That being said, this portion is optional for many as potential guests have jobs and food is not served. The main celebration comes afterwards, during the reception. However it is not exactly like a traditional reception in America. For one, everyone is seated at a table rather than walking around talking to people. In Malawi, the wedding reception is more like a show where you sit and watch and less like a casual party. The reception starts early (usually around 1 or 2pm) and lasts all the way until it gets dark around 5 or 6pm. Near the beginning of the reception, family and friends give non-monetary gifts to the couple as a congratulations. Then afterwards they will have everyone take a seat and start the main event in the wedding: the Pelekani.
“Pelekani” means “give” in Chichewa. This tradition was super interesting to me when I first arrived. One of my first friends here in Malawi (Eugene) invited me to go with him to the wedding of one of his childhood best friends. Of course I said yes and went with him to check out a typical Malawian wedding. To my surprise, the reception was almost completely centered around this Pelekani.
Basically the bride and groom will be up at the front of the venue with the MC (Master of Ceremonies). The MC calls up different groups of people to dance around the couple and/or baskets set near the couple at the front of the venue. The guests come up at various times and dance for 5-10 minutes at a time while throwing money at the couple or in the baskets. They get pretty creative in how they call up different groups such that many will go up multiple times throughout the ceremony.
