Engagement Ceremony Among the Akamba People of Kenya

The Bantus are a group of people who speak similar languages. More than 400 distinct groups and tribes are native to 24 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. They spread from Central Africa into Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and South Eastern Africa.

These 400+ ethnic groups speak in more than 700 languages. These people include the Buganda, Luba, Kikuyu, Embu, Meru, Luhya, Kisii, Kuria, Akamba, Shona, Zulu, Sukuma, Xhosa, Pedi, Tonga and Lenge people. When studied closely, we see high degrees of similarities, not only in the languages but in habits, customs and beliefs. Physical features such as height. bone structure and skin tones are also amazingly similar.

THE AKAMBA PEOPLE OF EASTERN PROVINCE, KENYA

Among the Akamba people, a Bantu tribe that resides in the Eastern and Coast Province of Kenya, a groom shows he is interested in marrying a young Akamba woman by presenting three goats to her father. This ceremonial tradition is referred to as "Ntheo".

One of the goats must be a he-goat. This he-goat is slaughtered by the groom or by his brother. Once the blood drains out of the he-goat into the ground, the young Akamba lady officially becomes the property of the groom.

The he-goat is then cut up into its various parts and pieces. One part, which is usually the most soft and succulent, is set aside. The slaughtered he-goat is then roasted over an open fire. The soft succulent meat that had been set apart is also roasted. It is used for the second part of the Ntheo ceremonial tradition of the Akamba people.

The prospecting groom and the future bride eat this succulent and soft meat. This eating together signifies their willingness to be faithful to each other in the forthcoming covenant of marriage.

What about the other two goats? What part do they play in this engagement ceremony? The other two goats are a down payment towards the dowry that the groom must give to the father of the bride.

During the third part of the ceremony, the couple are joined by invited family and friends in a celebration of their engagement. They feast on the traditional food dishes of the Akamba people as well as dishes from around the world that have become popular as celebration food in Kenya. Menu items include pilau rice, chapatis, roast chicken, stewed chicken, sausages, ugali, mukimo, roast beef and stewed beef. All these are served with a variety of beverages such as sodas, squash, tea and coffee. The men are served with their own special beverage, Kaluvu. This is the Akamba traditional beer.

Soon after the Ntheo ceremony, the modern day Akamba engaged couple start planning the rest of their religious ceremony and a larger reception celebration.

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