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HistoryISSUE 36 APRIL 2025 35Lamu IslandLove And Affection Of Swahili WeddingBy Wanyama OgutuI was gifted with an intricate floral kofia (Islamic cap) and adopted a Swahili name upon visiting the nearby mosque. I wore the kofia with a long-sleeve shirt and kanzu whenever I went to the mosque. Sometimes, I put on the kofia to protect my forehead from the scorching sun. I embraced my Swahili persona, embellishing my body complexity, tall, slim, and light skin. Occasionally, I liked to clad the kofia with a favorite football jersey, especially when Arsenal won against Manchester United in the Arsenal Premier League. I spoke slowly like a native Lamu speaker, but my speech deficiency filled many eyes with tears of laughter. I also chose my words carefully, often finishing with an English sentence to bridge the speech deficiency. I had the wonderful opportunity to visit my friends at Jumba la Swahili, where I Art & Culture