Wedding - Day One and Two

Wedding Day One – the Bride’s home

The invitation said ’10.00’. The Bishop and I arrived in Kimberley at 9.50 to find the church in the township shut. At 9.55 the church was opened: 10 45 the Groom and Best Man appeared, and at 11.00 the revving of motor bikes and the blaring of car horns heralded the arrival of the Bride, Best Woman and Bridesmaids. At last we were underway!

Many parts of the service were very familiar – and some not! The bride entered to the singing and dancing of the family and friends, all hymns were ad hoc and the exit of bride and groom were equally informal. The Bishop’s short sermon was over half an hour – “I do get carried away” was his comment. The rings were presented on a cushion, along with 2 gold watches. When the time came for the groom to kiss the bride, she was very coy and he very eager! The whole thing was in the context of a Eucharist and at the time for the Peace a man appeared in tribal dress and addressed the bride and groom. He is the keeper of family history, and used words of Scripture and hymns to encourage them.

 

I was interested in the register forms. Every copy had to have a photo of the bride and the groom, and just for belt and braces, a left hand thumb print! Wet wipes to the fore!

After the service there was a procession of cars to the bride’s family home – horns blaring and drivers weaving their way back and forth across the whole width of the road. At the house an elder of the bride’s family led a procession on foot around and into the house.

 

Then it was time for photos and another hair-raising ride to the Big Hole, the largest man made hole on earth, a consequence of diamond mining, with lots of tourist exhibits all around. Photos over, it was off to the reception, which began with a whole series of speeches, and I was expected to make one. At the end the bride threw some flowers for any single lady to catch, and then the groom removed the bride’s garter and threw that for the single men to catch. There were cheers when a rather short man caught it, having been lifted aloft by his friends. He then proceeded to wear it round his head for the rest of the evening! About 5pm the bridal party went off to change into traditional dress for the evening and the rest of us at last had something to eat! The partying went on late, but we left about 5.30 and got home around 9pm.

 

Day Two – the Groom’s home

The invitation said 11.00, and I had to find my way to the house in Tshing (pronounced Ching), the township of Ventersdorp, a daunting prospect. A white woman, on her own, driving around the streets obviously not knowing where she is going, brings many suspicious stares. When I asked for directions to the address I was met with blank faces, but mention ‘the wedding’ and people knew where it was. The bride and groom eventually turned up at 1pm. They danced their way down the street and the bride was welcomed by female members brushing the road in front of them and a man wielding an axe. According to +Steve, it‘s their equivalent of throwing confetti!

They hadn’t been there long when we all set off for a different house so that they could change into their traditional dress and then go to a beauty spot for photos. By 3pm we had returned to the Rapakeng home for the speeches and eventually the meal. It seemed that many of the township people had turned out, all expecting to be fed. Indeed many of them were eating while we were still listening to the speeches!

I came away feeling grateful for the very warm welcome I had received on both days. I was the only white person there on either day, but introducing myself as the woman Isaac calls his ‘mother from the north’ brought looks of recognition. It was good to assist +Steve at the Eucharist by reading the Gospel and administering the chalice. What a privilege to have been invited.