Introduction Ceremony

This past weekend, I had the privilege of experiencing an Introduction Ceremony of my host mom’s coworker’s daughter. An Introduction Ceremony is similar to an engagement party but with a lot more flair and tradition. Traditionally, this was the first time that the daughter would introduce her fiancé to her parents. Nowadays, all parties have probably met but the ceremony still follows the old traditions. The bride’s family hosts the party and ceremony and the groom’s family is responsible for the wedding. A wedding can occur anywhere from a day to a couple years after the Introduction Ceremony.

  My host mom lent me a gomesi, a traditional Ugandan dress for the occasion. Under the dress, I had to wear a sort of blanket thing, designed to fill out my booty and hips. Then the gomesi was wrapped around me and a sash was tied around my waist. It wasn’t too uncomfortable but it sure got warm in the sunshine! Before we left, we took some photos with the family.

My host family (from left): Tendo, Margaret, and Feli

       

   We arrived at the ceremony around 11:45am.  The bride’s house was decorated brightly with a lot of flowers and some tents to protect people from the sun. At one end of the yard is a tent for the bride’s family and at the opposite side, a tent for the groom’s family and friends (the groom’s parents don’t attend). Each side has a representative MC who speaks on behalf of the bride’s family and the groom. They banter back and forth; the bride’s side testing the groom’s knowledge of tradition, Uganda, the bride, and also his intentions. Luckily my host mom helped me by translating what was happening.

  The true groom is not originally advertised. First, a family member of his will present gifts to the family members and friends of the bride. Then, the bride’s aunt(s) will appear and will search the groom’s tent for the correct man. They will place a special pin on him to identify him as the groom and they will bring him to the front of the tent to be seated.

Bride's side

Groom's side

Bride's family and friends arriving for their gifts

Bride's aunt and the groom with his new pin

  Next, the bride emerges from the house with her female relatives and friends and performs a small dance around the yard. She then must go to the groom’s tent and publicly choose him as her man. Once she has chosen him, she is given a gift from his family in which each item holds a special meaning for the bride. They walk across the yard together and she formally introduces him to her family members. The bride’s family gives them a small sapling and they plant the tree together in her yard to symbolize their love. As this is happening, the groom’s family and friends go to retrieve the gifts for the bride’s family. There were probably fifty baskets and bags of all sorts of things; from chickens to luggage to make up, to cartons of soda, to food. The bride’s family accepts and the bride and groom are presented as a confirmed couple. The bride and her brother cut the cake (the bride and groom will cut the cake together at the wedding) and rings are exchanged.

The bride

  The two and a half hour ceremony was pretty interesting and I’m glad I got to experience it; unfortunately I was at the bride’s home for seven and a half hours… There sure is a lot of waiting around with nothing happening at these things! Nonetheless, I’m glad I got to see one, but I’d be apprehensive to attend another!