I know it has been a while since I update my blog, and I apologize. I thought that I would have more time on my hands for updating you all because school has been closed since December 2. Time has gone by surprisingly fast though this month as I’m sure it has for you as well.
Christmas was such a great day! God blessed us so much by allowing us to have Electricity for 4 straight days! I spent time with my host family and friends. Sang Christmas Carols. Ate yummy African Food. Watched Christmas movies. And Attended a wonderful Church service at New Life Baptist Church in Kyambogo where I attend when I’m not in the village. Pastor Peter read through the Nativity story, My friend Arthur led us in Singing Worship and Christmas songs, and My host brother Richmond preached the main part of the sermon. He is a very powerful speaker and I enjoy listening to him! I also was overjoyed to have the opportunity of skyping with my Family and getting to watch my Neices and nephews open their Christmas presents!!!! It was awesome!
The rest of this month was spent in the preparations for Doreen’s Introduction. An Introduction is for engaged couples and is a traditional gathering where the bride and grooms family and friends come together so the bride can “Introduce” her groom to her family. It is a fun time of fellowship, but also traditions must be followed throughout the event that lasts for about 7 hours or more. Here are some of the highlights:
Everyone dresses in traditional clothing. Most of the women wear a dress called a Gomesi while the men wear a Kanzu.
Tents are set up and decorated. One for guests, one for the groom’s family and one for the bride’s family. There is a set of furniture (2 chairs and 1 sofa) in the front of the tent for both the bride and the groom. Her parents or closest aunts / uncles sit on the ones in the bride’s tent. In the grooms tent, his parents or siblings sit on the chairs and 2 of his friends sit on the couch. The groom must be hidden among the people in his tent for the first half of the event while he waits to be introduced.
The bride’s family starts of by greeting the spokesmen and elders or the groups. This is done in many separate parts. Different groups of the bride’s close friends and family dance and walk out to kneel facing the groom’s tent. The spokesmen ask fun questions to them and then give a
small gift to each participant kneeling. The first group was the teenage girls. Then the young girls followed by the group of young boys.
Then a group of young adult girl cousins, then the bride’s Close female friends (there were 2 of us “Muzungus” in that group) and then her brothers and male cousins.
Last is the bride with her sisters, close girl cousins, and her maid of honor. They kneel in the middle of the 3 tents waiting for the groom to be announced.
After the greeting is finished, the bride’s spokeswoman Sarah and 2 friends must dance while walking throughout the grooms tent to search for the man that they want their “Daughter” Doreen to marry. When Sarah finds Issac, the whole tent starts cheering and celebrating.
He danced out with Sarah, and she brings him to stand in front of Doreen’s Family. They ask the family if this is the man that they will accept and welcome into their family, and then everyone in her tent erupts into cheering and laughing and dancing.
Isaac is danced back to his tent where he is now allowed to sit on the couch and replace his friends. Isaac’s sister and 3 friends then bring a gift to Doreen to show that they are choosing her to become part of their family.
She is brought to face Isaac’s family and they agree, cheer and dance to show their acceptance of her coming into their family. It is only after all of that, that she and Isaac are allowed to sit together on the couch.
After pictures are taken and other formalities are taken care of, Doreen goes back to kneel with Sarah and her maid of Honor. The groom and his family present the Bride’s Dowry. A Cow and 4 Roosters are presented. Baskets of food, butter, sugar, matches and oil. Suitcases are brought. The leg of a cow, Sodas, Bottled Water, and Fabric are presented to her family.
After that, Doreen and 2 of her brothers (Richmond and Ronnie) cut the cake together. Doreen then shares the cake with Isaac and the rest of the people are served bite size pieces of cake.
Then the Special guests and elders are taken inside the house to have dinner while the other guests eat outside from the buffet of food that has been prepared:
Matooke, Gnut Paste, Rice, Chicken, Beef, Greens, Fried potatoes, Boiled Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Pumkin, Cooked Cabbage and more!
Wow, I feel like I’ve just re-lived the whole day all over again! What an amazing way to officially welcome someone into your family. Two families coming together to accept, embrace and stand up in support of a couple who is planning to start a new chapter in their lives. I feel so Blessed to have been included in their celebration!
Thank you for taking the time to read this long post! I hope that you enjoyed getting a small glimpse into a Traditional African event!
I hope that you have a wonderful day! God Bless!!
Love, Alicia
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