Swahili Marriages are arranged in the Swahili tribe of Kenya. Before the ceremony, a number of rituals intended to enhance the bride’s attraction are performed. She is bathed in oils and sandalwood, and has henna designs temporarily tattooed on her limbs. A somo, an elder woman of the tribe, instructs the bride how to please her husband, and may even hide under the bed in case there is a problem consummating the marriage. Masai Marriages are also arranged among the Masai of Kenya, and often the brides are matched with older men that they do not know. The father of the bride spits his blessing for the couple on the bride’s head and breasts, and as she departs, she does not look back, fearing the myth that she will turn to stone. One Masai custom is for female relatives of the groom to insult the bride in order to ward off bad luck. Source: National Geographic Magazine, November 1999, Volume 196, No. 5
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