
- The Wedding Day
- According to Sukuma wedding traditions, the wedding day is typically a celebration graced by family, friends and the entire village. At least seven cows are slaughtered for the occasion and served with food and local beverages.
- The parents of the groom do not attend the wedding ceremony, out of respect, and as a way to bid one of their community’s strong men farewell. The groom’s parents attend the wedding after the ceremony and feast are over.
- Bridewealth Marriage
- This is the first of the two classes of Sukuma marriages. In this case, the bride-wealth is given to the man, to be used for his daughters and passed on to his sons. As soon as it is paid, the husband receives custody over all the children the wife bears. The act of paying bride-wealth is known as ‘Kukwa’. Interestingly, most women’s first marriages where bride-wealth has been paid are stable.
- Non- Bridewealth Marriage
- This is the second class of Sukuma marriages. According to the wedding traditions of the Sukuma, the rights over children in non-bride-wealth unions are vested in maternal kin, i.e. the mother’s side, unless the father decides to make redemption payments for them. In most cases, the redemption payment for a daughter is higher than that of a son.
- Wedding Feast
- On the day of the wedding, a wedding feast is provided for everyone to enjoy. The father of the bride provides the food for the wedding feast and hosts the event at his home.
- The Significance of the Wedding
- Among the Sukuma, a wedding is more than just the joining of two people together. All the elders associated with the two individuals are also bound together, and this is signified by a handshake between both sets of elders after the wedding feast. As they shake hands, the elders make peace and gain each other’s respect.
The wedding traditions of the Sukuma have remained largely unchanged over the years. In other words, if you happen to attend a Sukuma wedding, you will get to see a real-life enactment of all of the above traditions!