In two days on the weekend, Saturday and Sunday, I witnessed a cultural tradition, the 'presentation’ (even though it looks like it’s written in English, I actually wrote it in French, hence the single quotation marks so you have to read it with an accent. Try pre-zen-ta-cion), and three ‘mariages’ (again, it’s French so try mari-ah-ges, not mehr-age).
Way to encourage a girl! We witnessed Matilde’s engagement on Saturday afternoon and it was really very nice. She was all dressed in white and came into the room after everyone else was seated. The fiancé, his family, Matilde’s family and friends (me included!) were all expectantly awaiting her. I nearly missed it chatting on skype in the cyber café, but I knew something was up when I saw all the girls running from the courtyard to the house and I heard their voices and
the Congolese way of celebrating. I ran up the stairs in time to see the crowd of young girls chanting and heralding Matilde. It was very much like the way they welcomed me and I really appreciated that. It was late at night but they were all there to welcome me as if with palm fronds, and they gave me hugs and kisses, it was fantastic. So this they were doing for Matilde.
I managed to get a seat and saw Matilde make her entrance. Once she sat, Soeur Hildegard
gave a speech and talked highly of Matilde and praised her. It was very becoming. The groom’s father also gave a few words, not a speech. Then there was a short ceremony at the chapel. Then dinner. There was even the exchange that happens. Wow! That was cool. I got to see a dowry kinda thing happen, except for the goat. Apparently, the goat is to come, I just don’t know when
and to whom the goat goes. Very interesting.
Before I could even go to the dinner, I saw out the window from where we are that a bride, also dressed in a beautiful white dress, came to the Café to chill for a bit with her wedding party. I dashed downstairs to get a better look at her and her party. It was lovely. I wanted to take some pictures but didn’t want to be intrusive, there’s some ‘interdit’ about taking pictures in public.
The very next day, on the way from the ‘Fikin’, we saw two more brides and their bridal parties taking their pictures at the ‘Parliament de peuple’. If I wasn’t already in the mood for an engagement and presentation and wedding, then this experience over the two days would be
enough to throw me over the edge. It’s like ‘darling, the signs couldn’t be any clearer’. I am already over the edge. We just need to make it official. Having experienced the ‘presentation’ here I will be sure to include my culture and his into the official ‘presentation’, engagement party, wedding ceremony and marriage. This experience here in the Congo has taught me how important culture and heritage are. I witnessed a cultural tradition that is older than I could imagine, centuries--no millennia years old, and I am awed.
Way to encourage a girl! We witnessed Matilde’s engagement on Saturday afternoon and it was really very nice. She was all dressed in white and came into the room after everyone else was seated. The fiancé, his family, Matilde’s family and friends (me included!) were all expectantly awaiting her. I nearly missed it chatting on skype in the cyber café, but I knew something was up when I saw all the girls running from the courtyard to the house and I heard their voices and
the Congolese way of celebrating. I ran up the stairs in time to see the crowd of young girls chanting and heralding Matilde. It was very much like the way they welcomed me and I really appreciated that. It was late at night but they were all there to welcome me as if with palm fronds, and they gave me hugs and kisses, it was fantastic. So this they were doing for Matilde.
I managed to get a seat and saw Matilde make her entrance. Once she sat, Soeur Hildegard
gave a speech and talked highly of Matilde and praised her. It was very becoming. The groom’s father also gave a few words, not a speech. Then there was a short ceremony at the chapel. Then dinner. There was even the exchange that happens. Wow! That was cool. I got to see a dowry kinda thing happen, except for the goat. Apparently, the goat is to come, I just don’t know when
and to whom the goat goes. Very interesting.
Before I could even go to the dinner, I saw out the window from where we are that a bride, also dressed in a beautiful white dress, came to the Café to chill for a bit with her wedding party. I dashed downstairs to get a better look at her and her party. It was lovely. I wanted to take some pictures but didn’t want to be intrusive, there’s some ‘interdit’ about taking pictures in public.
The very next day, on the way from the ‘Fikin’, we saw two more brides and their bridal parties taking their pictures at the ‘Parliament de peuple’. If I wasn’t already in the mood for an engagement and presentation and wedding, then this experience over the two days would be
enough to throw me over the edge. It’s like ‘darling, the signs couldn’t be any clearer’. I am already over the edge. We just need to make it official. Having experienced the ‘presentation’ here I will be sure to include my culture and his into the official ‘presentation’, engagement party, wedding ceremony and marriage. This experience here in the Congo has taught me how important culture and heritage are. I witnessed a cultural tradition that is older than I could imagine, centuries--no millennia years old, and I am awed.
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