Page 37 - Demo

Art & CultureISSUE 36 APRIL 2025 37Mkunguni. That night, l tried to sleep but my anxiety would not let me close my eyes. I reclined on my bed, sleepless, curious to attend the nikah ceremony. I woke up at dawn, ironed crisp white kanzu, and cleaned my kofia. It had some spots of stone marks. The morning atmosphere was filled with the rhythms of drumbeats, lively laughter, and the stampede of people. I quickly put on the kanzu and I joined the colorful procession of drumbeats. A vibrant throng of children and women danced joyfully to the pulsating drumbeats. They traversed the vichochoros to the mosque. I followed them closely, minding my identity as mkafiri (an outsider). I elusively took a back position to catch a glimpse of the nikah event at the mosque.The bride was radiant, with a beautiful purple garment. Her arms and legs were embellished with %u2018piko%u2019 and %u2018henna%u2019 (body decoration). Her nose, ears, and neck were sparkling with jewelry. Her face was glowing like polished sand, and her eyes were glittering like diamonds. She was surrounded by her family. The boy was standing on the opposite side, clad in the royal regalia of the Sultan of Oman attire. When l stretched my neck over the crowd, Aha! It was the boy who stoned me at Mkunguni. I was shocked that the boy was accompanied by Sir Mwenzangu. He was his biological father. I remembered a shadow of a boy in a kofia disappearing like a rat. I wanted to spring out and accuse the boy of attempting murder. On the other hand, I feared Sir Mwenzangu would call me mkafiri. I knew my accusation would not stop the nikah ceremony. They had already completed kisomo and kupeana stages of pre-wedding ceremony. I watched the Imam standing between them, adorned in Islamic attire and kofia. He read some Arabic words from the Quran, which were repeated many times by the boy and his bride. Finally, they were served with halwa, kahawa tungu, and kipande cha mbuzi Women wearing Colourful lesos and dera, Source: Wanyama Ogutu