The Bayankole tribe, situated in western Uganda, upholds a distinctive tradition where a prospective groom must demonstrate his virility and manhood by intimately “testing” having sexual intercourse with an aunt of his bride-to-be before the marriage can proceed.
For this ethnic group, found across districts like Bushenyi, Buhweju, Mitooma, Rubirizi, Sheema, Ntungamo, Mbarara, Kiruhura, Ibanda, and Isingiro in eastern Africa, marriage holds immense significance.
Virginity in also held in high esteem so the girls must abstain from premarital sex.
Parents derive immense joy and pride from their children’s unions, and the husband’s ability to maintain “strength” is deemed as crucial as the marriage itself.
According to the tradition, when a girl gets to the age of eight or nine, it is the duty of her aunty to groom her for family life.
Also known as the Ankole, the tribe considers the slim physique unattractive because to them, being fat is sexy, so when girls get to the ages of eight and nine, they are required to go through a fattening process which is usually done to speed up the weight gain of the girls so they can attract a husband.
The Banyakole marriage involves several ceremonies including a “giveaway period” know as “Kuhingira” where the relatives and friends of the bride present her with gifts such as cows and other food items to take to her matrimonial home.
On the wedding day, a feast is organized at the bride’s home where the father slaughters a bull while at the groom’s home, there is also a feast to consummate the marriage.
But first, there has to be one last ceremony, that involves tests that must be done by the bride’s aunt.
It involves the bride’s aunt testing the sexual ability of the groom by having sex with him to make sure he is potent.
During the act, the aunt learns the man’s sex techniques as well as favorite styles so she can gift her niece with pointers on what the groom likes sexually.
After confirmation is done, the bride is then taught by her aunt and allowed to consummate the marriage by being sent by her aunt to the husband with her blessings.
