Our Wedding Reception - Chagga Style

Trip Start Feb 09, 2006
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Trip End Mar 01, 2006


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Flag of Tanzania  ,
Saturday, February 11, 2006

Today Julius' family surprised us with a wedding reception at Msasani club. They wanted to completely surprise us but luckily they told us last night. Thank God, I had nothing to wear. During the afternoon I went shopping at a new market in Ilala district. A fashion lovers dream come true - over 100 stalls all selling fabric and African dresses. I was the only white person there (Ilala is a little bit ghetto and not a neighborhood tourists would be coming to). I should write lonely planet about it, though, because it is an incredible place to buy fabric - cheap and good selection.

The party was fantastic. Most of the Tembas were there and it had all the rituals of a regular wedding reception - the introductions, the toasts (where the bride and groom have to toast everyone there), the dances, etc.

Most importantly I was given what my dear mother denied me - a real Chagga wedding cake.

The chagga tribe has a cake which is actually a roasted goat with its head still attached and leaves sticking out of its mouth. They have also started decorating the outside with carrots and cucumbers. It is a sight to behold. I was delighted. Julius cut pieces (we wish we had Patrick's carving set, the knife was dull) and I fed everyone a piece while music played and everyone clapped. At the end of the night we danced to Swahili music for a few hours then piled in the car to go home and sleep (with the frozen water bottle).
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