Pastor Moses called me on Thursday and invited me to attend a wedding at his church on Saturday. I agreed. After hanging up, I realized I didn't even know who was getting married. It turns out it is Pastor Jacobo from Lake Victoria. Moses said the wedding starts at 9:00, so arrive at 10:30. My American culture made me start sweating around 10:25 and we had not arrived yet. We arrived at 10:45. We were the only ones there besides the choir warming up!
About 45 minutes later, a band came in, playing loudly. They were escorting the groom, best man and some other men into the sanctuary.
There were still not very many guests; mainly just children from off the street with nothing better to do on their Saturday morning.
After something was said, everyone got up and ran out of the church. The bride was coming!
The children were so excited. Everyone gathered to watch her grand entrance. And Grand it was!
The bride had to walk the distance of a city block. She took 30 minutes! She and her attendants danced, slowly from the car to the front of the church. All the community watched, laughed, smiled and generally enjoyed themselves.
Still dancing. . . still dancing. . . I watched a grandmother with her 4 small grandchildren. She was walking down the road, but upon seeing the bride, stopped and smiled. She watched the entire dance from car to the church steps. She was so happy! So excited for the bride. She never took her eyes off the bride. When the bride arrived at the church porch, the grandmother turned, still beaming, gathered her grandchildren and went on her way.
It showed me how important these events are to the people her. Strangers stop to celebrate with the happy couple. The wedding begins in the street with much fanfare and excitement. The shop owners and bicycle-taxi drivers stop to watch, suspending business for a while. Children come from everywhere!
Yes, still dancing. . .
You guessed it, STILL dancing. I have to say I feel so "white" as I watch them. All the people have such great rhythm. Even the babies seem to dance in their mother's arms. I can not even sway to the music right!
I timed the "bride dance" out of curiosity - this is not my first wedding here.
As if there had not been enough music, EVERYONE danced again, for about 20 minutes this time!
This is one of the ushers. She carries the stick because she shoos out the children when they gather in too close. She dances up and down the aisle as she taps the unsuspecting children on the head. She takes her job very seriously.
We had to leave right as Moses was beginning the actually sermon/marriage talk. After they finished Busia, the wedding party was going to take the reception to Lake Victoria where the bride is from. The groom is from around Busia but pastors a church at Lake Victoria.
It is 6:15 in the evening as I write this and I have no doubt the party is still going on. Singing, dancing - general happiness!
Outside, I noticed this sign.
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