Despite Colonial Past, Kenyans Swept Up in Royal Wedding
| Nairobi, Kenya
You might think that a former colony, with a complicated if not downright fractious history with the United Kingdom, would thumb its nose at the royal wedding. After all, isn鈥檛 the marriage of the future king and queen of England, full of extravagant pomp and circumstance, a throwback to the good old British Empire days? What Kenya broke free from 47 years ago?
But 鈥� you鈥檇 be wrong. Kenyans have caught royal wedding fever as much as the rest of the world 鈥� if not more. In a country with a population of roughly 40 million people, it鈥檚 estimated as many as seven to 10 million may tune in to see Catherine Middleton, the commoner, marry William, her Prince Charming.
鈥淚t really is the ultimate fairytale wedding,鈥� says Sharleen Samat, the production manager for Nation Television, one of Kenya鈥檚 privately-owned national networks. Nation, or NTV as it鈥檚 commonly known, plans to devote much of the day鈥檚 programming to the nuptials.
NTV鈥檚 morning program 鈥淭he Breakfast Show" is airing a special 鈥渞oyal edition," complete with a fashion show where Kenyan wedding dress designers will showcase how they would dress the regal bride. The channel will broadcast the ceremony live from Westminster Abbey. NTV鈥檚 afternoon business show will focus on Kenya鈥檚 booming wedding industry and examine the population鈥檚 "mad fascination with weddings," says Samat.
In fact, all of the country鈥檚 major television channels have royal wedding coverage plans. Viewing parties throughout Nairobi are also being held; from a luncheon at the swanky Fairmont Norfolk hotel to a public screening being staged at a shopping mall.
Some people will be viewing for entertainment, while others will be scouting for ways to turn their own Kenyan wedding into a royal replica. 鈥淎fter the royal wedding everybody will be trying to mimic what Catherine Middleton is doing,鈥� says Dr. Catherine Matsisa Rosza, editor of Samantha鈥檚 Bridal magazine. 鈥淪o we are really looking forward to it. We鈥檙e really excited.鈥�
Though Buckingham palace won鈥檛 confirm official numbers, the price tag for Kate and Will鈥檚 wedding and subsequent soiree is estimated to be in the multi-million dollar range. By contrast in Kenya, a wedding of $20,000 is considered extravagant. So why all the interest in an event taking place, seemingly literally and figuratively, a world away?
鈥淏ritain has a historical, cultural, and political connection to Kenya,鈥� says Samat. 鈥淭his is where the queen, Prince William's grandmother, found out she was the new Queen of England. Prince William proposed to Kate in Kenya.... it's where the fairytale started.鈥�
Kenyans aren鈥檛 just in love with the royal wedding. They seem to be in love with weddings period. Two of the most popular shows on television are reality shows about weddings; one is even named 鈥淭he Wedding Show.鈥� The concepts are quite simple 鈥� stories of couples in love and their weddings. Even Kenyans who could never afford the mostly upper- and middle-class ceremonies showcased, love to watch. In a culture where marriage and children are highly-valued and where everyday life can be a struggle, weddings represent a chance to celebrate a rite of passage and a day of true joy. Both women and men take great pleasure in the tradition.
Even my cab-driver, a 33-year-old proud African man, laments he鈥檒l miss watching the royal ceremony because of work.
鈥淲ould you really watch if you weren鈥檛 working?鈥� I ask incredulously.
鈥淥f course,鈥� he says. 鈥淲eddings are beautiful.鈥�
, based in Nairobi.
