Marriage is one of the foundations of every society. In most traditional societies like Ethiopia, where cultural and religious values are given special places among the community, marriage is one of the most valued and respected assets amongst the society.
The Dawuro people are among those societies that give a due value to marriage and all wedding ceremonies that involve around it.
According to documents, in Dawuro community there are six types of traditional marriages. The first type of marriage is the common and legal type of union which is conducted based on the full agreement and consent of the two married families.
Abduction (Hora), inheritance (Laita), substitute or sister for sister (Mishechawa), and religious marriages are other types of marriages that are common among the Dawuro community. Among the six traditional types of marriages, the most accepted and the common one is, legal marriage which is conducted based on the consent of the two families. In this conventional type of marriage, the boy’s parents will look for a suitable wife to their son when they think that he has reached at the age of adulthood.
After spotting the right girl to their son, his father will send two or four elders (mediators) to her parents. These elders are called “Laazantta” in local language. Based on the culture of Dawuro people, whenever they send mediator, the number of “Laazantta” should be an even number for there is a fear among the society that sending an odd number will result in negative response from the girl`s parents. Likewise the days that the “Laazantta” go to the girl’s family house should be either on Saturday, or Tuesday or Thursday for the reason it is assumed that these days are “days of good luck” (Macha Qama) and the response from the queries would be expected to be positive.
Days other than Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday are considered as bad days (Eqa Qama) and elders will not be allowed to visit families of the girl on those unlucky days.
After the elders visited girl`s families repeatedly like for three to four days and see the green light from parents or families, they will be given an appointment for the first time. This first phase agreement is known as “Kare Kushe”, that will happen before the actual day of the wedding ceremony.
On this day, depending on the economic status of the boy`s family, elders will take with them not less than two wrap ups of butter and some money as a gift to girl`s families and will made the first arrangement about the marriage. This agreement will be called Kare akushe yeruwaa /among Dawuros; and it is a ceremony carried out before the wedding ring day.
On this day, elders will also receive order what they should bring on their next visit and take an appointment for engagement day called “Tishaa.” “Tishaa” is given a special value among bride`s family.
As to Dawuro community, the ceremony carried out on the engagement day (“Tishaa”) is more ritualistic than the wedding day. On the day, the groom, the elders and his friends will go to the house of the bride carrying the dowry that was ordered by bride`s families on their previous visit. The dowry includes butter; heifers, money and silver ring and cross jewelries for the bride.
According to the tradition of the Dawuro people when the groom, elders and his friends arrive to the bride’s house, they will stand in front of the gate and ask for permission to enter into. When they are allowed to get in, they will present the gift to her family. One of the elders attending the ceremony will also go to the girl who is sitting in the inner part of the house; put the silver cross on her neck and the ring on her finger which serves as a sign of engagement.
The groom can only meet bride`s family only after the second day of the wedding; so he will stay and served with his friends in a special room arranged for this purpose. Then after the guests will spend the night eating and drinking and will leave the house after they are told the exact day of the wedding.
On the wedding day, special preparations will be made among the families of the two. Trumpets, which is called “Uleto or Loku” and made of horn, will be blown to gather friends and families of the bridegroom from different directions. According to elders, in earlier years, the trip was made on barefoot and later on sitting on the back of mules.
After arriving bride`s home, the couples will be served along with their best men (Miyatta) served in another special room. After the invitation parents of the girl will wish them the best and bid farewell to them in the presence of the whole family, relatives and invited guests.
On the day of the wedding, when the bride is taken away from her family’s house, a lavish party will be prepared and relatives and neighbors will feast together.After the end of the feast the newly married couples will be blessed in the presence of families and friends. After accomplishing other traditional practices the groom will ask the bride to be his wife. Subsequent to this ceremony, they will head directly to groom`s house singing different wedding songs.
While arriving groom`s house the best men will ask groom`s parents and families to give gifts that will be used by the newly married couples. In turn, parents and families of the groom contribute what they have and the best men will make an oath to the newly married couples; which is one part of the wedding ceremony by which the best men will prove their loyalty.
On the wedding day, the maids assigned to help her from the girl’s family will accompany her. When the bride and bridegroom enter the honeymoon room, escorts will sing and dance. If the bride is virgin, escorts will be awarded and return to the bride’s family to announce the good news. However, if she is not, her maids will directly go to their respective houses without going to her parents’ family. The bridegroom will also punish her with a whip. However, these days this experience is becoming less common among the people.
Source: www.Dawuro urozone.gov.et
BY LEULSEGED WORKU
The Ethiopian Herald August 24/2023
