by Avijit Chaudhuri

Created on: January 29, 2009

The East African country of Uganda is seeped in traditions and rituals that date back centuries. Ankole culture permeates the traditional okuhingira, or the traditional Ugandan bride give-away ceremony. (Note that while the Okuhingira is considered to be legally binding, often a separate church ceremony is also performed to mark the wedding).

The elders in the family usually have the last word when it comes to arranging marriages. Traditionally arranged marriages was the norm, but these days the cultural fabric is disintegrating, and so-caled love marriages aren't unheard of. But irrespective of how the wedding gets arranged, in Ugandan society it is always the man who formally asks for the woman's hand. Usually it all begins with a Kateraruume, a respectable person representing the groom's interests with the bride's family. Once the proposal gets accepted by the girl's family, both parties discuss on the nitty-gritties, including the payments. Yes, payments! Traditionally the groom's side must make a 'payment' to the bride's family symbolizing the groom's ability to take care of his wife-to-be. In return, the bride comes with emihingiro, gifts for the groom's side of the family.

The okuhingira is the big day when elders bless the bride and give her away to the groom. The event belongs to the bride's family and includes a sumptuous feast for all invited. The menu often consists of delicacies such as matooke (mashed plantains) and kalo (millet paste) served with delicious accopaniments such as frerinda (mashed beans with clarified butter) and eshabwe (melted clarified butter and salt mixture). Post meal comes in the enshagarizi (young bridesmaids who accompany the bride to the groom's place) along with the bride. Song and dance and general merriment follows.

According to tradition, the bride is not supposed to do any work for ten days from the okuhingira till the cultural initiation takes place. During this tradition, the bride lights fire for the first time in the groom's kitchen, symbolizing her taking over the home-making responsibility at her new residence.

It is important to note that while what's described above is how most Ugandan weddings take place, given the rich influence of various cultures certain tribal weddings may follow different customs. The Luo weddings are a case in point. Though more prevalent in Kenya, a section of the Luo population can also be found in Uganda.

These days Ugandans are embracing western cultures and practices. As a result some of their traditional rituals are losing acceptance, and the Ugandans are getting more used to the concepts such as honeymoons and later the anniversaries. With time the traditional weddings are also falling out of favor and western style nuptials are gaining popularity.

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