Last Wesnesday a Japanese couple staying at Sanctuary Olonana had taken the unique opportunity to celebrate their marriage the Masai way. Xaver and I were lucky enough to attend, Masai weddings are a rar occurance. As we emerged from the jeep we were engulphed by an all singing and dancing Masai tribe. They quickly made us feel at home with them by adding traditional face paint to our outfits! In the village, the soon-to-be husband and wife were appointed families and sent to their new homes to be dressed in traditional Masai wedding outfits. We then all headed to the elder's hut to negotiate the dowry, this "negotiation" dragged on as we discovered the turbulant and some what disturbing history between the two families - cats had been murdered and punches apparantly thrown! They eventually settled on 5 goats to calm the feud and then 10 cows and some crucial tobacco for the husband in waiting to recieve his wife. The newly weds then happily headed to their new home where further traditions were to be had, such as the sharing of a cup of goat's milk between not only the couple but also all the village children - this was to ensure their future fertility! This day in the village was a great opportunity to get to know the local community a bit better.
Caitlin
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