The Most Ugandan Day Ever

Yesterday, I went with my host mom to a traditional Ugandan engagement ceremony, called an "Introduction." The ceremony basically consists of the groom being presented to the bride's family, and then the groom presents gifts to the family. Common gifts are sugar, cows, goats, and hens, and other household items like a sofa and chairs. And everyone wears traditional Ugandan dress - called gomazi for women. And yes - I had to wear one!

It was very interesting watching the traditional ceremony, but a little boring because the speakers for each family only talked in Lusoga. The maternal aunties - which are the most important because they introduce the groom to the bride's family - all dance out in a colorful line with a bride. Then, the head maternal auntie dances around the guest tent to try and find the groom. Then she pulls him out by his hand and dances him around the ceremony to "show him off."

(The maternal aunties gather around the bride - center, in green - before the groom is found)

After that, the gifts are presented to the family. I had to dance in a line with the other guests with a basket of bread and butter on my head and present it in front of the family. Then the bride and group undergo the engagement ceremony, which is officiated by a pastor. The wedding rings are placed on the couple's middle finger instead of the ring finger. Afterwards, there's a gigantic clamor for food!

I actually got called out at the introduction and had to stand up and wave on a number of occasions. This was probably due to the fact I was the only white person at the ceremony! Afterwards, my mom told me we were going to go use the bathroom. "Oh, okay, where is it?" "That grove of banana trees." Have you ever tried to go to the bathroom in a gomazi?

Afterwards, we were driving home in the middle of the night, when our car broke down in a swamp. My mom hailed an open bed truck that was transporting crates of empty soda back to Bugembe (our town). So we clambered up in the truck (picture three women in long, formal gomazi dress) and sat on the crates and rode the entire way back to town this way.

Why do I say it was the most Ugandan day ever? It was filled with tradition (the introduction, gomazi) and randomness (peeing in a banana grove?). I feel like this is a good picture of life in Uganda - it's one that requires respect, flexibility, and a sense of humor!

I leave for America in less than a week, so I will try to post one more blog before I leave! This week, I'll be very busy getting my visa extended, buying souvenirs, and wrapping up my project.

No Cake for You!

Ugandans sure know how to throw a party! And really they do, it is not the work of a wedding/party planner, they like to keep it in the family! I'm surprised that wedding planning is not a viable profession in Uganda, where traditional festivities can last up to a week, or more! If the culture were to change in the future to be open to a wedding planning industry, well lets just say I see quite a lucrative potential market!

I missed the engagement party on Thursday. I was very disappointed, as it was four hours away in a rural village, and I missed out on wearing the traditional Gomasi. A Gomasi is like a sari, but with pointed shoulders, you can maybe see a few in my pictures and video. I did not wear one to the wedding on Saturday, it was a traditional Catholic wedding held in a church in Jinja. A nice dress, and some fancy sandals helped me to fit right in, well as much as I could.

On June 18, 2011 Ignatius and Daisy were married, and my host dad David was the best man. You can see him just behind the bride, bridegroom and flower girl, as they dance down the aisle.

Yes that's right, they danced - never walked - and it was awesome! My host sister Haniffa described how great the procession is when you get a couple who really loves to get down, I can only imagine. Neither Haniffa or myself met the couple before the wedding, so we stuck together and she let me pick her brain on all things wedding related!

Cool things I learned:

• Always account for twice as many guests as you plan for (my host parents invited 200 and 400 came)
• Invitation is generally by word of mouth - because you expect your friends to come, they do not need an invitation. (The workplace and far away relatives generally receive invitations.)
• The wedding party dances anytime the travel somewhere
• We had a lunch break between the wedding and reception
• The bride and bridegroom were constantly surrounded by photographers. Turns out they didn't hire all of them, some just heard and showed up. At the reception they came with multiple copies of their prints to sell right then and there to the guests!
• It is super convenient to be married in Jinja, because then you get to have your reception on the Nile!
• Cake is reserved for important people - I was not one of those - It is a way to show recognition to family members and employers and good friends who attend your wedding, and then it gets passed backwards from their to the other excess guests.

My video of their dancing and cake giving isn't loading, so here are a couple quick pics from the reception!