Marriage Ceremonies in the Guéra
For the dowry, the man gives a fancy outfit to the father of the daughter, and clothes to the mother of the girl. He also gives baskets of millet and sesame seeds to the girl's family. What is given varies according to the clans involved.
The future husband is required to work in the fields of his father-in-law for three years. He also makes straw mats, builds a hut for his mother-in-law, builds a ligdabe to shade her from the sun (roof with no walls, usually supported by strong poles and made of straw), and so on. The young lady's dowry is determined in such a way as to be the same as the dowry received by her mother.
A celebration is organised once the man has worked for three years in the fields of his future father-in-law. On that day, the friends of the husband-to-be are invited to help him in his work in the fields. The friends of the wife-to-be prepare food and drinks and go to meet the young men in the field. When the moment comes to bring the food, each young lady brings a meal and sets it before the young man she is interested in. This is not a formal ceremony, it is just a celebration.
The young lady goes to see her father when the couple establish their home. Very early in the morning, her brother brings the three stones upon which she will place the pot she uses to prepare the meal, to hold it just above the fire. The father buys large clay pots for drinking water and a bag of dried fish. The mother gives calabashes, large woven straw serving trays, pottery plates and a bag of millet. They prepare a meal, which they distribute to each family in the young man's clan. At this point, the newlywed husband and wife are forbidden from eating with their respective in-laws. The man is allowed to eat with his brothers-in-law and the woman is allowed to eat with her sisters-in-law.
Also, as a sign of respect, neither would call their mother-in-law, father-in-law or any of their in-laws' brothers or sisters by name.
Taken from the book "Là où habitent les femmes", edited by Renée Johns and Rachel Bokoro of the Mennonite Central Committee, in 1993.
Attention our friends from all corners of Chad! Please tell us about marriage traditions where you are from, and we will publish what you tell us here on our website. You will thus share a part of your heritage with the entire world, and you will help people everywhere to understand us and our country better.
Write us!
