It was a day of cheer and joy at the Karen residence
of reclusive billionaire businessman David Langat as he officially handed over
his daughter, Natalie, to his soon to be son in law Derick Onyancha. The
traditional wedding ceremony that is referred to as ‘Koito’ among the Kalenjin
community was graced by key state dignitaries with Deputy President Ruto and
his wife Mama Rachel Ruto among those in-attendance.
The bride made her grand entry escorted by Mrs Ruto
and followed by a group of bridesmaids all dressed in red save for Mama Rachel
who donned an elegant baby pink dress.
A radiant Natalie looked stunning in a red one-off
shoulder dress as she was received on the podium by her bridesmaids who had
changed to maroon dresses. Guests at the invite only white and maroon blend
themed wedding where treated to a seven-course meal.
Tradition is all about
practices that extend through generations. It provides us with a source of
identity by telling the story of where we came from and reminds us of what
shaped our lives. Its importance in the modern world is not forgotten,
especially among African communities where certain customs and symbolic
practices must be done to complete certain rites.
In many African communities,
its not only about the glamour of a white wedding, or the marvelous wedding
gown and attires donned, though important, but also about the blessing of the
marriage from the ancestors and completion of the marriage rites.
A perfect depiction of this
was seen through Kenya’s Youth and Gender Chief Administrative Secretary Rachel
Shebesh traditional wedding to her long time husband Frank Shebesh. The
ceremony dubbed as ‘Ngurario’ is one
of the most important events among the Agikuyu customary wedding rites. It
celebrates the completion of dowry payments to make her an upstanding woman in
the society. Unlike the glorious cakes displayed at modern weddings, this event
involves the symbolic practice (‘Gutinia
Kiande’) of the bride cutting a piece of meat of a lamb’s shoulder.
The long serving politician
remarked that she was fully married in the Abaluhya community but her husband
acknowledges her Agikuyu background hence the holding of the ceremony.
“I
have been married for 24 years, I have children and grandchildren, and I am 100
per cent married in the Abaluhya community, but my husband appreciates my
background and appreciates my family, that is why we are holding this event”
she said.
Among the Agikuyu tradition, it is stipulated that after
completion of the marriage rites, she is then able to accept dowry from her
daughter’s suitors. She then proceeded to serve him porridge symbolizing her
duties as his wife.
During the ceremony, the moderator explained the different parts of the slaughtered goat as symbols of the different parts of their union to the witnesses, as a crucial part of the ceremony.
Popular
Akorino model Peris Wanjiku AKA Pesh officially tied the knot in a colorful
white wedding. The beauty of the ceremony was there for all to see as a blend
of elegance, glamour and tradition brought out its vibrancy.
Akorino
is a word that arises from the term Mukurino among the Agikuyu community of
Central Kenya, which means deliverer. They are a religious based group and are
known for their trademark white head wraps.
Pesh
rose to the limelight in the modeling industry by refusing to remove her head
wrap. Her boldness to stay true to her culture became an inspiration to many.
Not much was known about her fiancé, Dan Magenda until she walked down the aisle. The beauty Queen had been keeping her life private and said Yes when her fiancé proposed. The news of the wedding came as a shock to her fans that thought she was single and took to social media to congratulate their union after she posted the pictures to the stunning wedding. “We started out as friends then after a few years, he told me that he had developed romantic feelings for me and asked me to be his girlfriend. I am so happy because he has been very supportive to me, especially my modeling career,” she stated.
Once in a while,
right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale and this
time it was on celebrated Gospel artist Gloria Muliro as she tied the knot with
her sweetheart Evans Sabwami in New York. The intimate ceremony came a few
after her traditional wedding in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
The two lovebirds
exchanged their vows in front of close family and friends in a private ceremony
graced by some of the biggest names in the Kenyan gospel industry. As the
excited bride, Ms. Muliro wrote on her social media; “finally, finally…my autumn wedding in New York.”
Our first glimpse of
the groom came on February 14th, 2021 during the Valentine’s Day
celebration through her social media. She described him as “the most important
man in my life” and further termed him as the reason she was celebrating the
day.
