Living once the a beneficial Mushamuka: for the dowries and you can drinks within the Kinshasa – By the Kris Berwouts
When a child and you may a girl fall-in like and you can ily visits your family of the girl to introduce your and inquire for her hand
I experienced simply found its way to Kinshasa when Pascal named myself. “Do you really remain Saturday nights free for people?”? the guy asked, “we need your as the a beneficial mushamuka.”? “Positively,”? We answered, “count myself for the,”? fully positive that mushamuka won’t suggest plumber or electrician.
But to go on new safer top, We searched the expression “?mushamuka’. The entire process of the wedding is actually talked about into the high outline. When and where as well as how commonly the fresh new municipal and you will spiritual ceremonies will take put, however the vital material to discuss is los angeles dot – the fresh new fiance rates. This is basically the currency and you can products the latest mans relatives gives in order to the mother and father off his upcoming partner to fairly share their regard to have this lady members of the family and give thanks to them for people many years of proper care and training he has got provided their. It is deeply rooted in lifestyle, enjoys a strong ritual aspect however it is regarding the real money. A bride pricing is greatly negotiated.
What’s more, it caters to to compensate losing people working in the household or even the areas
An effective mushamuka (plural bashamuka) is actually a smart guy, one of many parents affect responsibility within this a household. Pascal’s social records was Shi (you to Mushi, two Bashi, they all cam Mashi), among the many larger communities for the Southern area Kivu. Therefore Pascal got invited us to get in on the panel of bashamuka out-of his members of the family to meet up and consult with an excellent delegation regarding Serge’s household members. Serge wished to marry Noella – Noella being Pascal’s child. Or rather, she wasn’t. She was not actually a member of family. But the family had welcomed their inside her earliest youth because the she was a keen orphan no that believe in. She was raised not as much as Pascal’s rooftop. He was the woman father, blood-relevant or otherwise not. For me, this occurs more frequently when you look at the battle-torn places upcoming in other places.
We arrived in the get together a couple of hours later however, frequently Serge’s relatives hadn’t arrived yet. So it at the very least gave you bashamuka the opportunity to sit back together with her and you may improve the tips – planning ourselves emotionally which have a drink or a couple. You ought to be regarding the correct spirits to manage such as for example really serious ceremonial facts. The function had things alternatively jolly about it: good balmy tropical night, the backyard laden up with tables and you can chair and you can lights, higher level scents coming from the kitchen, the ladies and children sporting their best dresses. We bashamuka usually quarreled towards son running brand new audio system while the man failed to frequently remember that we had been discussing significant things. Such a situation you need to no less than be able to tune in to one another cam most importantly the latest appears introduced.
Enrobed in dignity with perspiration stains all-over, we solicitously wishing the brand new appointment. For example occurrences will never be effortless, but this time i asked it to be so much more painful and sensitive. We were here so you’re able to depict the latest Shi customs away from eastern Congo, but our traffic originated elsewhere. These people were Bangala – its root getting somewhere towards the border ranging from Bandundu and you may Equateur provinces. There are a lot of woods upwards around therefore we enjoys no clue ones man’s lifestyle and you can thinking. Needless to say they know the fresh new fiance rates, all of the Congolese organizations manage. However, we had to wait and determine ahead of 
we might understand the way they looked after they and you can what its customs imposes on the relationships and also the fiance rate.
Fundamentally they showed up. They wore admiration outfits however, was substantially most scared. We given him or her a drink. That has been not a painful move to make. This past afternoon that they had sent united states several crates out-of beer and you may sodas. Just before they grabbed a sip even though the whole delegation arrived at pray into the loyal quiet. Did they want to impress all of us or try that it precisely the ways he could be upwards indeed there from the forest?
