A Traditional Acholi Engagement Ceremony

The Bride in her Tradition Gomez dress

Saturday night (Feb 20th) was an exciting night for me!  I got to witness a traditional Acholi engagement ceremony.  Things are done differently here in Acholi land than the US.  This couple has been together already for several years and have two children.  They are finally ready to make their union official.  A few years down the road, this couple will have a marriage ceremony and another big celebration for the whole village. On a side note, an Acholi man can and many do have several wives and many children with those wives. Lucky's (Kayla's friend) dad has 5 wives!

Gulu Rotarian President Grace Amono and her sister

The groom at this wedding paid the bride's family 15 head of cattle, 1 box of soap, jeri can of perfume, 9,000,000UGX ($4500), a beautiful gomez (dress with belt) for mother in law, a suit for his father in law, a goat for the auntie and another goat for the uncle.  When a family has a lot of daughters get married, they can become wealthy!  Sons, of course, need lots of money to pay for a good bride.  I wonder what my price would be to wed in an Acholi ceremony.

The good food we ate

There was lots of great music, dancing and laughing.  The food was all traditional; sesame seeds ground up and boiled, greens mixed with eggs, beef, potatoes, millet, beans, etc.  We eat it all with our hands; at the orphanage too, we eat with our hands.  I have to remember to eat with my right hand although I am left handed.  Eating with the left hand is not polite here. The bride was so beautiful and happy.  A huge rain storm ended the celebration earlier than expected, but a great time was had by all.