The African Students Association, the African-American Male Education Network and Development, Umoja Diop Scholars and the Black Student Union hosted an event showcasing various African-American and African marriage traditions.

The event took place on April 29, and covered various marriage traditions including some developed during slavery, to others from various tribes of Nigeria and Sudan. Attendees were able to volunteer and recreate the traditions being shown.

“With our Black clubs, we always have events that try to support our members,” said 18-year-old architecture major Nasariyah Thompson. “It’s super important to have these events to express how we celebrate ourselves.”

Thompson’s favorite marriage tradition was one from the Nigerian Yoruba tribe. For this tradition, the groom and his groomsmen lay flat on their stomach in front of the bride’s parents as a way to show respect, but also to ask for their blessing.

Thompson said it is super important to learn about African and African-American traditions because in America there are not many opportunities to do so.

Micaiah Houston, a 19-year-old liberal arts major, said his favorite tradition was jumping the broom, a tradition developed during slavery as a way to wed couples since they were not legally allowed to marry.

“As someone who will transfer to be an ethnic studies major with a focus on Black studies, I love to hear about how the enslaved really celebrated even the positive moments in their day-to-day life,” Houston said.

Houston said it is imperative for Black people to know their history so the traditions can stay alive.

“I think it is important for people in general to learn about other cultures just to keep them grounded, so they aren’t only familiar with what they know in their own cultures,” Houston said.

English professor and faculty advisor Christina Washington said these events empower students, and gives them a sense of identity.
“I liked that many of the traditions were collective and involved the whole family. The ceremony wasn’t just about the husband and wife but families in unity,” Washington said.

The meeting marked the end of the African Students Association due to club leadership leaving. However Keith Adams, an 18-year-old biology major and vice-president of A2MEND, said its activities and roles will transfer over to other clubs.

“The work that was done here will be transitioning down to the other three clubs. We just want to continue these spaces because we know how encouraging it is to students,” Adams said.