The Engagement and Marriage of
Mark Chonde and Charity Chonza

Posted March 23, 2006

I would like to share photos of the engagement ceremony of Mark Chonde and his wife to be Charity. Mark is the son of United Church of God elder Gladstone Chonde.

The engagement ceremony (which all the photos are from) was held on July 10, 2005. After the engagement ceremony the couple issues a letter of "intention to get married" with the District Commissioner. They post it to the public for at least 21 days before officiation. The wedding then took place on September 11th. Mark was granted a scholarship to study for Masters Degree in Informatics in the United Kingdom (at the University of Manchester). He  left on September 18th, just a week after their wedding. Charity then joined him in Manchester on January 12, 2006.

Charity standing between my parents, and myself standing between Charity's parents. This symbolises that my parents have a new girl child Charity, while Charity's parents have a new boy child, and that is me.

I will let Mark tell the story in his own words, then you can enjoy the photos taken in Lilongwe, Malawi.

On the occasion is an engagement party traditionally we need to get engaged first before we proceed to getting married. In most countries here in Africa, when two people want to get married, they need to seek formal approval from their elders and relatives. So arrangements are made that the two sides should meet and agree that indeed, the two can get married.

 

So what happens is that I together with my parents and my other relations, go to Charity's home and meet her and her relations to propose for marriage. So when they accept, the two sides exchange chickens (a cock from my side to them, and a hen from them to my side). That symbolises that they have accepted me as their own child, and like wise we have accepted Charity as our own. The rest is a celebration over the occasion. Songs are played and people dance, and give gifts or money to the Bride and Groom to-be. The money is meant for assisting the couple as they plan to start a new life together.

 

Previously (and up to now especially in rural areas) this ceremony is considered to be just the same as a wedding ceremony. The normal wedding ceremony was introduced when missionaries came to Africa. So the practice is now coupled with the modern wedding ceremony. 
 

Please see the attached pictures on my engagement with my fiancee Charity Chanza. I'll be sending them in chunks to a total of 10 . Our wedding will be on 11th September this year, in Blantyre, at Limbe Country Club, from 1:00 P.M. Officiation will be at World Wide Church of God, at Chichiri in blantyre (near Museum of Malawi), from 9:00 A.M. You are most welcome.

 

Best regards.

 

Mark Chonde
 

Our parents wearing cloth. The pieces of cloth are presented to them as a token of thanks for bringing us up well that we are now getting married.