By Rashim Nabanja
During traditional ceremonies, there are many things that a couple has to go through in order for the ceremony to be considered rightfully done, especially in the Buganda kingdom.
On top of the mutwalo, which is the bride price, a groom brings calabashes of local brew, and the bridal suitcase. The bride in return gives the groom a gift known as akabbo ko’muwala.
Akabbo ko’muwala is usually a basket containing edible gifts given by a bride to the groom during their introduction ceremony.
My Wedding contacted Twaha Mukisa, a traditional ceremonial spokesperson and he explains the origin and reason behind the exchange of these gifts.
Origin
According to Twaha, the term kabbo ko’muwala is a short form of a Luganda proverb that states, ‘Akabbo ko’muwala kajja kajudde, kaddayo kajudde’, which loosely translated as “A brides basket is brought full and has to be returned the same way.”
When a groom is introduced to the bride’s parents, he has to bring gifts with him to offer to the bride and her family as a sign of appreciation for allowing the introduction to take place. In return, the bride would also offer her husband to-be gifts, as a sign of being polite, which is where the entire proverb originates. Click to read more…
