Page 116 - The Circle of Life

By the way, African women, and I mean only in cultural context for they are as

Western as you, cover their bosom when married and not when unmarried. That
is why you see at the traditional villages and in the rural areas the reed dance
where thousands of young women dance with their bosom bare. It is besides

other reasons an indication that they are not married and available which is not

meant disrespectfully. We had to ban lewd camera men from such festivals who
failed to understand and respect our culture. Take my word it is not sexual and I
say that most African men would not even notice a bare bosom for that is how

we grew up unless of course looking for a wife. It simply was no big deal and

would be very vulgar to stare.

The white dress comes from our old friend Queen Victoria who married in white

her German prince who gave us the Christmas tree. Actually it was very
controversial for white was the colour most associated with mourning and not

black as today.

Clearly custom demands this for first time brides and has to do with the bride's
pureness or virginity which is nonsense in most cases and I am sure caused

many a giggle at weddings. Besides that I fail to understand how a woman can
be impure by enjoying responsible sex before marriage. It may shock my older

readers but it is a rather natural act you know. Mostly because modern
marriages is taking place up to a decade or more later in life that what it used to

be I find wearing white may be a severe test and I for one would start laughing
if I see someone above 35 wearing white. Each to his own! I have a bigger

problem with sex between married couples outside the marriage bed than before
the marriage but what do I know?

We have already spoken about the ring and the nerve to the heart etc. But

where does the best man comes from? I read he was supposed to help kidnap
the bride if needs be and to stand between the couple and the guests at the
wedding to protect them from angry family members of the bride who may take

a narrow-minded view on the affair. Thus he acted as a body guard and should

be facing the guests giving them the evil eyes.

Today he arranges for the strippers at the bachelors party which is something I

fail to understand enough to mention it. Why would a man in love want to see

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