African Love Before Colonization is a cultural documentation initiative that explores traditional African marriage systems as they existed prior to European intervention, and how they continue to live today. The project centers weddings as complete social institutions that organize lineage, responsibility, community accountability, and intergenerational continuity.

This is not observational storytelling. We are a married couple who actively participate in traditional marriage ceremonies under the guidance and consent of local elders and cultural authorities. Rather than documenting from the outside, we enter these systems respectfully and experience the rites, negotiations, and responsibilities firsthand.

Weddings are one of the most enduring and influential cultural systems in the world. In African societies, marriage is not just a celebration it is a structure that governs family, lineage, responsibility, and community relationships. Despite this, traditional African wedding systems are often misunderstood or underrepresented globally.

No. Each ceremony is real and guided by the cultural practices of the community. We only participate with the consent and direction of elders and cultural leaders. The goal is not performance, but respectful participation and accurate documentation.

We work directly with elders, families, and cultural authorities in each community. Their guidance determines how ceremonies are conducted, what can be documented, and how information is shared. This project is rooted in accountability, consent, and cultural care—not extraction.

Support can take many forms, including project funding, in-kind contributions (such as travel or accommodations), introductions to cultural leaders, or collaboration in documentation and storytelling. We are always open to partnerships that align with preserving African cultural knowledge with integrity.