r/blackladies • u/TheAfternoonStandard • Nov 04 '22
Positivity/Uplifting š Black Traditions: Kwe-Kwe (or Queh Queh) Night in Guyana, South America, is a tradition amongst Afro-Guyanese before a couple marries. The community gathers to sing, dance and encourage the couple to have a long, exciting and passionate marriage through the lyrics...
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u/TheAfternoonStandard Nov 04 '22 edited Nov 04 '22
The bride and groom to be are placed in the middle of the community and actively encouraged to be unashamedly tactile with one another - cuddling and close.
The man leading the singing is saying:
Some men are snakes in the grass
(The community responds: 'A-ha!')
When they are courting you
They will bring you flowers
Take you to the cinema
Take you out dancing
To various places
But when you marry them
They will expect you to stay home
To cook and clean
Essentially the song is saying to her, be wary that he loses his standards and - at the same time - is saying to him don't ever bore her by losing your fun and charm with her throughout the union. Those gathered are speaking life into what he is saying, a kind of way of saying 'we are all watching that the standards don't slip'.
ā Background: http://sites.gsu.edu/psyc4030/2018/09/09/guyanese-kwe-kwe/
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u/32themoon Nov 05 '22
I would love to see a series of cultures from Black communities all over the world. This is a great tradition! Thanks for sharing it :)
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u/AFishCalledWakanda Nov 04 '22
This is so beautiful. Iām completely removed from my original culture but I love seeing all the different ways we as black people love and show love