Posted on 02/01/2007 5:37:07 PM PST by planetearthling
ORANGO ISLAND, Guinea-Bissau (AP) -- He was 14 when the girl entered his grass-covered hut and placed a plate in front of him containing an ancient recipe.
Like all men on this African isle, Carvadju Jose Nananghe knew exactly what it meant. Refusing was not an option. His heart pounding, he lifted the steaming fish to his lips, agreeing in one bite to marry the girl.
"I had no feelings for her," said Nananghe, now 65. "Then when I ate this meal, it was like lightning. I wanted only her."
In this archipelago of 50 islands of pale blue water off the western rim of Africa, it's women, not men, who choose. They make their proposals public by offering their grooms-to-be a dish of distinctively prepared fish, marinated in red palm oil.
It's the equivalent of a man bending on one knee and offering a woman a diamond ring, except that in one of the world's matriarchal cultures, it's women that do the asking, and once they have, men are powerless to say no.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Ha! I guess I just married RadioAstronomer!
(now what do I tell my husband?)
"...was to get me to chase her until she caught me."
You guys are soooo easy. We ALL do that Silly, LOL! Yes, I was his "Love Slave" but it took him three years to "land me."
I never have "affairs" unless it involves a big diamond, a pretty dress, and a caterer. :)
Good grief!
ummm............
"I caught you a delicious bass."
LOL!
>>>>I never have "affairs" unless it involves a big diamond, a pretty dress, and a caterer. :)
I think I just had one. I just landed a second husband.
I've got to watch my cooking.
That happened to me once a long time ago. Now, whenever I see a woman and smell fish at the same time, I run like hell.
Unfortunately for Alec Baldwin, the trip did not go as expected.
--she still makes the best lasagna and I’m still here. --
All two of you!
Well, it seems that along with the right to propose, the women have to build their own shelter. Pooey on that!
LOL.
I never had a man that could cook. That would probably bowl me over at this point in my life.
I did have that one cajun guy I dated in Louisiana years ago that cooked for me and talked french to me (a fishing guide on Toledo Bend Lake). Since my sister had married a cajun I told her all the (french)things he said to me, and she said he was ONE happy man (grin).
I was a silly hillbilly girl who had just moved to Louisiana, and had never been exposed to such an animal (a man who cooked) and it still haunts my dreams -- late at night when I am hungry (grin).
Up here in the mountains where I live, women pretty much do all the cooking. I can whup up a meal outta nothing on a Dutch oven over a campfire.
If you come to Tennessee, bring your husband's male relatives, they'll be a phenomenom (sp).
They forgot the euphemistic quotation marks! I believe it should read as follows:
His "heart" pounding, he "lifted the steaming fish to his lips", agreeing in one "bite" to marry the girl.
Ahh, such a story, it reminds me of my own.
Yep! All two of us, and I’m still chasing her … ;-)
The fact that she is still with me is even greater than the lasagna (and a miracle). Not only did I wed a great cook, but one with staying power (“patients, tolerance and great a temperament”, is her middle name).
If she was chasing me, she wouldn't need the club.
Come on man...you're making me tear up
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