THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 25, 1995 TAG: 9511230085
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHARLISE LYLES, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 101 lines
THESE DAYS, black brides are wearing anything but white.
Down the aisle, under the arch, here they come in colorful kente cloth gowns, headwraps, muslin cloaks, braids, cowrie shells and other attire of Africa and the Caribbean.
At the most significant ceremony of their lives, more and more African-American women surround themselves with the trappings of their ancestral homeland. In abundance. From rituals, vows, music, food and even favors, these weddings reflect a yearning to reconnect to cultural roots.
``I am very much a culturally oriented person and I wanted the expression of my cultural heritage in my ceremony,'' said newlywed Dr. Thedia Jones Smith, a Chesapeake physician. ``When I looked for gowns, they all looked the same to me. I couldn't see myself wearing any of them.''
Brides-to-be who find themselves in Smith's predicament can sample an array of African-influenced wedding regalia and ritual today at the First Annual Nubian Bridal Expo 1995 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Norfolk.
Two shows at 10 a.m and 6 p.m. will feature designer gowns and groom get-ups. Tickets are $10 .
``Looking back at the history of our race and our ancestors, when it comes to a wedding, is something really very natural when you think about it,'' said Judith E. Peters, owner of Caribbean Queen Modeling, which is supplying models for the show.
``It's no different than what so many other cultures do.''
Costs are not likely to be any higher than the usual wedding, said Peters. According to local wedding planners the average runs up to $10,000, says Peters. However, custom-made dresses and tuxedos can be expensive.
Last year, when Peters planned her Caribbean and African-American style wedding, she found few sources to guide and educate her.
So like any good entrepreneur, she helped create her own answer, the Bridal Expo.
Many weddings cannot be described as strictly African-American or African, said Peters
They are simply unique - a weaving of individual creativity, African-American tradition and African influence, stitched through with threads of many other cultures. Authentic by any other name.
For example, Jamaican-born Peters donned a tiara and a red leather gown with a high Queen Elizabeth collar, more than a hint of British influence on the Caribbean.
It's what Jones Smith calls that ``Afrocentric'' touch.
The magical, mellow sound of Caribbean steel drums may play instead of organ music and a deejay. Or Congo drums herald the nuptials.
The main dish might be curried goat stew instead of cheesy pastries. And a refreshing beverage of Maubi bark might slake the dancers' thirst rather than champagne.
At Smith's October wedding, well-wishers tossed corn instead of rice. ``It's an African tradition I learned about in my research,'' she said. ``The corn symbolizes fertility.''
Several recently published books take a deeper look at the meaning of these and other traditions. Among them are ``Jumping the Broom: The African-American Wedding Planner,'' by Harriette Cole, a fashion editor for ``Essence'' magazine (Henry Holt and Company $27.50); and ``The African-American Wedding Manual'' by the Rev. Willie F. Wilson (House of Knowledge Publishing Co., Washington, D.C. $15.00).
Wilson lists what he calls the ``essential ingredients'' of African marriage, regardless of culture or tribe.
A strong spiritual foundation.
An understanding of marriage as a union of two families, not just two people.
The marriage ceremony as a communal event in which everyone participates.
The practice of libation, a drinking or pouring of water, wine or other liquid in reverence to one's ancestors.
Centuries-old slave rituals such as ``Jumping the broom'' are re-emerging at African-American weddings and receptions, according to Cole's ``Jumping the Broom.''
Forbidden by antebellum law to marry, slaves sought a means of sanctifying the union of man and wife though they could at any time be sold asunder.
In Africa, the broom was seen as spiritually symbolic of homemaking. Laying it horizontal and stepping or leaping over it signified crossing the threshold into family life.
In ``Roots,'' the epic of the African Kunte Kinte, the late author Alex Haley introduced jumping the broom to American popular culture. Ever since, innumerable couples have carried on the tradition.
In an age of divorce, embracing the deeper cultural meaning of marriage might help black couples form stronger foundations from the start, said Peters. MEMO: JUST THE FACTS
What: First Nubian Bridal Expo 1995
When: Today, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Shows at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. (Tickets
$10)
Where: Marriott Hotel, 235 E. Main St., Norfolk.
ILLUSTRATION: Color photos by Beth Bergman, The Virginian-Pilot
Left: Judith Peters models a colorful Carribean wrap.
Akilah Thomas wears a Nigerian bride's attire, one of many fashions
on display at today's Nubian Bridal Expo 1995
by CNB