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GIFTS: Guests examine the cattle brought in as bride price |
By Geresom Musamali
Do Americans offer bride price? Some do. That is why the entourage accompanying one trudged through the rugged terrain of Mbale on July 9.
After having eloped and wed in a Johannesburg church 15 years ago, American citizen John Wanda has returned to Uganda, apologised to the parents of his wife, and paid a bull and 11 cows as bride price for her.
Wanda and 20 or so Americans as well as 50 of his Ugandan relatives flocked to the home of former Bupoto Sub-county chief Mzee Charles Butala in Matuwa village in Bupoto, Manafa District, (formerly Mbale District) to apologise and traditionally pay up for Butala’s daughter, Joyce Namakoye.
Wanda, originally a Mugisu from Bumwalukani in Manjiya, Mbale, left to work in South Africa after leaving Makerere in 1988. He eloped with Joyce after she finished her diploma at then Uganda College of Commerce, and they held a Christian wedding in Johannesburg in 1989. They had four children before winning a Green Card lottery to emigrate to the US in 1996. They surrendered Ugandan citizenship and became Americans in 2001.
While Ugandans call for the abolition of bride price, Wanda said, “I am fully supportive of bride price because it is an enduring testament of the vitality of African values.”
Joyce said, “It is not true that bride price demeans the African woman. My husband has fulfilled his obligations and my commitment to the marriage is now even stronger.”
The Americans kept African time, arriving at 3:00pm instead of midday. They found a yellow ribbon tied across the entry to the neighbouring Musamali Memorial Primary School, where the festivities were to take place. One of Joyce’s cousins, Natti Wamembo, was closely keeping guard. Natti asked who they were and why they had come late. Samson Natsambwa, leader of the delegation, pleaded for forgiveness but Natti said they could not be allowed in because the clan was busy. He offered to go and consult his father, David Wamembo, if they provided transport. Natsambwa consulted Wanda’s brother Sam Bwaya who pulled out a yellow envelope to be passed over. Satisfied with the contents of the envelope, Natti rushed to get Wamembo’s permission to allow the strangers in.
They streamed in, finding their hosts in “a clan meeting”.
When the meeting ended, Natsambwa said, “We have come to see a friend in this family.”
“A friend? Okay, let me send for him,” said Wamembo. He sent Natti who soon came back with a very little boy. “Is this the friend you wanted?” he asked.
“No,” said Natsambwa. “There is another one, a girl.”
Another yellow envelope changed hands, and soon there was a group of very small girls paraded in front of the guests. “Is she among these?” Wamembo asked.
Natsambwa dismissed the lot, but not before he had produced more envelops for their transport back.
More yellow envelopes came out, as more “friends” were brought, including a mixed group old woman and beautiful young ladies, until Wamembo asked for a helicopter to go and bring the very last, who is in a far away place. A desperate Natsambwa had to dig again into Bwaya’s pockets to get more envelopes.
Finally there was a set of very beautiful ladies paraded. Natsambwa smiled. Wanda’s sister, Faibe Lubango Mwenyi, was asked to fetch the right one from among them. She picked out Joyce. Ululation broke out.
Then Joyce's cousin, Nakapiripiri deputy CAO Grace Namukhula Watuwa was dispatched by the ladies to go and seek out the right man. She came with a little red flower, which she pinned on the breast of John's jacket. The excitement now reached fever heat.
Selected delegates from the two groups soon withdrew to one of the classrooms of the school to haggle about the price. A piece of paper kept passing from one group to the other as they made suggestions and counter-suggestions. They soon settled for one bull, 11 cows and other items. They came out and examined the cattle, which we learnt was valued at about sh3.7m while the bull was having a party among the heifers, much to the embarrassment of some people. We learnt, too, that Makerere High School deputy headteacher David Butala, Joyce’s brother, would soon pass on the cattle to another lucky family.
And as the mountain rain was threatening over Namisindwa, the guest delivered other gifts to the clan, all of them neatly marked with the American flag. It was getting late too, so the couple hurriedly cut a cake. After that, it was a meal for all.
Washington Post reporter Tara Bahrampour, embedded in the team, said, “On the surface the practice looks outmoded but when you come to think about it more closely it makes sense.”
But Joyce’s father was not very enthusiastic about it. He said his daughters are not for sale and he had resisted the ceremony for a very long time, but that he was overpowered by other considerations.
Ends
Published on: Sunday, 31st July, 2005
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