Yippee I got to go out and party for the first time since I got here. We started off by going to a Zambian wedding. Vivian’s father had a slight stroke recently and was not up to going out so Vivian, 2 of her brothers and little old white me went to represent the family. The actual wedding itself had been in the morning so this was just the evening reception. Vivian told me it started at 18:00 (they use the 24hour clock over here a lot). So I toddled off to get the dress on and make myself presentable for a wedding and was duly ready before 6 pm – we left the house just before 8pm!! Zambian time yet again!! Although apparently the wedding didn’t start until about 7.30 pm so just as well we were late!
The reception was not dissimilar to an evening reception at home. Although most of the speeches happened before the meal, well I say speeches but basically the father of the bride seemed to hog the limelight, with no one else speaking at all, not even the groom. The cutting of the cake ceremony took a while. It started with a small girl doing a dance down the hall with the knife. I wasn’t quite sure about a young girl in a short skirt doing a slightly provocative dance waving a knife around. It just felt wrong on so many levels!!
Then the groom had to escort the bride to the cake – which as you can see was quite large (the cake that is not the bride).
Then they eventually did cut it. This was then followed by the bridesmaids and best men (there seemed lots of them) doing a dance with the cake around the room. And then, well... I don’t know what happened to the cake as we never even got a bit of it!!
There was more dancing by the extended bridal party around the room which was quite fun to watch. Then the bride and groom did get up and shuffle around the dance floor, mainly underneath her veil, which looked quite peculiar. The guests themselves were only invited to the dance floor once. Then it was the presentation of the presents when everyone had to line up and give their gifts to the bride and groom and wish them well. We didn’t have any gifts so we left! There was some food flung in somewhere along the line – but pretty much a non event for me as it was very meat orientated – oh and we got a bottle of coke each as it was a Christian wedding so no free alcohol!! (Although we cheated and bought some). We did do a toast to the bride and groom at some point but it just seems fundamentally wrong to toast someone with a glass of coke!!!
I would also have to say that all the way through the ceremony the bride barely cracked a smile and the groom didn’t look much happier either. Vivian and I speculated as to whether it was a shot gun wedding!! Interestingly though they have a very high divorce rate over here in Zambian which, due to their strong religious beliefs I am surprised at. Although living together is still very much frowned upon.
So having experienced a Zambian wedding it was time to find a Zambian pub!! Woo Hoo!
Hey spot the glasses of wine - such luxury!!!
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