Stop dancing dirty at weddings — Mayiga

People who want to embrace kwanjula (introduction) should not replace their culture with western values in order to fight the increasing moral decay, the Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, has advised.

“Some Ugandan elites have been brainwashed to believe that everything, including their culture, names, and behaviours are inferior to those of the western world, which has affected our moral fibre.

“It is shameful to find an elite adult Ugandan in-law (omuko) and his entourage dressed in tight suits dancing in the presence of the parents of the bride. Also, the ssenga (aunt) whose role is to talk to her brother asking for permission to allow the marriage to take place, have been witnessed dancing crazy styles branded paka chini!” Mayiga said.

He said this during the 28th Buganda Lukiiko (parliament) chaired by the deputy speaker, Ahmed Lwasa, at Bulange Mengo in Kampala.

“To make it worse, they dance to crazy songs like Tumbiiza sound. Such songs are eroding our culture,” Mayiga said.

He said some people have imported the Nigerian culture of throwing currency notes to the parents of the bride, saying this lowers the integrity of the parents, which is against Buganda culture.

“Also, I caution the parents to set conditions to be followed by the in-laws, which include respecting, observing the Ganda culture and norms and the dress code.”

An introduction, known as kwanjula in Buganda, is a common traditional marriage ceremony that a couple is expected to go through before a church wedding.

During the kwanjula, the groom-to-be pays the bride price and any other traditional requirements made by the fiancée’s parents or relatives.

Mayiga said today, the extravagance during introduction ceremonies is common, with the groom turning up with truckloads of foodstuffs, many animals such as cattle, sometimes a land title, furniture, water tanks, fridges, carpets, and vehicles, which, he said, is far from what the Buganda tradition requires of an introduction ceremony.

What is required?

The Katikkiro said the kingdom wants people to do away with pompous introduction functions that sway away from the Ganda culture and most importantly, scare the youth away from marriage.

He said the kingdom introduced a hoe and two seedlings such as that of a mango tree to be planted in the compound of the bride’s parents. Others are the presentation of two official portraits of the Kabaka and Nnabagereka of Buganda and also a map of the kingdom.

Mayiga explained that the groom is required to buy two certificates for Buganda kingdom from a company called Majestic Brands located in Bulange, Mengo — one for the groom and the other to be presented to the bride’s father on the kwanjula day.

Local brew

Mayiga explained that the groom’s family has to carry three calabashes of local brew. The first called ekiggula luggi (door opener), so that the groom’s entourage is welcomed to the venue.

The second one is called ekita eky’enjogeza (opens up the discussion) that soothes the throats of the future in-laws for the negotiations.

Mayiga said the last one is ekita ekiwasa omukazi (the one that releases the bride to be married).

This bride’s calabash also accompanies omutwalo (bride price), which is key for the bride’s family to accept the groom to take her home as a wife.

Secrecy needed

Mayiga said traditional marriage was done secretly, involving a few in-laws. First, the in-laws visited the aunt of the bride and made their intentions known. They would write two letters; one to the father of the bride, which the ssenga would take to her brother asking for permission to allow the marriage to take place. The other letter would be given to the brother of the bride.

“Indigenously, we do not sell our daughters. Instead, the in-laws are supposed to bring gifts. The gifts may include a pot of local brew, two kanzus (tunic). But earlier, it was bark cloth for the father and the brother of the bride, three bark cloths for the mother, ssenga and the bride.”

A basket of meat, sugar, local brew and omutwalo (anything that the groom thinks is a good gift for the bride’s parents).

Before taking the bride, the groom and his family would bring paraffin, a lamp and a matchbox.

These were usually brought in the morning on the wedding day (kasuzze katya).

During the wedding, the brother of the bride would be given a cock before handing over the bride.