The Dikupa Wedding

I went to my first Batswana wedding! Weddings are a huge joyful celebration with lots of eating and dancing. There are always two parts: one party in the girl’s home village and one in the guy’s home village. Anyone in the community can come—it doesn’t matter if you are invited or if you actually know the bride or groom. We had never even seen the bride or the groom before we attended their wedding! This was the second half in the groom’s home village.

Because this was a Christian wedding, there was first a ceremony that took place at a church. The bride and groom and the rest of the wedding party sat in the front while the pastor gave a message. Afterwards, he showed the marriage certificate and the couple kissed. Then the congregation danced and processed in a line to greet the couple as everyone sang traditional Setswana praise songs. Next the wedding party danced out of the church together. The bride wore a wedding dress and was attended by bridesmaids who worn fancy dressed made out of the same color fabric. In this way, it was similar to an American wedding. The groom and his groomsmen also wore tuxedos.

After the ceremony, everyone loaded up in cars and drive to a scenic spot. Everyone sang and danced while a photographer took pictures of the bride and groom and wedding party. Then we all drove to the groom’s house for the reception.

The family and friends of the bride and groom had been working all day to prepare a huge meal for everyone. Large tents were set up in the compound to accommodate the people. We sat and fellowshipped all afternoon and waited to be served. We were given a ridiculous amount of food: rice or samp (a kind of soft porridge with beans) with a tomato and onion sauce, chicken, seswaa (shredded beef), beets, slaw, potato salad, apple salad, and pudding with cake. I love traditional Batswana food (minus the beets)!

The wedding was beautiful and a neat experience even though we didn’t know anyone there!

One horribly funny story: In the middle of the meal Crystal says “Ouch! What just hit me?” She looks down and the wedding cake (which had been precariously balanced on a cake stand) has fallen off the table and rolled and hit Crystal in the leg! Someone quickly picks it up, brushes it off and sets it back on the table.