The African brass band

 Saturday is wedding day. Where Irish and other European wedding parties go from church to reception with tooting horns, the announcement of a wedding here comes in the form of what looks like a brass band driving around the streets of the local town playing loud and proud and with sheer gusto. The band usually consists of up to eight members, their instruments including large drum and all of them kitted out in shirts of orange, pink or burgundy colours. It’s a bit like everything here on wheels– overcrowded – but they all manage to hang on to the back of the truck and play in tune for hours while driving up and down the streets. Quite often some of the wedding party squeeze in too. It’s just amazing! While sitting in a café last weekend I was accosted more than five times by the overwhelmingly loud sounds of the wedding band and its jovial musicians. When not puffing, blowing or banging they are grinning white smiles from ear to ear, so proud of their part in the announcement. The locals give them the thumbs up and nod in agreement at their talent whilst trying to catch a glimpse of the wedding party who follow in toe with ribbons and banners across cars and trucks.

My friend Ellen from Norway married Tanzanian David recently. I thought I was going to learn about African weddings, turns out I learned about what they do in Norway. It was fascinating. They married in an Anglican church and the bit I loved most was the trumpeter! When she walked up the aisle with her Dad the trumpet went off out of nowhere. I jumped, like many others, and suddenly a real wave of excitement went through the church. When they said their ‘I do’s' there was another trumpet call. By the time they were married, half an hour into the ceremony we were all laughing and smiling and moving in our seats. I thought that given they were married how could the rumours of three hours in the church possibly be true. They were very true. Over three hours later we walked out after much singing and clapping, even dancing in the seats. The Africans know how to sing. Oh and the obligatory brass band round of the town took place while my friends and I dashed off for a sneaky G&T before getting to the reception. It didn’t seem right to go to a wedding without doing the Irish on it!

Tradition has it that at a Norwegian wedding dancing and singing takes priority. However, before I had settled into my seat ready for the meal and the fanfare of the couples arrival and cutting of the cake the Norwegian party informed me of the juicy stuff. Tap your spoon against your glass and it demands that the Bride and Groom have to kiss – standing on the table! Stamp your feet and they have to kiss under the table! Finally bang the table and the Bride’s parents have to kiss. I don’t remember how many times I tapped spoons and forks against glasses! There was a lot of standing on the table and kissing. 

What was absolutely lovely was that Ellen's mum wrote her a song and sang it to her and her new husband. Then her best friends also sang her a song they had written together.  We all got a copy of the lyrics and had to sing along to the tune of a folk song. We even got a balloon each and had to blow it until it burst. I thought that was the best thing ever, especially after a few drinks! Later on there were various other African ‘activities’ that we all partook in. Each person made their way as part of a circle around the room to toast and clink glasses with the bride and groom and those on the top table. We also had to present out gifts by dancing up to a podium and present them to the Bride and Groom. Back to Norwegian tradition, the Brides family including her brother and his wife and family performed a traditional dance to present their gifts. Her parents danced for what seemed like ages and whose energy seemed incredible.  It was a lovely day and a real taste of how different cultures can merge and co-exist. I can imagine it was a stressful time for Ellen's family what with all the African formalities they were asked to partake in and being so far from home but there were smiles all round and each of her friends and family who traveled seemed to be having the time of their lives.  Here’s to their future and the wedding brass band!