Grayson's Confirmation

Today we were privileged to be invited to the Confirmation of the nephew of Alice our house worker.  She invited us to one last year as well and it was an incredible experience.  I was very pregnant last year and this one was much more enjoyable for me.  Dave is very fortunate to have been able to have such a special experience while here.  The celebrations have quite a few similarities to what we would normally see at a wedding.

 The Confirmation begins at Church in the morning.  The service is very long as many children are confirmed at the same time.  We met up with the family after the service.  Their first stop is one of the local roundabouts.  The family congregates and takes numerous photos.  Everyone is all dressed up and looking beautiful.  On the weekends the roundabouts are always filled with people taking photos for weddings and confirmations.  We were invited to be in the family photo at the roundabout but Kaia was sleeping in the backseat so we politely declined ;)

 Then they drive to the restaurant.  The first car is full of family and the cinematographer who has caught every moment of the day on film.  The second car holds Grayson and is decorated with ribbons and bows and honks all the way to the restaraunt.  We were the third car in the procession!!

 The restaurant is set up slightly elaborately.  Grayson sits on the thrown with his best friend.

 We get prime seats at the head table with the family.  I felt a little uncomfortable but I think Alice wanted to keep us close.

 

 The celebrations begin with the ladies dancing.  Each of the women family members took turns carrying Grayson.  Alice has 5 sisters and 2 brothers.  Her mother is also still alive.  Alice is in the white dress here and her older sister is wearing the gray suit.  Grayson's mother is in white in the background.

 Then comes the champagne.  Many people take turns shaking it.  They Grayson walks around and everyone gives him their blessings by touching the bottle. 

 The entire event is MC'd by a young charismatic man.  Entirely in Swahili.  I don't have much idea of what is going on, poor Dave is completely lost.

His voice blared from these speakers between even louder songs.  Here Grayson's friend is opening the Champagne.

 Then everyone toasts and the boys drink Champagne together.  Then Grayson walks around and fills the glasses of the important people in his life.

 Everyone comes to toast him.

 Then comes the cake.  There is a LOT of dancing... the ladies slowly 'dance in' the cake to the front table.  The girl holding the cake is Brightness, it was her Confirmation we attended last year.

 The boys cut the cake together.  The cut a pile of small pieces.  The most important people in his life come up one by one and he touches them on the shoulder, they touch him on the shoulder, he feeds them a piece, they hug or kiss.  It is a wonderful way to recognize the love he has in his life and his coming of age.  These were very special moments to witness.

 More dancing.  Theo was in the thick of it most of the night.

Then it is time for gifts.  First Grayson sits in the center and people 'dance in' gifts to him.  We all danced in together too and gave him a small cash gift.  Then his parents take the seat and are presented with kanga, pieces of the local cloth.  Last year Brighness received the cloth as well rather than her parents.  Otherwise the male and female ceremonies were very similar.

Then lots of food, lots of soda, dancing, and some praying.  Alice's boyfriend was the chef and he is a VERY good cook.  We may have to host an event one day just so that he can cater it.