Lebola

this weekend, there were several celebrations in the village. this
usually means no sleep for me, which rang true again this time.
celebrations here are huge. they celebrate weddings which actually
consists of 3 different parties (engagement, paying for the bride
'paying lebola,' and the western white wedding), graduation from
initiation school, passing the high school final exam, funerals, and
tomb stone unveilings. for each celebration, an animal is slaughtered
(usually a cow but sometimes a goat or chicken if it's a small
celebration). the day and night before the party, women will gather
and cook the huge feast. a tent is usually set up for shade and
speakers are brought in. they play their music so loud all night long,
i don't know how any of them have any hearing left. this weekend i
attended only 1 celebration, a lebola party. the man or his family
pays the woman's family for her to be his wife. after this, they are
considered married and can live together although i don't believe the
law recognizes this as married.
i spent most of the afternoon at the party trying to stay out of the
hot sun. at this celebration, the children danced. i took some video
that i hope i can post sometime when i go to town. then every body
ate, men were served from 1 table, women from another. so much food
-meat, rice, pap, potatoe salad, beet root, cabbage, pumpkin,
biscuits, soda, jello, custard. then more dancing. i finally left with
a pounding headache from the noise. overall, an enjoyable way to spend
a saturday.