Rumba and my first "Ruracio"

The weekend started with the surprise birthday celebration of a co-worker, followed by an evening of attempting to learn rumba dance at a club in city center.

Mary, an employee at OSIEA, celebrating her birthday. She was surprised!

Myself and several co-workers of OSIEA, Human Rights Watch, and ICTJ

Co-workers Justin and Adam enjoying rumba dancing!

Me, James, and Lena taking a break from dancing.

On Saturday, I had a unique opportunity to attend a ruracio - a traditional Kikuyu (ethnic group) engagement ceremony. The event "started" at 11 am, when we were supposed to meet the groom-to-be's side at the entrance of Kangemi, a suburb of Nairobi. In true "Kenyan" fashion, James met me in town at nearly noon and then we caught a bus to meet the rest of the crowd (we were among the first to arrive). After hanging around and having a "Swahili lesson" for another hour, more of the groom-to-be's family and friends arrived. We all had to contribute money for the bride's dowry, which the spokesperson and a few family members would have to negotiate with the bride's family. The family then bought sodas and several other gifts for the brides family, before we were able to head to her place at 3:30 pm - only 4 1/2 hours late!

Me trying to peek at the counting of the money!

The men of the groom's family discussing who the spokesperson would be.

James and I waiting. 

James and the groom-to-be. He was VERY nervous about the day's event, since the families have to agree on the dowry before the engagement is official.

Finally, around 4 pm, we headed to the bride's house. The women from the groom-to-be's village started singing and dancing until the bride-to-be's family opened the gate and invited us in. 

(video coming soon!)

After the procession, we were invited to enjoy a delicious traditional Kikuyu meal complete with: carrot/pineapple salad, tomato/onion salad, pilau (brown rice with yummy spices), white rice, brown and white chapati, roast goat and chicken (the goat was amazing!!), fried (boiled) goat and chicken, beef stew with peas and carrots, mokimo (the green mashed potato dish) and a desert of pineapple and watermelon. 

After the meal, the official ceremony began. The bride-to-be's family and friends were introduced, followed by the groom-to-be's side. A sermon was given by someone from the bride-to-be's party and then there was some music and dancing. After this, the spokespeople and selected family members from both sides went into the house to negotiate the dowry. (I didn't get to see this part, but I'm told it can be a tense process). The rest of us mingled with one another and enjoyed uji, a fermented porridge made from millet flour served at special Kikuyu occassions. 

Me tasting uji. I was a little skeptical at first, but it was pretty good. Similar to the Namibian homemade fermented beer called otjikundu. 

Me smiling after a full stomach!

After what seemed like ages, the families emerged from the house. The women from the groom-to-be's family brought the gifts and sang and danced in celebration of the confirmed engagement. The parents of both the bride- and the groom-to-be then shared words of wisdom - especially as the couple announced they would not be having a church wedding because they're expecting a baby soon! The event ended with pictures and socializing, before I headed back to Nairobi to watch the Ghana/USA match and to have an an eventful evening out!

The groom-to-be's family bearing gifts!

The parents of the bride and groom-to-be praying over them after approving of the engagement.

The bride and groom-to-be.

Me and James and the family with the bride and groom-to-be.