Karibu Magazine July 2022 (updated)

Most people could not understand why I had to go for
the Kikuyu traditional wedding after living in the UK
for over 2 and a half decades. Many had never thought
this could be my pick and were equally shocked to
see this is what I went for, making one of the most
colourful, modern Kikuyu weddings yet maintaining
the standards of the Ngurario ceremony. The decision
to go for the traditional wedding rather than a white
one as a result of a journey of self-reflection and
discovery that I embarked on a few years ago.
I was like many others impressed to learn just how
beautiful and dynamic the culture of my people was.
How it emphasised relationships, values and family
above all else. In summary, I did a traditional Gikuyu
wedding for the following reasons:
1. I wanted to reaffirm the standing, beauty
and enduring worth of the amazing Gikuyu
culture which sadly so many of my generation
and those that followed missed. *Your culture
is who you are* I feel convinced that every
Gikuyu in the diaspora need to make an effort
to gain an understanding of who we the Gikuyu
people are and what our culture can help us
become.
2. I wanted to embrace, celebrate and normalise
this way of celebrating marriage conducted
in accordance with our culture after fulfilling
all the elaborate cultural requirements. It was
beautiful.
3. I also wanted it to be a lesson for my three
sons as they come of age as men to appreciate
more who they are as African, and Kenyan and
importantly that they are descended from a
civilised and beautiful culture.
4. My traditional wedding called *Ngurario* in
Gikuyu made me feel very empowered as a
Gikuyu woman to know I had only followed the
paths followed by many more women before
(my mother) me who celebrated marriage as
a confident people who knew and loved dearly
who they are.
In conclusion, every Gikuyu woman
considering a traditional wedding ceremony
should have the confidence to know it is greatly
worthwhile.
5TH EDITION | JULY 2022
57