Explore options before introducing a picture

When we talk introduction (Kwanjula) ceremonies, we all imagine two families coming together with their friends to witness the traditional marriage of their children. Standard procedure requires that a man will lead his family and be introduced by his fiancée to her family.

However, there is a growing trend of people introducing or getting introduced by photographs. When singer/rapper Barbra Ndagire a.k.a Bella introduced a photo of her fiancé instead of the man himself, many criticised her but recently, social media was awash with Nickson Ssemakula who was introduced by a picture instead of a bride.

The couple, who live in the USA, said their tight work schedule was the reason both of them could not be present for the function.

Ssemakula says he saw no reason in wasting the solicited funds by having both of them travel.
However, this incident left several people debating on what kind of marriage it was.

Joyce Nalongo Nakawuma, a cultural educator, said such incidents are a violation of the traditional norms and they distort the whole meaning of traditional marriages. “The essence of introducing a man to the parents and relatives cannot be achieved in this manner. It is just a picture that cannot react to anything,” she argues.
She justifies her view saying such functions will seem like comedy since marriage is an agreement between two people.

Biblically improper
Rev Fr Herman Mukasa Zziwa, the chaplain Nkumba University, says marriage was instituted by God for two people, a man and a woman who out of love agree to live together as husband and wife for companionship and procreation and to live together until death does them apart as quoted in Genesis 2: 18-24.

He further reveals that the legality of marriage whether religious or cultural (kwanjula or kuhingira), must have the fulfillment of a couple who out of love agreed to come together. Marriage must be everlasting and there must be consent (public proclamation of agreement to live together as husband and wife by an irrevocable covenant mutually give and accept one another).

Although the practice is slowly growing, Jacinta Ntale Ocama, who has been married for a year seems unaware, but termed it as absurd.

Ocama thinks it is disrespectful of the culture and of oneself. “What would have happened for me to allow them come with a picture to my home? Would not that be disrespectful of me? How will the villagers and other relatives perceive it?” she wondered.

According to Fr Zziwa, marriage must be witnessed or presided over by authorities in that field, church marriage - religious leaders and cultural, the elders (of the marrying families).

It is to this that he agrees to the fact that society would not agree to the present day practice of using portraits to represent a particular partner at an introduction function.

“Modernity and technology usage such as portrait or videos are good but if wrongly used, can go against the societal cultural norms,” he says.

Those who use potraits of their partners on marriage ceremonies only reveal their disagreements to the public, says Robert Ssendagire, a newly married man. “The fact that you have allowed to use a picture, means that you have disrespected your in-laws because your picture cannot perform your roles on that day, such as presenting bride price to the bride’s father.”

Usage of portraits can in the long run give room for fraud and impersonations. For instance Fr Zziwa cautions people to be vigilant as many have used such marriages to get citizenship elsewhere.
Matter of fact without physical presence, the essence and the true meaning of cultural introductions is no more.

“Introductions are meant for persons and not their representations (portraits). The function is also meant for proper knowledge and identification of the parties getting married, which portraits cannot bring out well,” he explains.

In order to nip this meltdown of culture in the bud, Nakawuma calls upon parents to mentor and groom their children to avoid embarrassment. “Avoid being a topic of discussion in your village,” she cautions.

Introduction insights

Prossy Najjuko, a marital senga, says at an introduction ceremony, it is important for the couple to be physically present. “People need to know who is getting married to whom. In the process, the bride is asked to declare or give her take on certain things.

She introduces the man to her father, among other things. And no one should answer those questions or do anything other than the bride herself. The groom is also supposed to perform a few cultural practices before he is accepted by the bride’s father.

He is served with coffee beans, a glass of water and chicken luwombo. In the end, the couple signs a certificate of consent from the parents. This acts as an agreement between the bride’s family and the man. All these cannot be performed by a picture. It is because of the violation of tradition that most marriages break up, people under look or take traditional norms for granted.”

Would you introduce a picture for your partner?

“Why on earth would I do such a thing? a picture is a nonliving thing, it cannot speak yet there are certain statements a bride is supposed to respond to or say when introducing her man to her father.”
James Kato Ddamba, fine art teacher

“According to our tradition, the bride’s parents need to physically see the man to know who their daughter is getting married to. I need to be sure of the marriage after him signing, which a picture cannot do.”
Franciska ARinaitwe, Civil engineer

“I cannot. People cannot respect you or your wife. I think it is disrespectful of the in-laws. The best thing is to postpone till both partners are available than abusing our tradition.”
Paul Kilabila, casual worker

“I can neither marry nor allow to be introduced by a picture or portrait because a picture is just an object that portrays my face yet people (in-laws) need to physically see who I am.”
Paul Nkuubi, technician