An African Introduction"Kwanjula"

Introduction Ceremony “Kwanjula” in Luganda basically means to introduce. It is a day when the bride to be introduces her future husband (and his people who escort him) to her parents and relatives. I have attended many introduction ceremonies but the Baganda Kwanjula is a more elaborate and engaging ceremony that what you have to do right keeps you on your toes until the last minute of the ceremony, or you may miss being given the lady of your life.At the beginning, you have to go and see one of the ladys aunties, the one she has chosen to act as Ssenga the official aunt. The Ssenga is very central to the Kiganda marriage ceremony and is a respected role that many ageing Baganda women yearn to perform. You are required to write a letter to the ladys family, the bazeyi or elders.

The letter has to be in flawless Luganda and has to be written through the Ssenga or aunt who thenceforth becomes the official go between the two parties. The letter is then taken to the Ssenga with a little money for transport of course to take it to the Bakulu Bano (fellow respected elders).In the letter, the man is asking to be allowed to get born in his inlaws family by going there to ask for their daughters hand in marriage.The Bakulu then accept in writing that you can go on a specified date (and get born into their family) They also gave you the maximum number of people you should take which is most times not more than 50 people. The father inlaw will also ask for his Mutwalo, what could be taken as bride price.

Here in Uganda, a man to marry a woman he has to pay the bride wealth to the parents of the girl. This ceremony is called the "INTRODUCTION CELEMONY" where a girl introduces her husband to her parents. It's like an engagement party, where the groom officially asks the parents if he can marry their daughter. They insert this from the Bible where Isaac gave gifts to Rebecca’s parents. Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. Here is Rebecca; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has directed." When Abraham's servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.

Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebecca; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother. Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, he said, "Send me on my way to my master."Gen 24:50-54 Even Jacob paid a price for Leah Rachel to Laban. Why did Jacob have to work for Laban? In those times men gave a gift to the father of the woman they married. Jacob had no money, but he loved Rachael so much he was willing to work for seven years for her. Gen 29:15-30

This originates from the bible, they insert that even Isaac had to pay bride wealth before marrying Rebecca in the Bible. This is why whites say that in African culture women are just bought because every man has to pay bride wealth first to the parents of the girl before they are wedded in the Church. After the Introduction, the Girl has to remain at her parent’s home or where she has been living before going to live with her husband to be, until they are officially wedded in the Church. She does not have to go straight for marriage before the wedding.

The mutwalo is accompanied with some items that you will need to take along for example: fruits and vegetables except egg plants (Ntula and Biringanya) and a few others, which if taken would be considered as cultural taboo that may lead to the man being fined or denied the bride altogether. There has to be bread, sugar, salt, soap, paraffin, cooking oil, curry powder, and a host of related items. You are required to buy certificates from Buganda kingdom to show that you respect and support the cultural monarchy, one of the four certificates being the marriage certificate. The Kanzus for the Father in-laws and brother inlaws, Gomesis for mother inlaws and Ssengas (Kanzu and Gomesi are cultural dresses for males and females respectively). These are a must. You have to prepare money for the envelopes for the father inlaw, mother inlaw, Ssengas, brother inlaws (with a special one and a cock for the official brother inlaw).

The traditional marriage ceremony in Buganda may have changed over the years, but it still remains a battle of wits and cultural tongue twisting between representatives of the two sides who engage each other in a question and answer challenge or in knowing, mentioning and following century old norms and traditions. Both families are required to have a spokesman to speak for them. The spokesman takes the role of the final emissary on the day of introduction and he has to pull a lot of antics learned from tradition and experience to engage or answer challenges from the other sides spokesman. It is the battle (friendly and of words) between the two that makes the Kwanjula and the whole ceremony memorable and unique from any other ceremony.The spokesman takes the role of the final emissary on the day of introduction and he has to pull a lot of antics learned from tradition and experience to engage or answer challenges from the spokesman of the other side. It is the battle (friendly and of words) between the two that makes the Kwanjula and the whole ceremony memorable and unique from any other ceremony. The spokesman will range between 250,000 to 300,000 but the price is negotiable.

The dressing is also another crucial aspect on this day. The men are supposed to wear coats and kanzus while the women will need to put on gomesi preferably but this also depends on what culture the intended son in law comes from. The greetings then begin starting with the girls of the house who also welcome the visitors followed by the boys and then the sengas. Since the senga is the most important person on this day next to the bride to be, she actually runs the whole function from introducing the guests to choosing the bridegroom. When the bridegroom is chosen, the mugole can then come out of the house and greet her visitors most especially the bridegroom. This is the beginning of a new family to the bridegroom since he has been inaugurated or allowed into his mugoles family.

The rest of the ceremony is as interesting as the gifts (which are left outside) are brought and allocated to the different beneficiaries and the hosts lay their demands and wishes on the new family. Once the gifts are brought, the hosts spokesman asks the bride and Ssenga (Ebintu Tubirye?) whether they should accept the gifts. When they accept, the part of the rings follows were the bridegroom puts a ring on the brides finger this in kwanjula denotes marriage, and then the cutting of the cake follows and that brings us to the end of a memorable day.

When the Introduction is done, the man and the woman organize their wedding in the Church. This is when the two people are wedded in the Church as they give their vows saying “I do” The pastors and the elders of the Church usually instruct the bridegroom and the Bride not to separate apart but to live together until death as you have ever heard on the wedding ceremony. I welcome your comments and am also ready to answer any question you may want to ask regarding our African Introduction ceremony.