Last weekend I went with Loisse, Joseph's older sister who is currently staying with me, to their great uncle's fiftieth wedding anniversary. It was an all day event including some 500 or so people. His sekuru (what they call this relationship in Shona) is both a community and church leader, has extensive family and is just generally known for throwing big parties. So if people hear about a celebration, they're there. Above is a video of some of the dancing. Besides this twirling, swirling fun by the women, the men would, often at times I wouldn't expect it, do some leaping. I've had very limited experience with dancing, but it seems like the sort of dancing that would really be exhilerating.
After extensive ceremony which was intertwined with this sort of dancing and leaping, came the eating part. For the honored guests there were tables of rice and sadza (cornmeal mush), salads, meat, shrimp, fish, cakes, and soda. For the masses there was a cow killed and at least three oil drums of sadza. I ended up leaving without eating because the sun was setting and I had to leave the next day for a trip mentioned in a below blog. I'd been helping with serving, and well, 500 people are a lot of people to serve. It was okay though because it was just a day, and as I sat in the back of the truck driving down the mountain towards the road where we could get a bus, I thought of an American wedding anniversary celebration. Pastel party mints, sheet cakes, and at least in Mennonite circles, no dancing.
Later while talking to Joseph on the phone, he asked me "Any culture shock?" I said no, not this time...well maybe a little when people were choking the truck where the oil drums of sadza and beef were, but I didn't stay there long. I wonder if I''ll ask him that question some day after an American wedding anniversary.
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