| The Kalenjin are a Kenyan ethnic community that | | | | have wedding photos at the ceremony. The |
| comprises of eight tribes. They are about 2.7 | | | | Kalenjin weddings can also include some local |
| Million Kalenjins who live in the Kenyan western | | | | brews like busaa, which is prepared from fried |
| highlands. The name Kalenjin roughly translates to | | | | and fermented millet and corn. |
| 'I tell you'. Weddings and wedding photos are a | | | | After the wedding, the man takes his new wife |
| blend of tradition and modern style. There are | | | | inside or near his father's homestead where a |
| certain preparations that a couple must go | | | | house has been built for the new couple. |
| through before a wedding and one cannot be | | | | Polygamy is still allowed if one can afford to pay |
| considered marriageable until they are fulfilled. | | | | the bride price for more than one wife. Children |
| First, the young men and women must have | | | | are seen as a blessing in the Kalenjin and other |
| gone through some traditional initiation passages | | | | Kenyan communities and, until recently, Kenya |
| or tumdo, which graduate them to join members | | | | was the leading country in population growth |
| of certain age-sets known as ipinda. The males | | | | worldwide. Today most Kalenjin weddings are |
| undergo circumcision and stay in seclusion for a | | | | made up of monogamous nuclear families with |
| long time. Here, they are instructed on how to | | | | many wedding photos as memorabilia. |
| take care of the home and the cattle. There are | | | | In Kalenjin weddings like Toronto weddings, much |
| also lessons on how to be good warriors. The | | | | consideration is taken in the bride's beauty and |
| young women learn how to make pots and | | | | health, bridal showers, flowers and decorations. |
| gourds for carrying water, how to fetch and | | | | Much planning goes into the wedding photos, |
| carry firewood and how to find wild vegetables, | | | | honeymoon, travel, jewelry, gifts, transportation |
| which they used as their meals. They are also | | | | and reception. Regardless of where the couple |
| taught how to take care of their children and | | | | may be there are traditions that must be done |
| cook. | | | | including paying of the bride price if they are to be |
| Although there are no wedding photos at this | | | | wed. |
| stage, Kalenjin weddings, just like Toronto | | | | The main difference between Toronto and |
| weddings, are usually graced with a lot of | | | | Kalenjin weddings is the bride price. The bride |
| traditional food including the staple ugali, prepared | | | | price is a token of appreciation to the girl's |
| from white corn and boiling water, meat and | | | | parents for taking such good care of her over |
| whole milk that is fermented and stored in a | | | | the years. In Kalenjin weddings, this is usually |
| gourd, which is cleaned using charcoal. There is | | | | counted in cattle. However, modern Kalenjins |
| music with dancers wearing ankle bells and drums, | | | | normally take the equivalent in cash. In Toronto, a |
| flutes and horns being played. Traditionally, the | | | | bride price is not considered at all. With cultures, |
| bridal party would wear animal skins, hides, | | | | merging each day there might soon be no |
| traditional ornaments and earrings. Today they | | | | difference between a Toronto and a Kalenjin |
| can wear suits and weddings dresses and even | | | | wedding. |