 |
| Kikuyu traditional wedding ceremony. [Photo Credit/pinterest.com] |
These items include porridge (ucuru), arrowroots (nduma), and the yam (gikwa).
According to Gikuyu Centre of Cultural Studies (GCCS) , each of these items is very symbolic and making a slight mistake on the application of each can mean the end of the road for the two lovers.
Let's focus on the symbolical meaning of each at a time.
1. 'Ucuru'
According to GCCS when a young man approaches a Gikuyu girl for the first time with a motive to initiate a personal relationship with her and gets a hint that there is a possibility of the same, he will ask her whether she makes good porridge and he can visit her home to sample it.
"She can tell him that her porridge is not for the likes of him. He will understand that he has reached the end of that road and either abandons the project or keeps trying," GCCS documents.
But if the girl says, "You are quite welcome to come and sample some, it s the best porridge in the village". He will reply, "I will definitely come" and then they will cross their index fingers in goodbye, adds GCCS.
2. 'Gikwa'
When the young man is going to the girl's home alongside his three agemates, he will carry with him among other things a yam. Traditionally, yams were attended by men while in the farm.
"The symbolic significance of the yam which is a creeper, and its supporting tree, the 'Mūkūngūgū' tree is love. They intertwine until in maturity and it is impossible to separate the two," GCCS writes.
The reason the young man is required to carry a yam during his first visit to the girl's home is to show that he has become of age and can tend to the yam plants on the farm.
3. 'Nduma'
On arrival at the girl's home, the young man and his entourage will be served with among other things porridge and arrowroots.
'Nduma', GCCS notes, were exclusively attended by women. So, by the girl serving her love and his entourage with 'nduma' is to show them that she is a good nduma farmer and is no longer a young girl.
However, the suitor and his colleagues are not expected to eat the 'Nduma' during the maiden visit as GCCS explains.
"After the father comes home in the evening and hears that the ndūma was not eaten, he nods and says, 'yes, these are serious people. Roast for me the yam'. By asking for the yam he shows that he has no problem with the process so far. If there was no yam then, of course, these were just people passing.