Got up this morning feeling much better and excited to go to the African Wedding! We were all panicking about what to wear because we had only brought our 'scruffs' but charity, one of the African Impact coordinators, told us that no one dresses up for weddings...its a very casual event. This suprised us as at home weddings are a great excuse to dress up! However, we still dressed a little nicer than what we would normally do though...and we were glad we did!
On our way cars passed with the ribbons tied on the bonets- just like home! They also all drove with their hazard lights on which made everyone aware who was driving to the wedding- it looked spectacular!
We arrived at the church and crowds of people were dressed up to the nines!!!!!!! Ladies in beautiful dresses, dress suits, skirts, men in lovely suits and children dressed in their sunday best! We couldn't help but smile! Everywhere was filled with flowers and confetti. What shocked us the most was how humble, welcoming and proud the people were towards their own culture and how they wanted us to be a part of that!
The priest began the ceremony...like every nrmal ceremony so we began to relax but then suddenly broke into loud, clear song! and the WHOLE CONGREGATION burst out into song it was truely an amazing experience! Just like a gospel choir! The service was so emotional due to the special things they did like: the brides maids and best men all made an arch with their arms for the bride and groom to walk through before reaching the aisle. They also had a christening within the wedding too which seemed slightly bizarre! The service was all in swahili so we couldn't work out what the priest was saying but we could make out the lords prayer in swahili, the brides maids songs for the bride and groom and the song "WHEN THE SAINTS COME MARCHING IN" at the end of the service- which we all joined in on!
The bride and groom requested that we all had a photograph taken with them which we were shocked but also touched by this! Maybe we could send this into the lincolnshire echo or the BG newspaper!
The reception was at a local school playing field where large marquees were set up, music playing loudly, caterers waiting for the guests to arrive. They also wished fr us (african impact volunteers) to be the first to eat...before any one else...which made us feel more welcome! We had ugali and pinnach (which looked and tasted like pea mashed potato), beans, goat and potato stew, rice and salad...which was very tasty! However, due to my very sensitive tummy i couldnt eat it all. We soon got into the party mood when the bride and groom arrived (the guests ate before the bride and groom arrived which was different to home) and when they did arriv everyone rushed to greet them around the car and burst out into more song...and followed them into the field and everyone formed a long line behind them and they paraded around the area...kind of like the conga! We were having so much fun! Then all the girl volunteers decided to show the children the macarana...which the children tried ever-so hard to pick up! Then a man said that the bride and groom requested that we show this dance infront of everyone in the main marquee...and so we did! And everyone cheered afterwards! What a great experience...we even got mentioned in the main speech!
We unfortunately had to leave early due to the drivers needing to head back to Brackenhurst but we had such a wonderful, joyous time. The one thing I learned from this day was the sheer importance and value of being proud of your culture but enough so to accept others from other cultures and communities into your own...I very much doubt people at an english wedding would have been as welcoming as the kenyan's were today.
