I am sure a lot of people would think this was an engagement ceremony because, as usual, it happened on a Friday and it was traditional, so they were going to bed and woke up the next morning to hear the biggest “white wedding” in the history of our country.
Maybe, a Lady Diana’s style of “white wedding”, an ivory silk taffeta dress and antique lace gown, with a 25-foot train and a 153-yard tulle veil. Embellished with 10,000 mothers of Pearl sequins and pearls. Held in maybe St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica (Roman Hill), or St. Cyprian’s Anglican Cathedral (The traditional church of Asantehene).
But watwa wo “suuliya”, this is a wedding, both engagement and “white wedding” done together but all were traditional. See how the bride used the Asante Bonwire Kente to design a beautiful wedding gown.
As you can see, the bride’s wedding dress has been tailored to look like it came straight out of a dictionary.
The groom is out of this world.
It’s important to make our own style rules and express ourselves in what we wear.
Ghanaians are becoming more aware of our environment and questioning what to wear for our wedding ceremonies.
There is an interesting feature of our culture in recent wedding outfits. It’s heartwarming to realise Ghanaians are creating our own definition of fashion and identity.
We should endeavour to unleash our creativity to effect a redefinition of “white wedding”.
This is a wedding!
It’s not an engagement! It’s sad our minds have been poisoned to the extent that our own wedding has been downgraded to “engagement”.
Gradually, we will find our sense of belonging and identity. But it should be through deliberate conscientization and education.
I’m looking forward to a day pastors and ministers of the gospel would be less fond of suits and patronise more of our African prints!
As for Kumasi and Asanteman, we will continue to be the trailblazers of originality, uniqueness, creativity and difference.
Adepapa biara wɔ Asanteman mu. Ayekoo Owura ne Owurayere Osei Mensah.
***This article was first published on Facebook by Adanse Youth for Development/The Asante Nation.
