On the set date the groom and his family, along with invited guests show up early at the bride’s house. The groom’s family knocks at the door/gate by saying ‘agoo’ to which the bride’s family responds ‘amee’. The groom’s family sits on one side, while the bride’s family sits on the other side facing each other. The ceremony begins with a short prayer. 

Introduction of each family member

Each family appoints a family linguist (Abusua Kyeamee) who serves as the spokesperson. The linguist of the bride’s family asks the groom’s family their mission. The linguist of the groom’s family responds briefly that they came to seek the hand of the bride in marriage.

The linguists introduces each family member present. The groom’s family is introduced first because they are the ‘visitors’. 

Presentation of items

The groom’s family begins by presenting the dowry and all the other items on the list one, by one. At each stage, the items are checked to make sure everything asked on the list is being presented.

Negotiation is possible if the groom’s family feels too much is being asked of them.The bride is not present in all of these proceedings. The groom, although present, is not required to speak in all of these proceedings as all the speaking and negotiation is done on his behalf by the designated spokesperson from his family...http://www.juvitafrica.com

The new National Museum of African American History and Culture 

may help heal the persistent problem of U.S. racism when it opens in

 10 days, the head of the Smithsonian Institution said on Wednesday (September 14). 

The $540 million museum will be inaugurated by President Barack 

Obama and Smithsonian officials say the museum is an ideal place

 for a dialogue about racial and cultural differences dominating the

 national scene. 

The bronze-colored museum’s showcase sits on Washington’s National 

Mall, known as “America’s Front Yard.” It is the only U.S. national museum devoted exclusively to black American life, history, and culture, 

the Smithsonian says. 

“This museum on the National Mall or as we all call it America’s front 

yard, this museum tries to fulfill the dreams of so many generations who believed that America would be made better if it understood, if it 

grappled with, if it immersed itself in the African-American experience 

“ said Lonnie Bunch, founding director of the Smithsonian Museum of 

African American History and Culture. 

Smithsonian Secretary David Skorton explained how this new museum showcases the United States from the African-American perspective. 

“This museum explores our national identity through a particular lens 

reflecting the life experiences over time of African-Americans. 

Their stories. Illustrated through artifacts and works of art through 

voices and writings through courage and determination through

 innovation and leadership. Comprise an eloquent and powerful 

narrative are central to our national identity” said Skorton. 

Although workers were still putting finishing touches on the museum 

and many exhibits were still under cover, Director Lonnie Bunch said

 it would be ready in time for the September, 24 opening. 

A Smithsonian spokesman said 200,000 timed passes had been snapped 

up, with no openings available until November. 

Ellas McDaniel, the son of famed guitarist, singer/songwriter Bo Diddley

 viewed his father’s exhibit in the musical tribute portion of the museum. 

“You know I’m the little boy that missed him when he was gone, I could 

tell you who he was. That was the blood that ran through his veins that 

with the blood and marrow. Bo Diddley put the rock in rock and roll,” said McDaniel. 

The 36,000 items in the collection range from trade goods used to buy

 slaves in Africa to a segregated railway car from the 1920s and a red 

Cadillac convertible belonging to rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Chuck Berry. 

Other displays include a slave cabin from South Carolina, boxing gloves 

used by boxing great Muhammmad Ali and the dress famed contralto 

Marion Anderson wore as she sang at the Lincoln Memorial on Easter 

Sunday in 1939 after being denied the right to perform at the Constitution 

Hall because of her race. 

The building designed by Ghanaian-born architect David Adjaye is 60 

percent underground. Half of the cost of construction and installing 

exhibitions came from the federal government and half from the 

Smithsonian. 

The museum’s outer layer consists of 3,600 bronze-colored aluminum

 panels formed in the shape of a three-tiered crown. The pattern of 

the exterior panels is designed to evoke ornate ironwork created by

 enslaved craftsmen in New Orleans. 

Black Civil War veterans first proposed an African-American museum 

in 1915. Congress approved its creation in 2003, and construction of the 400,000-square-foot (37,200-square-meter) building took almost four years. 

Three days of opening festivities will include concerts with various artists

 and bands including Public Enemy, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Living Colour and Sweet Honey in the Rock.

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