In Zambia, men who are about to be married are arguably living the life. They are treated to the best of meals and the most delectable pieces of meat.
Food is an important part of Zambian culture as it is the bedrock of some interesting beliefs. One of these is that you should never refuse food when it is offered to you.
When at someone’s house and offered food, it is rude to say no, even if a meal has already been eaten before the visit. It is also considered rude to not finish a meal.
As most traditional meals in Zambia are served buffet-style, the visitor should pick only food that they are able to finish.
The food tradition gets even better for men who are about to tie the knot with their soulmates. A man that is about to get married is treated to a pre-wedding buffet by his future wife’s female relatives.
The ceremony is called ‘icilanga mulilo‘, which is from the Bemba tribe of northern Zambia, and directly translates to ‘show the fire’, alluding to the fact that most of the meals prepared are done on coal or firewood instead of a stove.
The pre-wedding buffet consists of traditional foods that the groom can expect to be served in his matrimonial home. The cooking of the food takes place at the bride’s relatives house, then it is carried to the groom’s relative’s house, usually accompanied by traditional drummers and singers.
It seems that almost every food tradition in Zambia is done to favour. Another feast tradition is the kitchen party which is a pre-white wedding celebration where a bride’s female relatives and friends help her start her kitchen by donating household items and presenting them to her.
The celebration begins with the bride covered from head to toe in a chitenge, while escorted by female relatives. She can only be uncovered by her groom or his relatives who escort him to the event.
A kitchen party is also a chance for the bride to receive advice from her female relatives about what to expect in her matrimonial home and how to behave.
One of these pieces advice is for the woman to know that only men are allowed to eat particular pieces of meat. Traditionally, larger and specific pieces of meat were usually reserved for the men in the family as they were the sole breadwinners.
For instance, it was taboo to serve a man the rear end of a chicken, but he could be served the breast or drumstick. In modern times, this has changed but may still be observed in some instances.
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