The WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT-Kenya Style

We were invited to two wedding events for the same couple. We attended the Engagement Announcement. This was a very, very prosperous LDS family. There were 300-400 people in attendance sitting under tents and milling around when we arrived. The announcement said the party was to begin at 10:00 AM. We had four different couples ask if we could take them to the party because it was very far away, and it would be very expensive for them to travel. They volunteered to ride in the back of our metal truck. We demurred at that, and finally agreed to take 2 couples squished in the back seat. It was a 1 hour very bumpy, bangy trip out in the buikid.

The home is the nicest we've seen since being here--a brick one in a lovely setting with a smaller home (for the boys) some distance from the big house. In between was a small building with two stalls for ladies and two for men--African toilets, and two African baths...small cubicles with a tiny hole in the floor.

We thought we should leave about 9:00 AM, but we were told quickly that we would only be bored if we arrived that early. We should pick up our passengers at noon because the festivities would go on until 2-3:00 AM the next day. When we arrived, we could hear chanting and see a large group of matronly women--many of whom were dressed alike in lovely African dresses, swinging their arms and singing. They were leaving the home. They made several trips out and back in again during the time we were there. We were told they were the aunts of the groom, going into the house to "dress" the bride. This was part of the acceptance ceremony.

After about an hour of this dancing in and out, the women formed a large cluster, and came out one last time, this time with the bride, who was dressed in a red sequined dress. She looked lovely. The groom had been sitting in his tent with his family. He was identified by the silver & pink tinsel streamers he had around his neck.

Then the guests were served by caterers on both sides of the large open space. They gave us boiled potatoes, chicken, and a tomato-type sauce and a chapati. It must have been very expensive to serve all of those people. It was very nice.

Following the meal, the Master of Ceremonies got up and announced that he would turn the time over to the "Mormons". There were probably 30 of us there among all of those throngs of people. The Branch President spoke, we sang two songs, and then they announced that Elder Beecher would speak. He had been informed about 3 minutes before the announcement that he was going to give the talk. He did a good job. His was the only speech I understood.

Later, during the day, cakes were brought out (one for the bride and one for the circumcised brother). The children took turns feeding their parents the cake. Then the bride fed the groom and then she took pieces of the take to all of his many, many relatives.

Then a ceremony of introduction was performed where both sides of both families formed lines and shook hands, signifying a turning over of the bride to the groom's family. By then it was about 4-4:30 and we needed to leave to be home before dark. They made a lovely couple. They will be married (actually today) and leave for the temple tomorrow or Monday. We don't know what happened after that. It was neat to see, and we were fortunate to be able to attend.