We all know how important good food is at a wedding. Well, if you think good food at an afro-centered wedding is even more important, you are probably right. No need to panic, though: selecting the food you want your guests (and yourself, by default) to enjoy will probably be fun. After all, the African cuisine is a very unique and diverse one. So, let us go through the steps to a fantastic cuisine for your wedding.
Which culture are you using as an inspiration?
- Yes, tribe and ethnicity do have something to do with it. While
we may basically eat the same foods, it is the method of preparation that usually differs. I will use some tribes from east African as an example. The Bantu (at least those from east Africa) are huge fans of green plantains (called Matooke by some tribes there) while the Nilotes and Nilo-Saharans smoke their meats and eat a variety of greens that are combined with their version of peanut butter. And the list goes on.
What is your budget?
- This also matters. Some of the foods that are common and quite affordable here in Africa could less affordable in other regions (like many other foods). Plantains, for example are not as cheap in other places as they are in Africa, and the different plantains (green- and sweet-) are quite popular in a number of tribes across the continent. So after going through those common in your culture, consider which
foods favor your wallet. Don’t worry, though, the list of foods
eliminated will not be that many. I think.
Have a taste
- This could require a spirit of adventure. Roll your eyes all you want, I just hope you are open to eating the variety of foods. Because grasshoppers, white ants, Mopane worms and caterpillars are just some of our unique delicacies. I am just trying to make you see my point, but honestly, some of these are not eaten at weddings – that could be quite expensive considering the number of guests. So make sure you are aware of the foods comprising the dishes you have selected and how they taste. It is also best to pick some foods people know are common in that area, to encourage the exotic mood.
The presentation of the food
- This is only a suggestion. There are some African meals that have their special serving. Millet, in some areas, is put in a basket. For a number of tribes, Matooke (green plantain) is usually served in what it is cooked in – plantain leaves (apparently, that helps keep the heat).
Do all the foods have to be African?
- No, they don’t. Quite a number of your African counterparts do not do that. Feel free to select a few of the traditional food. For example, you can pick one that is pretty common in the area, to give your guests the African experience (Fufu, Couscous, Ugali, Chapatti, etc.) and a couple of other African dishes.
- Food is something that is crucial to the feel of any inspired wedding: if it is in harmony with the cultural theme, it can give you and your guests the exotic experience you are looking for.
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