Lifestyle

The Penalty Before The Marriage Ceremony 

 

Stay with me  beloved reader! You know there are other aspects of the Ghanaian culture that occurs often around us. But we hardly talk about them. I want to emphasize on  a point  pertaining to this that the  information and recordings to be discussed are stories from families and friends. So you should probably endeavour to find out more so as to comment ad to solidify my reports. Happy reading.

Through personal conversations with friends and family, i have been  exposed to one aspect of our culture. And I call this aspect “the penalty before the marriage”.  But why penalty ? Because before you might have married the lady, you impregnated her. You don’t go boasting about a free world. Free world so no precautions? And no need to bother about repercussions right? Well, you are free to have all the fun you want because nobody is watching. Lol 
“Kwashiabu” therefore makes you  pay a penalty charged  by the marriage authorities of the lady’s family. To add to this, Ermmm if you had slept with her before “Knocking” you are responsible for every financial burden before the marriage. That is how big it can be if the parents might have been looking for such misfortune but blessing to befall you. 

In the southern part of Ghana it is called Kwashia bu. Please help me name it in the context of the Northern culture or language. Thus the man is charged based on varying modes. And this depends on what region or settings the lady comes from. 

Men from the Northern, Upper west and Upper east regions are required to pay commodities in the bracket of  guinea fowls and cows. While the southern regions usually require the man to pay in cash or to present goats.

Ermmm, the recent stories that forced me to write about this is thus: A friend of a friend who hasn’t established himself yet in life was asked to present 12 cows before the marriage ceremony . What! That is crazy right. Am not saying the parents are crazy but what happens after marriage? Oh God !  When I was told, I could only gasp in amusement . I am not here to make judgement though but you know, sometimes such penalties should be reasonable enough to prevent the death of a prospective marriage because of possible  financial breakdown even before the marriage. 

Another story which supports the Kwashiabu tradition: 

You know it is mostly from a friend of a friend, who also played a rather enjoyable fatherhood role before the real fatherhood. This resulted in cash payment and the friend had to pay for the graduation expenses of the lady in addition. All these arrangement occur before the marriage ceremony. 

Okay, we have almost ended the discussion. What is left is your inputs in the comment section. I would like to feel your stories concerning this kwashiabu thing.  
I am looking forward to what ever you have to say. 

Signed out, Hamstar