Did you know that wedding attire in Sierra Leone is known for being bright and colorful? This is because the people of Sierra Leone take pride in their appearance and love to look their best on their wedding day! Also, the wedding attire donned by the bride and groom usually has something unique that comes from their tribes. African fabrics are however always prominent, making each wedding a very colorful occasion!
Here is a list of what each tribe contributes to what is known as Sierra Leone wedding attire.
1. Mende Wedding Attire
- The Mende tribe is one of the largest ethnic groups in Sierra Leone. They have a rich cultural heritage that influences their wedding ceremonies heavily.
- Mende brides usually wear brightly colored wedding gowns with intricate embroidery and beadwork. They also wear a “Lappa,” an intricately patterned and colorful wrapper around the waist with a blouse made of coordinating fabric. This blouse also has embroidery and beadwork on it. These brides also wear headpieces adorned with beads, cowrie shells, and feathers, as well as jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, and anklets), and body paint.
- Mende grooms wear tunics and trousers made from vibrant fabrics with decorative designs on them, and headpieces that have feathers or beads on them, all marching the colors on the bride’s outfit. Other accessories include necklaces, bracelets, bets, sashes and wristbands.
2. Krio Wedding Attire
- The Krio, also known as Sierra Leone Creole, are descendants of freed slaves from the West Indies. Their wedding attire sometimes reflects Western culture, including a Western-style wedding dress for the bride and a matching Western-style outfit for the groom. These outfits may also have some African elements thrown into the overall design.
- For Krio brides who choose to go traditional, their outfits include a brightly-colored wrapper (lappa) with a matching blouse, and a Gele (head wrap). They also wear jewelry made from gold or colorful beads. The bridal makeup for the Krio bride is bold, vibrant, and eye-catching.
- Krio grooms wear long robes or gowns called “agbada” or “bubu” made from high-quality, luxurious fabrics in different colors as their traditional wedding attire. These robes are covered in decorative patterns. The groom may also wear a matching cap or headpiece, jewelry, and even a ceremonial walking stick.
3. Kuranko Wedding Attire
- The Kuranko are originally from north-east Sierra Leone. Their Sierra Leone wedding attire features woven fabrics and bold patterns.
- The Kuranko bride usually wears either a beautiful, bright, and intricately decorated dress or a lappa (wrapper) and blouse made from colorful and vibrant African fabrics. The bride also wears a headpiece or Gele that is tied intricately around the head.
- The Kuranko groom, on the other hand, wears a loose-fitting robe-like garment called a “boubou” made out of patterned fabric with matching trousers. He also wears a traditional Kuranko hat made from a decorated piece of fabric.
- Both the bride and groom accessorize their outfits with gold jewelry and beads.
4. Limba Wedding Attire
- The Limba are found in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. The bridal attire usually consists of a flowing gown or skirt paired with a blouse, with the bridal hair held up in an intricate updo and adorned with beads and jewelry.
- Other brides opt for heavily decorated gowns paired with elegant headpieces, or brightly colored beaded wedding dresses.
5. Loko Wedding Attire
- The Loko people are mainly found in Northwestern Sierra Leone. Grooms from this region usually wear loosely fitting tunics and trousers that complement or match the bridal attire.
- Loko brides wear wrappers and blouses characterized by bold prints and bright colors. A more common option is a long, beaded gown with flared sleeves, a matching head wrap, and jewelry.
6. Temne Wedding Attire
- The Temne people are the largest tribe in Sierra Leone, found in the central and northwestern parts of the country. Their culture has heavily influenced Sierra Leone wedding attire over the years.
- The Temne bride usually wears an outfit consisting of a lappa (wrapper), blouse, Gele (headpiece), jewelry, and beads. The lappa is made from patterned, colorful African fabrics, while the blouse is made either from the same fabric or a complementary fabric. The Gele is then tied into a beautiful design to match the outfit. Finishing touches for the bridal look include beaded necklaces and wristbands, and jewelry made from gold and precious stones.
- The Temne groom, however, wears a Boubou or Agbada made from a colorful and decorative fabric similar to that of the bridal outfit. This outfit has a long tunic, trousers, and a matching robe. The groom also wears a decorative hat to complete his look, as well as gold rings and bracelets, and either traditional sandals or dress shoes.
Sierra Leone wedding attire is colorful, vibrant, fun, and heavily embellished, adding a celebratory mood to every wedding. Next time you attend a wedding in Sierra Leone, make sure your outfit matches the occasion!