Last month one of my colleagues invited me to his wedding. The ceremony took place on Saturday at Akropong Akuapem, a small town, about an hour from Koforidua up in the Akwapim Hills. Benefitting from the cooler climate and gentle breezes, the architecture indicates that the place was developed during the colonial period. The spire of the Victorian Presbyterian Church still dominates the town.
Not knowing how long the tro tro would take to fill, I arrived in good time. A funeral was overrunning, so most of the people surrounding the church were in black. Eventually these were replaced by more colourful and in some cases flamboyantly dressed wedding guests, in a mixture of western and local outfits. This combination summed up the wedding itself. Much of the day would be familiar to anybody who has attended a wedding. The ceremony itself was a lively and very happy occasion. Two of the hymns were in Twi, but I was able to join in with To God be the Glory. There was dancing during the offertory. After the photographs it was a short ride towards Mamfe for the reception in the grounds of a private residence.
Ghanaians take meetings very seriously and even in the smallest informal discussion it is often necessary to have an agenda, formal openings and closings and even prayers at start and end. I hadn’t expected this to extend to wedding receptions but there was an agenda (cutting of the cake, popping of the champagne, proposal of toast, vote of thanks etc.) and one of the local MPs had agreed to be the chairman and to make some opening remarks. While the hot buffet was being served (including two the biggest fish I have ever seen on a plate) the Municipal Chief Executive, our ultimate boss arrived to make a few well chosen remarks.
I got a lift back to Koforidua in one of the Assembly’s minibuses. There was much singing on the way and discussion of the views expressed in the church sermon concerning a woman’s role in serving her husband – or not.
Not knowing how long the tro tro would take to fill, I arrived in good time. A funeral was overrunning, so most of the people surrounding the church were in black. Eventually these were replaced by more colourful and in some cases flamboyantly dressed wedding guests, in a mixture of western and local outfits. This combination summed up the wedding itself. Much of the day would be familiar to anybody who has attended a wedding. The ceremony itself was a lively and very happy occasion. Two of the hymns were in Twi, but I was able to join in with To God be the Glory. There was dancing during the offertory. After the photographs it was a short ride towards Mamfe for the reception in the grounds of a private residence.
Ghanaians take meetings very seriously and even in the smallest informal discussion it is often necessary to have an agenda, formal openings and closings and even prayers at start and end. I hadn’t expected this to extend to wedding receptions but there was an agenda (cutting of the cake, popping of the champagne, proposal of toast, vote of thanks etc.) and one of the local MPs had agreed to be the chairman and to make some opening remarks. While the hot buffet was being served (including two the biggest fish I have ever seen on a plate) the Municipal Chief Executive, our ultimate boss arrived to make a few well chosen remarks.
I got a lift back to Koforidua in one of the Assembly’s minibuses. There was much singing on the way and discussion of the views expressed in the church sermon concerning a woman’s role in serving her husband – or not.
No comments:
Post a Comment