Kitchen party

Today i attende what i hope will be the first of many kitchen parties in zambia. This is essentially a bridal shower, only women allowed. My ba mayo and her committee pooled money to buy the couple a stove so 25 plus women and myself rode to the party in the back of a mid sized flat bed semi with said stove. The ladies were singing at the top of their lungs for the whole 20 minute drive. We did stop a few times to pick up others and a few bottles of wine. The party was held at a local lodge. Chairs were facing a porched building and there were probably over 100 people there. I was the only misungo (white person). The bride to be was ushered to tin porch under a chitenge (colorfully patterned piece of cloth used for anything from clothing to a baby sling). There was lots of singing and praying led by two women. Eventually a bunch of the guests escorted the groom to the area and he unveiled the bride and left. She was seated on the floor and looked down the whole party. My ba mayo said she would look up after she got married next week. There was a buffet for the guests and to my suprise no nshima. Then the two mc's went through and opened all the gifts. When each one was opened the giver was supposed to go to the porch and dance for the bride. In the meantime other friends of the bride were going around collecting money. My ba mayo gave me 500 kwacha to put in but when the lady got to of she said 10 pin (10 thousand k) from the misungo jokingly. The gift giving took a long time because there was so much stuff. This bride made out better than any american bride i've seen. I'm talking piles of pots, numerous major appliances, and a full set of kitchen cabinents and drawers. Them came time for the misungo to dance. Women in various states of inebriation pulled me up to the porch, tied a chitenge around my hips and made of dance. Zambiams mainly move their hips in various ways similar to hula dancing. Apparently i did a satisfactory job because women began shoving money down my shirt (in the least creepy way possible). I ende up with a few thousand kwacha and numerous compliments. Most just told me i would make a good wife. It was a fantastic experience and one i will never forget.