Banter for the Daughter

Today centered around the Okwanjula, the traditional Ugandan ceremony where the girl’s family gives her to the man’s family after discussing and presenting gifts and dowry’s and much game playing on either side.

The highlights included a variety of dress, the banter, food, and dancing:
Dress: As I mentioned earlier traditionally the men wear Kanzus (long white robes). They wear these over pants and then have a suit jacket on. As close to the hotness and discomfort as a tux as an African can get. The women wear gomesis (long, bright robes). These dresses are accompanied by a huge belt that has to be tied a certain way with a square in front on top of this satin dress with sleeves that are a cross between the Grand Tetons and 80s prom dress. The square necks make for a unique tan line. Those in the wedding party dress formally too with different outfits. Prossy, the bride to be given, wore 3 different outfits but sometimes this person would change 5-7 times in one afternoon.

The Banter: The entire ceremony is an exchange between two representatives for the family. They talk to one another about the terms and conditions for this arrangement. They discuss the background of the man’s family, the way he “spied” her, the flower, and then wooed her into this relationship. The entire time the men go back and forth making jokes and requiring another gift or form of appreciation to console the family who’s leaving the daughter.
Near the beginning, Jordan’s rep, Dickson, (the side most of the Muzungus sat on) offered bottle soda to the daughter’s rep. But he told them the Sprite was from a special spring in Canada. When the father approved of this gift, the negotiations continued. Jami and I thought either Canada Dry or Tim Horton’s would have been a better offering but they didn’t ask us. Dickson would then give the ushers their own gifts. The ushers were each introduced as daughters of the courtyard majoring in such things as a masters in Kneeling or a Bachelors in Prayer or a Masters in the book of Nehemiah. Dickson gave one of them a dollar and the daughter’s rep had her make sure it wasn’t a Zimbabwean dollar. Dickson also gave Prossy’s brothers a phone so she could always reach her. Of course he went on the Mangoe network (like Verizon or Cingular) so he got the two for one deal- 2 green mangoes for the price of one daughter.

Food: Typical Ugandan food: 4 different kinds of potatoes, 3 different types of bananas, chicken cooked and tied up in a banana leaf and chapatti. The cakes were fashioned in the shape of a melon while another had the shape of a basket that help real fruits and veggies. I had my first Fanta from a bottle this trip.

Dancing: Traditional dancers entertained us with familiar dances from Rwanda. They also brought out the rattles on their legs to bring out the aunties. Following the ceremony we danced to the Ugandan beat. I can dance to that!