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5 Interesting African Cultural Traditions
Africa has her mysteries and even a wise man cannot understand them, but a wise man respects them. Below are some of the most interesting African cultural traditions. Below are some of the most interesting African cultural traditions. Specifically, if you want to experience these vibrant cultures firsthand, check out our trips to Africa for an immersive adventure.
- Kidnapping your bride
In the African Sudanese Latuka tribe, when a man wants to marry a woman, he kidnaps her. Elderly members of his family go and ask the girl’s father for her hand in marriage, and if dad agrees, he beats the suitor as a sign of his acceptance of the union. If the father disagrees, however, the man might forcefully marry the woman anyway.
- Spitting your blessings
Members of the African Maasai tribe in Kenya and Tanzania spit as a way of blessing. Specifically, they believe that praising a baby brings a curse, so they call newborns “bad” to protect them. You can learn more about the deep history of the Maasai people and their heritage on National Geographic, which explains how these traditions have survived for centuries.
- Bull jumping
In order to prove their manhood in the African Ethiopian Hamer tribe, young boys must run, jump and land on the back of a bull before then attempting to run across the backs of several bulls. They do this multiple times, and usually in the nude.
- Sons are raised by their uncles
Notably, uncles raise their nephews in the Northern Angolan Songo tribe. When male children reach age 5 or 6, consequently, families send them to live with their maternal uncles. Indeed, chiefs inherit their positions through matrilineal lines. Therefore, the maternal uncle plays a vital role in the child’s life.
- Beating the suitor
The African Fulani tribe live in many countries in West Africa and follow a tradition called Sharo. Sharo happens when two young men want to marry the same woman. To compete for her hand, they beat one another up. The men must suppress signs of pain and the one who takes the beating without showing signs of pain can take the wife.