Back to my roots...

A cousin of mine is getting married in the next month or so and she had her bridal shower this past weekend.My cousins and I were invited and this was actually my first time attending a full blown traditional bridal shower as an adult.
It was pretty cool getting a window into my own culture.Made me realise how bourgeois my generation has become.
She's marrying an american man so they're holding the wedding ceremonies here because after they get married she's leaving to stay with him in Chicago.
The attendees were mainly Zambian,Malawian and Zimbabwean women. It seems these 3 countries travel in packs.
The bride was confined to her room for about 3 hours with her advisors?(usually two of her eldest aunts or any prominent women within her circle)who were advising her on married life and teaching her how to dance....yes we get down like that!lol!And by dance I mean how to move her waist, a.k.a grind,wine,shake it fast etc.Those ladies are serious about their craft!
After we'd eaten lunch, the bride was covered in a cloth and escorted in by her advisors and sat in the center of all the women then unveiled as a "woman".First they prayed for her then they had the gift presenting ceremony and lastly she had to entertain us with the dance she'd been taught which is the best part.
During the gift presenting ceremony, what happens is everyone who bought a gift (usually kitchen ware) has to present it and tell the bride and her advisors what she is supposed to do with the gift.After they explain,they have to tie a sarong around their waist and do the grinding dance,after all most are married and have been through the same process.However the unmarried women still attempted it anyway.Some women were hilarious,others opted to pay a small fine instead and one particular Zambian woman showed us some things.... She had us all in shock and awe of her dancing skills and she seemed to love the attention cz she danced for quite a while.
After all that it was time for the bride to take the stage.She had changed into a half top and matching sarong and had some beads around her neck.Her dance was really sexy and quite vulgar too cz at some point she got onto her hands and knees....hectic.
After her dance the drinks began to flow and the barbeque began.It was quite fun dancing to our local music and we even managed to start a conga line at some point.
What I loved the most about the whole shindig was this idea of women teaching and guiding one another into married life. Her mother hardly played a part in the whole affair,most of it was being run by the other women.I think that's the beautiful part,that you're being "raised" by everyone and not just your mother.It is the duty of every woman in your circle to make sure you become the type of woman you are expected to be and that you learn from the lessons they've learnt in life. I suppose this doesn't work so well anymore given that since alot of families travel nowadays and traditions are different depending on where you live but I just love the concept.
Reminds me of the saying: It takes a village to raise a child.
Kinda sad that majority of my generation are losing the good parts of their culture.Was definately a fun experience.