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Hottentot Marriage
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Hottentot Marriage
Hottentot marriage ceremony
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Media ID 4359934
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10192644
1836 Ceremony Hottentot Regional
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative image captures the essence of a traditional Hottentot marriage ceremony, as it was practiced in the southern regions of Africa during the early 19th century. The Hottentot people, also known as the Khoikhoi, were an indigenous ethnic group who inhabited the areas now known as Namibia, South Africa, and parts of Botswana. Their unique cultural practices, including their marriage customs, have long fascinated outsiders. The photograph, taken in 1836, depicts a couple exchanging vows during a marriage ceremony. The bride, adorned with intricate beadwork and a colorful headdress, stands before her husband, who wears a simple loincloth and a protective amulet around his neck. The couple's hands are bound together with a leather thong, symbolizing their union. The marriage ceremony was an important social event in Hottentot society, often lasting several days and involving the participation of the entire community. The bride's family would present the groom with a dowry, which could include livestock, tools, or other valuable items. The couple would then live together in the bride's family's homestead, and the husband would work for his father-in-law to earn his place in the family. The Hottentot people had a rich and complex culture, with a strong emphasis on community, family, and spirituality. Their marriage customs, like many other aspects of their society, reflected these values. Today, the Hottentot people continue to preserve their unique heritage, and their history serves as a reminder of the rich diversity of human cultures that have existed throughout history.
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