One thing that Africa and America have in common is the importance of weddings. Today we attended a send off party. In Africa, the male's side of the family puts on the wedding. So the Thursday before the wedding the bride's side of the family throws a send off party for the couple. The New Life Band got invited to the Bishop's send off party for his daughter. Ondo told us this would be a high-class send off party.
Was it ever! I have never been to a wedding party this fancy. When we arrived there were about a dozen party tents set up in a field. Just like you would see in the states at a wedding or nice event. Their were lights and decorations everywhere. There were the most gorgeous flower arrangements on the tables and the stage. It was so beautiful!
When we arrived they were doing the cake. They did not do the cake like we do. Instead they had a table full of small wedding cakes. They were beautifully decorated. The bride-to-be would take a cake to each important person or family. This process took about a half an hour. I was looking forward to eating cake, but that never happened.
Then it was time for presenting the gifts. Jamani!!! (Swahilli for "OH MY GOODNESS!") This took about two hours! The bride and the wedding party were standing on a stage in the middle of the party. There was music playing and the wedding party was dancing the whole time around the bride. The MC would announce who's turn it was to bring the gifts. So they start with father. The father dances up to the stage and does a small speech and presents his gift.
Because the father is a bishop over many churches in Arusha, there were many churches to present Gifts. Each church group presented their gift. For example, the church she attends would all line up opposite the stage and they would present one gift. They would make a conga line and come to the stage dancing. The first one in line carried the gift, the others shook her hand. Then the next group went. Not only were their churches who presented presents, but any group that brought a present. I actually joined in because the New Life Band was represented and brought a gift. So we formed our line and danced to the stage and shook her hand. I am wondering what she thought when Kaity and I shook her hand? During the whole two hours, the atmosphere was very lively.
Then the mother presented a "mother's basket". She came with a huge empty basket on her head and then women followed her with gifts for the kitchen. The mother gave a little speech about how her daughter should take care of her husband. Then they put all the gifts in the basket.
Then when you thought there were no gifts, it was time for the parents to receive gifts. First the parents receive a gift from their daughter. Then they sit down and lots of people bring them gifts and blankets. They each wrap their blanket around them representing they did a great job raising their daughter.
After the parents go, then all the brides family comes up and one at a time they are presented blankets from the grooms side of the family to represent thanksgiving for letting the bride become a part of their family now.
After all the gifts are presented it is time to introduce the groom. So the groom is sitting somewhere within the guests and the bride has to find him. She walks around looking and when she finds him she puts a red tie around his neck and everyone starts to cheer. They go to the stage together and she introduces to the guests the name of her husband to be. Again everyone cheers.
Finally it is time for dinner. I was wondering how they were going to feed all the people there. I think there were around two thousand. They had three buffet tables catered in. So you went up and they filled your plate with food. One thing that I found very interesting was at this very fancy wedding party, there was no silverware. You had to eat everything with your fingers. This was quite interesting because it was mostly rice. Ondo and Judy had quite the laugh watching me try to figure out how to eat the meal with my fingers. Judy was teasing me saying that if I didn't figure it out I was going to be really hungry because there was no dinner at home...ha! To top off the difficulty, it was ten o'clock at night so it was dark. I had to use my phone light just to see what I was doing. I wasn't the most graceful but I managed to get the meal in my mouth.
After the meal, the party ended. The bridal party was upfront dancing but most people began leaving. The whole time I was thinking, if this is the send off party, what will the wedding be like? Just like we have traditions and we throw expensive weddings, they do the same in Africa!
No comments:
Post a Comment