Through the Seasons

On Their Mamas’ Backs

We have witnessed Tanzanian people dancing a few times now. They are very flexible and when they move they really move. I think I figured out today where they get their skills from: their mamas’ backs. Tanzanian women carry their children on their backs (wrapped in a big piece of fabric). At the wedding today the ladies would dance and dance. You should have seen those kids bouncing around! (Actually, Jonathan took photos and video so hopefully that’ll be online sometime in the future.) They were getting really good, and early, practice.

So we found out more about the wedding. What actually happened is that they got married 3 weeks ago and then he began negotiating the bride price with the girl’s father. She wasn’t allowed to come home with him to live until he paid it (or an agreed upon percentage of it anyway). Sunday was her big homecoming when she officially became his wife and was able to move in with him.

Because his house was an hour and a half walk away we asked a guy here to take us. When he dropped us off he decided to say congratulations to the couple. That’s when we found out she wasn’t there. We asked where she was and the groom/husband said she was on her way – walking – and it would take a very long time for her to arrive. So the guy who took us left to go get the bride/wife. When she arrived it was a huge celebration. One person held a big piece of fabric over the bride’s head. Others shook branches of some kind over the couple. Everyone else danced and sang. The bride and groom were completely stone faced. They have somber faces to show respect to their families. Almost the whole time we were there they didn’t crack a smile (although there were a few here and there).

When we arrived at the house they ushered us inside, got us all chairs, and asked us to sit down. The groom/husband and a couple of workers from the campsite were in there with us but everyone else was outside. We don’t know why. At one point they served us food – rice (watch out for the rocks in it), spinach, tomatoes, and chicken – but the few of us inside the house were the only ones who were served. We don’t know why. A co-worker of ours asked if their families wanted to come in and eat. The groom said they’d eat later. We don’t know why. It’s always nice to have someone who knows the culture and is honest with you about it. We don’t have anyone like that so we had a lot of unanswered questions.

Finally we got up to leave, offered congratulations, and thanked them. We walked out of the house and all the sudden the big group of people outside started dancing and singing. We were like…um…does this have something to do with us? We still don’t know for sure. But they danced and sang for a while. The bride and groom walked us out where we again offered congratulations and thanked them. As we began our journey to the campsite one of their vehicles showed up to give us a ride. (Praise God!) The driver went into the crowd and did whatever is good for him to do. After a bit he walked back out with the bride and groom. At the car we again offered congratulations and thanked them. All these times they thanked us and asked us to come again. Some of the campsite workers took advantage of a vehicle being there so they loaded into the back where they sang us back to where we’re now calling home.

Our wedding gift to them, the goat, was indeed eaten on Sunday…just not by us…and that’s fine by me.

I hope pictures and/or video go online soon.