The Kassena people hail from the Upper East Region of Ghana. Just like every other tribe across Africa, they have traditions peculiar to them as a people. Today, we take a look at the cultural involved when it comes to the Kassena traditional marriage processes. We will look at details of the ceremony and the tradional marriage list – the items involved.
Kassena Marriage Processes.
Part 1: Knocking at the Door (Request for Marriage)
The groom’s family formally requests the bride’s hand in marriage by “knocking at the door,” marking the first stage of the traditional marriage process. This act signifies their intention to marry her. The bride’s family consult with the bride before giving the intending groom any feedback. The items required for this stage include:
- Kolanuts
- Tobacco
Part 2: Customary Rites (Chaarim)
Once the bride’s family accepts the proposal, the next step involves performing the Chaarim customary rites. In the olden days, the intending groom will continue to perform this rite until at a time when he receives a signal from the bride’s family. It is at this stage, the family investigates and finds out who the groom is and if he’s eligible to marry their daughter. For every visit, the groom takes at this stage, he is expected to present the following: guinea fowls and salt(for the mother).
Once, the bride has been presented to her husband. Her brothers visit her new home, claiming to miss their sister and the groom has to appease them. This rite is called the “Kayiri“. Here, the grooms slaughters any number of chickens they request for them. While some towns don’t perform this rite, others do. While others from towns like Navrongo perform the Gongna.
In the Gongna rite, the groom buys clothing for the brothers in-law, a similar thing as the “akonta sikan” in the Akan tradition. There are other items involved in this rite when the brother in laws are being seen off back to their homes. They are included in the list below.
Part 4: Bride Price
The final step in the Kassena traditional marriage is the bride price. The bride price among the Kassena people is flexible, with the number of animals given depending on the groom’s financial ability. The bride price list is below.
Kassena Marriage List.
The Kassenas do not have a marriage list but these items have been put together to help intending couples plan on what to expect going forward. The list is not a standard one because the different clans may add or subtract some items.
Get the PDF Version of this list by filling and submitting the form below.
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The Kassena people speak the Kasem language and can be found in key towns such as Paga, Navrongo, Chania, and Katiu. Their marriage traditions, showcase the importance they place on family, respect, and social structure. For more insights into African wedding traditions, be sure to subscribe to our mail list.
