Wedding in Naagan

Daniel, a primary school teacher, got married yesterday. As I didn't have normal school a few of us got a lift out to Naagan, his bride Deborah’s village, to see the first part of the celebrations.

 

Traditional village weddings begin early in the morning so we arrived before sunrise. Villagers were not up yet and all was quiet save for a few remaining goats and donkeys (most of the goats  and all of the camels have been taken far away to find land for grazing). We wore our new dresses but were rather cold.

 

We got to watch the sunrise as I sipped coffee from my trusty flask.

 

 

As the sun came up, people began to emerge from their homes. These children were intrigued to find a bunch of white people so far out from Korr town. 

 

Below is the home of the mother of the bride. Deborah was waiting inside, as the bride normally stays inside for most of the celebrations.

 

Milking goats for the morning cuppa whilst waiting for the groom to arrive

 

 

Eventually we heard the chanting and singing of the men as they approached, dressed in their finest warrior outfits and painted in red ochre. They brought with them two sheep; one was taken into the mother-in-law’s min and the other was taken to be slaughtered as a symbol of the marriage agreement. The mother-in-law went over to the best man and groom and took their shoes. They are supposed to go bare foot for four days!

 

 

 

The second sheep was slaughtered and special pieces of fat were presented to the bride’s family inside the min. Daniel, the groom, wears the white sheet and John, one of my colleagues, wears the blue.

 

 

Meanwhile the women arrive in all their finery with the jangle of bells.

 

Here are the happy modern couple…apparently it is unusual for the bride to come out at this stage. Daniel and Deborah are on the left.
 

 

We then left, but the rest of the day and night would be taken up with eating sheep, dancing and singing. The happy couple will build a new house next to the bride’s mother. Traditionally newlyweds live there until the birth of their first child and then move to the husband’s clan village. However, things are different for educated Rendille and many traditional customs are not adhered to strictly. I think Daniel and Deborah will move to Korr there where Daniel already has a house as they work in or near town.