Page 38 - Demo

Art & CultureWWW.MSINGIAFRIKAMAGAZINE.COM | we tell the true afrikan story 38(morsels of goat meat). At the end of the nikah ceremony, the Imam did not declare the couple as newlyweds. The bride was expected to graduate to kitanda cha ushutu (a bed for a pregnant mother) and bembeya (a bed for a nursing newborn baby). Nursing a baby was a sign of family commitment in Swahili culture.After a successful nikah ceremony, the siwa (it is a big horn blown during special occasions like weddings) thundered through the air and was punctuated by the melodious call from the nearby mosque%u2019s loudspeaker. The rhythms of drumbeats charged an atmosphere with celebratory jubilation. Women burst into ululations, shouting %u201cWalimah tunayo sasa!%u201d (we have the wedding). The colorful procession swiftly made its way toward the Mkunguni grounds. The couples joined the jubilant procession drumbeats. Although reception was a short distance from the mosque, the lively procession transformed the journey into a delightful adventure of approximately ten kilometers. Upon reaching the Mkunguni grounds, the procession was greeted by a breathtaking jubilation of attendance. The reception was beautifully designed like a king%u2019s palace. They were arrays of vibrant colors of green, purple, and the fragrance smell of Udi. The guests and families gathered under a canopy of colorful fabric tents. The boy and his stunning bride lit up the reception with joyful smiles. Men sat on the baraza (a raised cement floor for relaxing), and some slid against the adjacent walls. Women sat on the floor in glittering buibuis and sparkling jewelry on their necks. Young ladies without hijabs were swaying their backs and hairstyles to the rhythms of ngoma za vugu (wedding dance). I watched from a distance and remembered the hijab lady in Lamu Tamu Express. Suddenly, a man leaped from the crowd and violently grabbed a chubby woman at her back. They both tumbled to the ground, and everyone burst into laughter on top of their voices. A sympathetic woman screamed and ran to rescue the chubby woman on the ground. Two men violently pulled the man from on top of the woman and punched him. By this time, the chubby woman was struggling to regain her composure. Her face flushed with anger and pointed an index Swahili Couple, Source: Wanyama Ogutu