other valuable items for the bride and her family. This money can be claimed by the groom if there is a divorce.
After accepting everything, the marriage is then blessed and feasting begins. Later on in the night, the bride may be escorted to the groom’ s house where the marriage is consummated. In the past the groom’ s sisters dressed their brother’ s bed in a white sheet so they could determine whether or not the bride was a virgin.
The Tekuwa and Churching
In parts of the Central and Western Regions of Ghana two interesting wedding ceremonies are conducted called the Tekuwa and Churching.
Tekuwa takes its name from a long black cap embedded with gold pellets which women wear for the ceremony. This ceremony is specifically for women who have not had an education. It is very colourful and rich in culture.
On the morning of the ceremony, the bride wears her Tekuwa with accessories comprising a plant locally called nyinya and colourful feathers. She is made to sit on the opposite side of a traditional stool( asesegwa) with an elderly woman.
A blindfold is worn by both women who are asked to locate a small coin in an earthenware bowl at the count of three. This is done three times and whoever wins is hailed.
The groom, his family and the bride’ s family present their wedding gifts to the bride who is then taken to a special place for a special bath. On the way to bathe the bride’ s wedding gifts are thrown into the air for people to scramble over. This bath and all acts associated with it are believed to cleanse, eliminate evil omens and render the bride spotless both physically and spiritually.
22 Oil city magazine
Tekuwa takes its name from a long black cap embedded with gold pellets
Later in the day the woman is dressed in a colorful silk dress made locally from a fabric called Srichi with her Tekuwa and other gold accessories. People present are then invited to feast, make merry, present their gifts to the bride and also wish her well. This feast could go on till day break.
Like Tekuwa, Churching serves both as a wedding and cleansing ceremony. Traditionally, Churching is compulsory for every woman indigenous to the areas mentioned above. It is believed that the ceremony cleanses, takes away bad omens and brings good fortune; hence a woman who for whatever reason refuses to undergo it is considered unclean and will have it done for her even on her deathbed.
A woman does not require a man to undergo Churching; however she is required to be educated to some extent as it is compulsory to show one’ s certificate during the ceremony. One school of thought believes that this was instituted to motivate girls to take their studies seriously.
Churching usually takes place on a Sunday because the couple is required to go to church for the marriage to be blessed by a priest before the feasting. It is believed then that the name churching came from the requirement for the couple to attend church.
After church the bride is dressed up in a silk dress and made to sit in the market. She shows her certificate to the crowd gathered to receive loud cheers. The couple can now dance to give way for feasting and merry making to begin. In the course of the feast, gifts and wishes are showered on them.
With both ceremonies( Tekuwa and Churching), the bride is required to roam her town and other neighboring towns in her colorful apparel for at least a month.
The purpose is to show the world that“ she is already taken’’ and for her to receive greetings, gifts and wishes. contact
Tel: 0244 560 560 | 0249 117 117 Fax: 0303 311 221 Email: finicia98 @ gmail. com P. O. Box CE 11101- Tema
Finicia Gardens
Total Plot Area 38,379 m2( approx. 9.48 acres)
This project includes a range of 3 and 4 bedroom executive residential units, a restaurant, clinic, gym, Olympic-sized swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts.
The development also offers safe, secure parking.
www. oil city ghana. com 23