A quick post to show something of yesterday's trip to Tororo - near the Kenyan border - for the formal 'Introduction' (sort of engagement ceremony) of Beatrice Langariti's sister Rose to her fiancé Thomas at her father's home. The roads were poor so it was a long journey there and back - broken by an early breakfast and late supper in Jinja. We travelled most of the way in convoy with Vincent and Beatrice Langariti, and changed into our wedding clothes (JoJo in a borrowed sari-type garment, Peter in a cotton Ugandan 'kanzu') in the backroom of a restaurant in Tororo.
The 'Introduction' was over two hours late starting and is a lengthy ceremony full of ironic humour, involving the pretence that the groom's family has come in search of the girl who has stolen their heart. People dress formally and (in the case of the women) very colourfully. The bride-to-be spends most of the ceremony (4 hours long) out of sight, emerging first (after a long 'search' through her relatives young and old) to be identified, later to walk through a ceremonial arch with her intended, and then to exchange rings and receive gifts. (Pic is of Rose on the right with Beatrice in the family home).
We were the only 'mzungus' (white people) present and were given seats of honour among the bride's family, next to her proud father.
More details later - it was quite a day - not least as we were presented by Rose's father with an unexpected and generous gift - seen in the picture with Vincent!
Having survived the bumpy journey back to Mukono, our gift has found a home behind our house in a makeshift pen constructed from two soccer goals . . . temporarily!
