Malawi Memoirs
Here is Part II of Chuen-Yen's recent experience at a Malawi wedding:
Individual invitations with matching envelopes, as opposed to the customary publicly posted group announcements, foreshadowed that Linda's wedding would be an extravagant affair. As the bride and groom are both well-bred doctors, their guest list was pullulating with Blantyre's upper crust. An English language ceremony further emphasized their families' status. Nonetheless, the program was traditional and performed accordingly in slow Malawi time.
I made the gaffe of arriving to the officiation only forty minutes late. Thus I obligatorily endured an hour of dissonant solo guitarist entertainment. When the service finally started, each party danced into position and then continued swaying in place. Males entered stoically from the front, females jovially through the main doors. A rhythmic rendition of "Here Comes the Bride" beckoned Linda down the aisle. Stories were recounted, vows were read and the bridesmaids and groomsmen crooned several cacophonous numbers. In conclusion, all scurried out to a brisk jig. The betrothed never kissed.
Subsequently, the congregation feigned proceeding to the reception. Having learnt a valuable lesson from the nuptials, I went home for two hours, which I suspect is typical, and arrived as the couple entered the Trade Fair's expansive Comesa Hall. Outside the venue, disheveled vendors peddled candies, peanuts and charred ears of corn. Inside, about six hundred people seated themselves in rows of white plastic patio chairs. The floor was covered with a paint-splattered navy blue tarp. A starburst of gold and cream ribbons radiated overhead. Five tiers of impeccable pastry glistened under an arch of color theme balloons. As Linda and Tilende danced up to the vinaceous matrimonial couch on stage, the rest of the wedding party assembled themselves on adjacent lawn furniture.
Once the couple was positioned, paroxysms of pelekani-pelikani (fund raising) began. Different overlapping groups were summoned to present gifts and shower the newlyweds with cash every few minutes. I sashayed awkwardly to the front of the room with general guests, Linda's friends, Tilende's friends, BAH staff, doctors and White people. Totals for each faction, as well as individual contributions, were announced with bravado. All the while a deafening band screamed relentlessly in the background.
In keeping with the classiness of the occasion, guests were allocated two sodas instead of the usual one and boxed snacks, consisting of a greasy samosa, two bony chicken fragments and a bite sized muffin, included a napkin. After the meal, pieces of cake were auctioned to hungry guests. Overall, it was a very rich experience.
posted by Dr. Alice at #
