An African Wedding: Part 2

If you missed the first part, click here to read Part One

Themba and Keke’s Botswana wedding continues…

After leaving the lobola ceremony, Petra and I hurried back to our lodgings to change into our wedding clothes. By now it was mid morning and the sultry mid-summer Botswana heat was beginning to intensify. Beads of sweat were gathering and it was a relief to shed our head scarves and shawls, which had been a necessary part of the earlier ceremony. We gathered our belongings and joined the rest of the convoy that was traveling to the wedding venue. My head was spinning from a cocktail of emotions… the euphoria of what we had just experienced, the anticipation of what was to come, the thrill of driving through countryside that I hadn’t seen in nearly 40 years, and the joy of sharing this experience with a long time friend, a kindred soul who I see so very rarely. It was so good to be on holiday and so good to feel alive!

After about an hour, we pulled off the main road and through the gates of the Bahurutshe Cultural Lodge and were shown to the chalet where we had been booked in for the night.

The entrance to the Bahurutshe Cultural Lodge, the main wedding venue

We off loaded our bags and walked down a narrow bush path to the Kgotla, the courtyard where the wedding was due to take place. People were beginning to gather and some, who had not attended the lobola ceremony, had been there for a while, waiting patiently for the wedding party to arrive. It was sweltering hot, and unlike Petra who was accustomed to the temperatures of Namibia and Limpopo, I found myself ducking for cover in the shade of the ochre coloured huts. Even in the shade, there was little relief from the hot and humid conditions, so we drank copious quantities of water to compensate.

Not long after we had settled ourselves, Themba and his entourage arrived and I made the most of the opportunity to get some photographs.

Themba and his men relaxing before the wedding

Themba

Khanyi and her sons, Mlu and Themba

Mlu, Themba’s brother

Zola

Sibusiso

Ace

Masi

Walter

Themba with his brother Mlu and friend, Masi

With the photo shoot complete, I returned to the venue just as the bride’s car pulled in. Behind me, Themba and his warriors were starting to move down the hill, their deep base voices filling the air with Zulu song… a thrilling sound that got the crowds instantly onto their feet. They moved into the courtyard,where they put on a stirring display of Zulu dance.

Themba awaits his bride with a rousing display of Zulu dance and song

The groomsmen and bridesmaids arrive. From the back: Gabaza and Mlu and Fatima and Masi

Keke arrives with her uncle Emmanuel Mekgwe

Click on the images below to watch the events unfold:

Themba goes to greet his bride, accompanied by Uncle Ngomane

Themba approaches Keke

After the blessing, Mr and Mrs Mchunu

A happy moment for Themba and Keke

Well wishers greet the happy couple

After several very moving speeches, the dancing begins

Kabo (centre), Keke’s sister, was the super efficient organizer of the wedding

Themba and Keke put on a performance for the crowd

Keke and Themba

A family photo

A proud moment for Keke’s mother Janet

Vusi Mtsheni and Themba’s sister Sthembile.

The beautiful Sthembile

Vusi and Themba’s sister Mpume (right)

Alex Middlebrooke (left) who acted with Themba in ‘Master Harold and the Boys’, and Vusi

Happy celebrations. Pauline and Katlego enjoying the atmosphere

Kabo and Pearl

Mpume and me

Presents and celebration

The outfits were spectacular, reflecting the multi cultural occasion

Petra, Khanyi (Themba’s mum) and me

Themba’s aunt, Malumekazi Nkabinde

Mma Motseolapile cuddles her grandchild

Me drinking some refreshing traditional beer.

The traditional drinking hut

Petra and Mmankudu, the owner of the Bahurutshe Cultural Lodge, enjoy some traditional beer

Soaking up the atmosphere

At intervals throughout the wedding there were wonderful displays of traditional dancing

A beautiful young dancer entertains the crowd

A vibrant display of dance by talented performers

The ankle rattles

Themba joins in the fun

Members of the Mmankodi Village put on a display of drumming, song and dance

A contemporary wedding jive

Kat, the MC for the occasion gets into her groove

Getting into the swing of it

…and the next generation showed that they can do it just as well

Whilst we were all eating and dancing, Themba and Keke had slipped away to change their outfits in preparation for the next stage of the wedding. A little while later, our festivities were interrupted by the sound of men singing, and through the gates came Themba and his group, dressed once more in traditional Zulu regalia. Themba put on a fine performance of Zulu dancing, singing and swaggering as he displayed his virile manhood.

Then a car pulled in alongside the huts and quietly, serenely, out stepped a breathtakingly beautiful Keke. The crowd, who had been cheering Themba on, suddenly went hushed, and immediately looked to see how Themba would respond. Keke had change out of her traditional Tswana bridal clothes, and was now proudly resplendent in the Zulu garments that she had been given by Themba’s family. She looked stunning, beautifully made up, with a proud and regal bearing. Themba did a double take when he saw her and for the first time all day, he looked at a loss for words. The expression on his face was priceless!

Members of Themba’s family swung in to give him support, and both his sister and mother entered the arena to dance. Then Keke stepped forward and showed them that she too knew how to dance a Zulu dance, supported by the cheers of an enthusiastic crowd. The play between the family members was wonderful to watch, the air electric with the subtle shift in the dynamic as Keke made Themba work hard to impress her, before proudly taking her place as his wife.

Themba anounces his arrival

…with a clear indication that he’s come to claim his Zulu bride

Putting on a fine display of dancing

…but is stopped in his tracks when he sees his beautiful bride

Themba goes to greet Keke

Who steps out and shows she can dance like a Zulu

Dancing with Themba’s mum, Khanyi

Sthembile steps in to show how it’s done

…but nothing can intimidate Keke

Themba is impressed

…and Keke knows it

…so she plays a little harder to get

But he has the right ingredients to win her over

…and her smile says it all

The happy couple, Mr and Mrs Mchunu

The proud Mrs. Mchunu watches as her man goes out to defend her

And just to make sure that everyone knows that this is his wife…

Themba asserts his manhood

It was a monumental performance, made all the more exciting because of the love between the principal players. Everyone could feel the chemistry between them, which had a ripple effect for the rest of the evening, with so much love and goodwill between everyone who was there. It was the most remarkable aspect of the wedding, the warmth, the joy and love that permeated the air. No one wanted to go home, and as we were heading towards midnight, most of the guests were still there, dancing under the starlit sky, despite the fact that many of us had had little sleep. It was one of those occasions that I couldn’t drag myself away from, wanting to hold it in my heart forever.

A hug from my friend Themba

However, common sense finally prevailed, and before the midnight hour, we made our way up the dark pathway to our chalet and finally went to bed. As I lay in the darkness, I had a sense that I had just witnessed and experienced one of the most unique and beautiful weddings that I am ever likely to be a part of.

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