Electricity

In Ghana, the rainy season begins in late May and lasts throughout the summer until early September or so. In the early months, the rain comes in sudden, heavy but short bursts, and in August and September it can drizzle on for hours. Sometimes it rains when you´re at a wedding. Sometimes you lose electricity after. Sometimes for two days...

After scrambling to find Sarah and Laura some traditional wear early Saturday, the four of us got ready to go to our first Ghanaian wedding. 

Laura and me in front of Rosa´s compound in Kotobabi

The church service was held in Achimota, a nice area in Accra about 45 minutes away. The ride cost 55 pesewas, or about 30 cents. After getting to the Achimota bus station, we took a taxi to the church - a huge hall with high ceilings and many windows. People filled chairs and benches, and little kids danced in the wide aisles in between. Everybody was wearing the traditional Kente cloth - including bride and groom! 

We foolishly arrived on Ghana time, but soon learned that the proceedings had actually started promptly. We took a seat towards the back, and turned to the front to watch the bride and groom exchange their vows and light candles. 

I´m not an expert, but from what I could tell the wedding seemed very similar to a traditional Western wedding apart from the more colourful attire. Maybe the music was a little more upbeat and the guests more apt to engage in spontaneous dancing. At one point of the ceremony, all guests were asked to make their way to the front of the hall to give donations to the church (or the couple?), and everybody danced up the aisles and clapped as they did it. I think that was my favourite part. After some more singing and praying and clapping and dancing, the choir sang their last song and the wedding party marched out to take some pictures on the front steps. 

The Bride and Groom in matching Kente : )

Sarah took this one - it was so wonderful that I had to have it too 

After the church proceeding, all guests were invited to head to the wedding reception to celebrate with friends and food - and dancing! This time we arrived on time and took our seats. Cold water was brought around as more guests filed in. Before I could take any pictures, the sky suddenly turned dark and the wind started blowing through the courtyard. Then it got windier. Then it began raining. Then it began raining a lot. 

I have never seen rain like that ever. It was so powerful and heavy that it tore down ribbons in seconds and blew over tables and chairs. The guests squeezed along the sides of the open yard, and made themselves comfortable. After realizing the rain would not stop soon, we followed suit and watched as the storm passed through and washed away decorations. The rain lasted about an hour, and everybody waited patiently until it was over. Ghanaians are very patient (as am I ;)

When the rain dwindled, the guests rearranged their tables and chairs, and bride and groom walked in unfazed and took their seat at the main table. Speeches were made and the food was served. The bride and groom walked around to everybody and thanked them for coming. Although we had never met them, they embraced us just as everybody else - as did the other guests. The bride and groom danced their first dance, which was soon followed by

this dance. It´s called the Azonto and is the latest Ghanaian sensation. I dare you all to learn it. 

After more handshakes and hugs and thank you´s, we put our present for the bride and groom on the table and took a taxi back to Kotobabi. To our joy, the storm had successfully killed all electricity. It only came back briefly for part of the champions league soccer match that night, the result of which made me no happier (although Ghanaians are all Chelsea fans so they were celebrating)

Als wir bei der Hochzeit auf unser taxi gewartet haben hat uns Tukeni La Casera vorgestellt. Sie hat es als Apfel-soda beschrieben. Ich wollte mich nicht zu früh freuen, aber nach einem Schluck war ich verliebt - es schmeckt (fast) genau so wie Apfelschorle! Ist natürlich mein neues Lieblingsgetränk : )

Nach dem peinlichen Spiel am Samstag wurde ich von den feiernden Leuten in den Straßen in den Schlaf gesungen. Am Sonntag gingen wir dann zu dem Markt, wo wir Gemüse, Fleisch und Plantanen kauften. Inzwischen können wir schon ziemlich gut handeln. Wichtig ist es auch immer den Leuten zu sagen dass man wieder kommt wenn sie einen guten Preis bieten können, denn Leute wollen sich neue Kunden sichern. Zum Abendessen gab es Hünchencurry bei Kerzenlicht : )