An African Wedding
The bride covered as two elderly women led her to the ceremony In Zambian tradition, a wedding unfolds in three distinct stages, each rich with cultural significance. It begins with the family introduction, known as lobola , where families formally meet and discuss the bride price. This is followed by chilanga mulilo , a culinary event where the bride's family presents traditional dishes to the groom's family. This occasion introduces the groom to the bride’s culinary heritage and symbolizes her readiness to provide for her future husband. The final stage is the kitchen party, a festive celebration marking the culmination of the marriage preparations. Months of planning go into these events, with the bride receiving marital counselling from respected community women who are exemplars of successful marriages. This counselling typically starts two to three months before the kitchen party and is led by a group of two (2) or three (3) women called Bana Chimbusa , meaning "sh...
