Mwanja's Wedding
We arrived at Mwanja's wedding late afternoon. It was dark by the time we finished. But don't forget it gets dark early all the time in Tanzania. Sunrise about 6-ish and sunset around 6-ish. This is the wedding where we had 22 people in our car driving the "further-away" guest back to the main road. Three of us in the front and 19 more! I wish I had that as a picture. You'll just have to close your eyes and imagine! Close your eyes really tight – that's how we were crowded into the vehicle.
Mwanja used to be our night watchman, but last year the tension (or something else) led to a breakdown. He now works for us day time with some early evening shifts before the new watchman (Haji, see his wedding photo essay too!) comes to work. (I really should explain somewhere else why we have a watchman and why the tension and how we check that they're awake at night....)
The reason I call it "Mwanja's Wedding" is because he's the only one at the official ceremony. He's actually the only one getting married. "She" is sitting in the house on the bed waiting to become "married to". There is no covenant, just the bride price!
We drove through a tight lane with corn on each side and couldn't find the place. Then we asked and parked the car and walked to the wedding. You'll notice here that the girls are sitting on a mat or a blanket. The girls are seated and the women gathered behind them. You'll of course notice the Islamic dress of the girls, especially the black and white wraps and head coverings.
Later in the ceremony there was some singing and dancing. It was dark and I didn't want to use the flash, so you see the motion blur.... The wedding was in the College next to us. Here we're in a courtyard with the bathrooms behind. We're always 'charmed' by the colour and the relaxed naturalness of the people. Our Western way of life makes us far too self-conscious.
On the left is Mwanja and on the right the two Islamic leaders who performed the ceremony. Here they are dealing with issues of the dowry and perhaps praying a blessing on Mwanja. You noticed Mwanja's finger wrapped in white? That's not part of the ceremony, but it sure is part of another fascinating story. (I'll try to get to that story soon!) You'll notice, I'm sure, because you're really keen, that there are only men here!
After the official ceremony Mwanja and his companion Haji went into the house to get the bride. The lace on the right is part of a mosquito net for the bed. Haji, on the right, is our present night watchman and his wedding photos are on our website. Facing them and sitting on the bed is Mwanja's bride and her companion. Now I do need to tell you that Mwanja and his wife have been together a long time. Why then are they "getting married" in this Islamic way? It's all a matter of government benefits! In order to have his wife and children on a health benefit he needs to have a marriage certificate and then birth certificates for the children. If you only knew how much administrative work is required (pray for Joy!) to satisfy the many government departments and their rules... if you knew, you'd feel really sorry for us and pray!
Far left is Mwanja's wife (bride). She's been in here during the ceremony. Because she's already had children with Mwanja, she's not scared! Unlike Haji's wedding where the young bride look terrified. By the way, Haji's bride came to get her picture taken at our base (government stuff!) and was much more relaxed and said that things were good. If you're really keen you'll have noticed the henna ink decorations on the arm of the companion. Henna is quite durable and stays for a long time. Some of the art work is very intricate and beautiful.
Here you see that you always (well, almost always!) take off your shoes before entering the house. The groom and his companion are inside and the ladies are ready to welcome the couple out.
Here comes the bride with the groom out of the house. You'll notice, I'm sure, the blue door frame. Actually, blue door frames and doors and window frames are very popular. Are you asking why? I thought you'd never ask! In folk Islam it is thought that blue scares away the evil spirits! (You should look at the photo essay on the lady possessed by the genie spirit!)
Gift-giving time. No celebration without giving of gifts, is there? Here your representatives (Joy & I) are giving a gift to the couple. We had a wonderful time at this wedding. Perhaps you're surprised that we'd feel comfortable at an Islamic wedding? Well don't be surprised, you'd have enjoyed it too. It was happy, natural, and comfortable, and there was good food!
Pilau is the favourite celebration food. Rice and spices and some meat, often goat! And sodas.... Notice (this is a long photo essay so I'm not sure you're still noticing everything!) the kerosene lanterns. Notice also the Shehe's little boy in the pink shirt on the left. He wandered to his dad and away again, all through the ceremony. When he came he sat on his dad's knee and then he'd go away. One thing he never forgot though! He always took off his shoes when he stepped on the tarp and put them back on when he left.
Just to show you the relaxed atmosphere of the whole event, this is me with three of our staff and, on the left, one of the Islamic officials who led the ceremony. On the far right is Majanta, whose Maasai wedding is also among these photo essays. You really ought to have a look, it's fun and Christian.
Nadine took this picture near the end. Mwanja's boy is with me and Joy is between Mwanja and his wife, with Haji in white.
Here are some of our other staff at the wedding. On the right by the green leaf is Hosea. Hosea works with us and we hired him when he was an abusive husband to an unfaithful wife! Then he had an Islamic name! Now he's saved and studying in our ISOM (Bible and Ministry classes by DVD) and his wife also recently got saved and he has become a very good testimony to the grace of God. Left of him is Majanta our building foreman, then Saidi (still Islamic) our main furniture maker, Elibariki who is Majanta's right hand man, and others....
Nadine and this cute little thing were also at the wedding.
Yup it's late and it's time to take 19 people home with us in our vehicle. We had a wonderful time, but no "wedding cake"!
