Sitting under the trees with Julius [on a stool] and the women surrounding us, we had a great discussion about their talents as beaders and sense of colour.
While we were chatting [with Julius as translator] once of my friends answered her mobile [yes, we all have one in the Mara] with a 'Karibou' - 'welcome'. A new bride was arriving with a welcoming party and suddenly I was involved in a Maasai wedding! I was bedecked with beads and was immediately drawn into the women's welcoming party. The bride, surrounded by her greeters and the rest of the women in the village walked as slowly as she dared, eyed down and looking very solum. Each time she stopped the women called out 'we will give you a cow' and a step forward was taken. As she stopped from time to time throughout the walk to the entrance of the manyatta the same call was chanted 'we will give you a cow'. However a few times the call was 'we will give you a goat', with much laughter from everyone except the bride. She became even more reluctant to enter her new abode and took two steps back.
After much stopping and starting the bride reached the entrance to her new home and great ululations were trilled. I was escorted to meet the young woman who shyly dipped her head and stooped through the archway to her new home.
The men slaughtered three goats under the trees where women are not permitted and where only men are allowed to eat the juiciest portion of meat. Those being 'taboo' for the woman. We [Julius, I and the driver Daniel] were graciously given three portions of meat which was collected by Julius while I remained in the vehicle. You can imagine how, I as a non-meat eater I felt at the honour!
I certainly learned again the value of being a woman and where my place is. What a wonderful experience. Badai [till later] must see the Masai dancers in about 30 minutes and cheer on the highest jumper!
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