In Arabic culture, a bridegroom was not supposed to see his bride before their marriage. However, sometimes arrangements were made for him to see – more like glance at – his bride, albeit from a distance. This ceremony was sacred and adhered to by several Arabs who mainly inhabited the Lamu Archipelago.
Three days leading up to the wedding, the bride to be was kept at her family home to be beautified for the grand occasion. Beautification was done by her female friends and included: baths and massages using fragrant oils, grooming, and the painting of palms using henna.
On the eve of the wedding, there was an instrumental festivity. There was clapping, beating of drums and ox-horns, shaking of tambourines and often, the captivating sound of the Zomari flute could be heard. This pre-celebration went on until dawn.
The day of the main event, the groom spent the daylight hours with his future male relations while the bride’s received the final touches of her beautification. A thick coat of kohl lined her eyes and two golden coins adorned her cheeks; jasmine blossoms adorned her hair and some parts of her dress. Perfume was sprayed under her dress to wish her a child-filled marriage and lucky child-birth. Prior to the ceremony, she received a gift from her betrothed and if she accepted it, this meant she was still willing to marry him.
The weddings happened at night, usually at about 10:00 P.M. because, according to astrologers, this time had the most favorable conjunction of stars for the bridegroom. The ceremony began with groom sitting on a chair opposite the Mullah. He held the Quran in his hands while the wedding was sealed. Once this was done, the men went to the house where the bride waited. The groom knocked on the door thrice. Inside, a curtain was drawn to conceal the bride. The groom and men were let into the house and the groom sat across from the curtain. The bride’s female friends served the groom refreshments, oiled his head and hands, and washed his feet. Once this was done, everyone but one lady who was to act as the bride’s chaperone left the house. The bride then stretched her hand through an opening in the curtain and the groom placed another gift in her palm. After this, the couple was left alone for seven days in the house as husband and wife.