It’s funny how random things can make an impression on a young mind. Once upon a time ago, as a teenager, I read a novel with a story set in Africa. Ever since I have been intrigued with the continent, mesmerized by the various cultures of its regions, and dreaming of the day when I could visit. (You know they have really big exotic cats there, right?)
Just recently, because of a cat grooming school and a student from Alabama some years ago that referred another student from Alabama that then went on a mission trip to Uganda and because we all keep in touch through Facebook, my dream to go to Africa is about to be realized. To make the whole thing just a tad sweeter, I will travel to Uganda as part of a mission team from Call 2 Africa utilizing my photography skills to fulfill a specific need. The plan is for my daughter, Halla, to go along as well, as part of the mission team serving in an orphanage and surrounding villages. I am excited about what is to come! Just another weird twist of events that leads to things completely unexpected.
I’ve been thinking about the upcoming trip to Uganda and the experience that awaits. Which is why I found it so utterly amazing that, upon arrival in Sydney this past week to prepare for the shooting of Keira and Lenox’s wedding, I learned Lenox’s family is from Ghana and that the wedding ceremony and reception were to be filled with customs and traditions known to that part of the world.
During the wedding ceremony, Lenox presented a kente sash to his new bride, bringing to the day the first of many Ghanaian traditions and cultural elements. From the men’s bow ties to the bride’s and maids’ shoes to the flower girl’s dress and the beautiful decorations presented at the reception, kente cloth with its vibrant colors made a spectacular splash.
It was such delight to hear the speech by Lenox’s father, a former diplomat of Ghana in Australia, when he spoke of life in Ghana and shared words of wisdom to both bride and groom. For me it was an unexpected treat to experience the African music, dancing, and vibrant dress by many of the wedding guests. As a special surprise, during the reception, Lenox broke out into a djembe drum solo played for his new wife in the middle of the dance floor. As the piece gained momentum, the dance and drum ensemble joined with guests dancing and cheering as part of the continued marriage celebration.
Since I was one of the wedding photographers I was allowed the opportunity to get into the middle of things, grabbing some up-close shots. The whole thing was fun, an experience enjoyed by all. I loved all of it, honored to have the privilege of capturing the wedding and all of its diverse and colorful elements. It made me think about my trip to Uganda in just a few short months.
On my list of 10 thing you probably didn’t know about me is #9: I have dreamed of going to Africa for as long as I can remember. It looks like my dream just might come true!