A poignant video circulating on social media captures a deeply emotional exchange between a Ghanaian father and his daughter during her traditional marriage ceremony.
In the video, the father, visibly distressed, addresses his daughter, recounting the joy of her culinary skills whenever her siblings visited. He expresses concern about losing this source of familial connection after her marriage.
“If they tell me they are coming, I will have to come and beg your husband Freddie before you can come and cook for them to eat? Do you agree that that should happen?” he queries.
The daughter responds optimistically, urging her father to accept the dowry with a smile. However, the father, his voice breaking, remains resolute, pausing to contain his emotions. Attendees, initially amused, realize the depth of his sentiments as he fights back tears.
In an attempt to console him, they assure him that everything will be okay, but he confronts the impending reality with a poignant question: “Does it mean I too, your father, will have to ask Freddie for permission before you can cook for me?”
His daughter, now emotional, struggles to respond while wiping away tears. The father presses on, asking if she agrees to this potential scenario, but she remains silent, requiring assistance from her bridesmaid.
Finally, the father, sensing the gravity of the moment, poses a question that encapsulates the dilemma faced by many fathers in Ghanaian traditional marriages: “Will you go?” His daughter tearfully replies, “Daddy, please, yes.”
Accepting the inevitability of the situation, her father says, “Alright, it is okay, you can go,” holding her hand and leading her to her husband’s family.
The video, which has gone viral on social media, has elicited mixed reactions from viewers. Some have praised the father for his genuine emotions and love for his daughter. Others have criticized him for being too possessive. Some have also commented on the beauty and elegance of the traditional Ghanaian wedding attire and rituals.
The practice of asking the daughter’s consent to accept the dowry from the groom’s family is part of the Ghanaian traditional wedding customs, which vary from tribe to tribe. It is a way of showing respect and honour to the bride, who is leaving her family to join another. It is also a way of ensuring that the bride is happy and willing to marry the groom, and not being forced or coerced. The bride’s consent is usually sought after the groom’s family has presented the dowry and the engagement list, which is a list of items that the bride’s family requests from the groom’s family as a sign of commitment and goodwill.
The traditional Ghanaian wedding, sometimes called “engagement”, is a colourful and festive event that celebrates the union of two families and cultures. It is often followed by a church or court wedding, which is more formal and legal. The traditional wedding is a rich and unique expression of the Ghanaian culture and heritage, and a source of pride and joy for many Ghanaians.