THE TRADITIONAL INTRODUCTION CEREMONY ( KWANJULA ) IN UGANDA





















The preparations for any traditional introduction (an introduction ceremony acts as the traditional/cultural marriage ceremony). Kwanjula basically means to introduce. It is a day when the bride to be introduces her future husband (and his people who escort him) to her parents and relatives.But from the day the ceremony is held, you will like it for the rest of your life because of the cultural and organized displays, as well as the value that many people continue to attach to this ceremony called KwanjulaAt the beginning of Kwanjula, the husband to be has to go and see one of the lady's aunties, the one she has chosen to act as Ssenga - the official aunt. The Ssenga is very central to the Kiganda marriage ceremony and is a respected role that many ageing Baganda women yearn to perform.You are required to write a letter to the lady's family, the bazeyi or elders. The letter has to be in flawless Luganda and has to be written through the Ssenga or aunt who then becomes the official go between the two parties.

THE BURDEN OF KWANJULA














BEFORE every wedding, a couple is expected to go through a traditional marriage ceremony, also called the introduction. It is at such functions that the groom-to-be pays the bride price and any other traditional requirements.  Today, some people argue that traditional marriage ceremonies have become more lavish than necessary. Recently, Buganda Katikkiro John Baptist Walusimbi, decried the lavish nature of traditional marriage ceremonies. “If our forefathers were to resurrect today, they would wonder whether this is an introduction ceremony. Lavishness is not part of our culture,” he said. Walusimbi said this at the introduction ceremony of East African Parliamentary legislator Mukasa Mbidde.Mbidde reportedly spent over sh100m on gifts for his in-laws.Real life story Recently, I attended an introduction ceremony of a Lugbara bride and a Sudanese groom.Unlike other kwanjulas that I have attended where the in-laws are ‘pampered’, at this particular ceremony, it was the opposite. I was part of the entourage of the 26-year-old groom. He was five years younger than the bride. We arrived at the bride’s home at 3:00pm, an hour later than the appointed time and we were fined sh1.5m.

TRADITIONAL MARRIAGES IN UGANDA: ANKOLE STYLE




 


Among the Bahima (section of the Banyankole) girls who were about the age of marriage were forced to feed on milk until they were very heavy. They could barely walk, an Ankole elder once joked during an introduction ceremony. One of the few remaining spectacular cultural things to talk about the Banyankole of South-Western Uganda is their culture-rich marriage ceremony of the once very prestigious lake kingdoms of the present day Great Lakes Region.  Because of influence from other cultures and lack of a cultural institution to ensure continuity of the culture following the abolishment of the Ankole monarchy in 1966 by the then Uganda Prime Minister Apollo Milton Obote, other cultures died out.The traditional marriage has despite this influence survived the test of time. Although a few things could have changed because of religion and modernity, many Banyankole still embrace their traditional marriages because the elders still emphasize and control cultural marriage.Indeed, many people intending to marry usually go for consultations from elders,What are the key spectacular elements of the Ankole marriage.

OKUHINGIRA ( THE GIVE WAY )







Unlike today where the men feel cheated by paying bride price, in the typical Ankole tradition, a groom gains from the marriage.  Actually, the gifts (the emihingiro) that the bride comes with sometimes are more than those paid by the groom as bride price. For example, among the Bahima-Banyankole, the aunties and uncles give cows to the bride during the kuhingira.Younger girls and boys called the enshagarizi then escort the bride to the groom's place after the blessings from the elders. Today, the groom's side has to organise the transport for these people because they are very important for any marriage ceremony in Ankole. Going back is not necessarily the role of the bridegroom.After the kuhingira, the bride's side is still is control though. The bride according to the culture is not supposed to do any work until the cultural initiation. This is done after about ten days from the giveaway day.During this initiation, the bride is made to light fire in the kitchen in the tradition called okukoza omumuriro (helping the bride to start toughing fire).


                                                                                      

         Wedding gown                                                           Exchanging vows


                                                                                                                                 
       Transport                                                               Reception and Decorations

                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                                                      The Cake                                                                 Entertainment

HONEYMOON CULTURES 
 
Honeymoon in Bunyoro culture is called Okwikara mu Rusiika, which translates into ‘staying in bedroom.’ The couple spends seven days in their home showering each other with attention and with the bride feeding on the best foods possibility” says Henry Ford Mirima, the press secretary of Omukama of Bunyoro Kingdom. The bride feeds well so that she looks attractive to her husband.  After seven days, she comes out of the bedroom and goes back to her parents’ home in what is known as Kugarura a’kasale. Her parents prepare gifts for her new home. The gift can be a goat, basket of edibles or anything they feel inclined to give her.  Once the ceremony is preformed, it means the honeymoon has ended and the new wife has to start cooking for her family. On her return there is a lot of drumming and partying as she is accepted in the family.  During the seven days she stays in house, she is taken care of by her in-laws.