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Here, women propose marriage and men can't refuse
CNN ^ | February 1, 2007

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; Unclassified
KEYWORDS: alcapp; culture; foreign; marriage; sadiehawkins; sadiehawkinsday
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To: imahawk

It's for mechanical reasons, but please be my guest and tell the people why she is pulling him by the hair and not the feet.


81 posted on 02/01/2007 8:29:51 PM PST by Lady Jag (A positive attitude will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.)
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To: Lady Jag

So his butt wont fill up with dirt.


82 posted on 02/01/2007 8:47:06 PM PST by HANG THE EXPENSE (Defeat liberalism, its the right thing to do for America.)
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To: redheadtoo
I'm always prepared. :)
83 posted on 02/01/2007 9:12:38 PM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: mylife; uglybiker; JRios1968; sully777; martin_fierro; Slings and Arrows
it could be worse--the bearer could be none other than...


84 posted on 02/01/2007 9:17:32 PM PST by rzeznikj at stout (Boldly Going Nowhere...)
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To: mylife

LMAO


85 posted on 02/01/2007 9:24:34 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: uglybiker

Oh that's just mean.....................ewwwwwwww........


86 posted on 02/02/2007 4:57:13 AM PST by RightOnline
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To: planetearthling

I'm allergic to most seafood...if I can't keep the meal down does that get me out of the marriage?


87 posted on 02/02/2007 4:59:43 AM PST by highlander_UW (I don't know what my future holds, but I know Who holds my future)
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To: Slings and Arrows

LOL


88 posted on 02/02/2007 5:05:57 AM PST by Professional Engineer (Barbaro dead? Big Macs for everyone!)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
I'm there!

Hi Honey!

89 posted on 02/02/2007 5:06:34 AM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets (When I search out the massed wheeling circles of the stars, my feet no longer touch the earth)
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To: Titan Magroyne
Are you afraid of being offered a plate of fish ... or of never receiving an offering?

Something smells fishy about the whole deal..........But I'm not carping about it. I just don't want to lose my sole. I just commented for the halibut. So don't be so crabby. At least they don't have the old "cave man" ways of conch-ing people over the head and dragging them away.......................;^)

90 posted on 02/02/2007 5:26:42 AM PST by Red Badger (Rachel Carson is responsible for more deaths than Adolf Hitler...............)
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To: highlander_UW
I'm allergic to most seafood...if I can't keep the meal down does that get me out of the marriage?

Most seafood allergies stem from something the seafood ate, not the seafood itself. A tiny plankton like animal that some fish and shellfish ingest contains a toxin that makes humans break out and swell up like they had a severe rash. It happens to me every now and then. I still eat seafood, but try to stay with farm raised fish and shrimp, and crabs.........Less likely to make me look like a GEICO caveman the next day........

91 posted on 02/02/2007 5:30:27 AM PST by Red Badger (Rachel Carson is responsible for more deaths than Adolf Hitler...............)
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To: girlangler

Eggs Benedict.

Making a nice dinner is one thing -- letting it be known that you also make a great breakfast, now that's taking it to another level.


92 posted on 02/02/2007 5:33:02 AM PST by ReignOfError
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To: Calpernia

"I just landed a second husband."

And your first husband's reaction was...? LOL!


93 posted on 02/02/2007 5:36:21 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: longtermmemmory
But seriously, since when do feminists cook.

I'm just sayin'.

94 posted on 02/02/2007 5:39:43 AM PST by ReignOfError
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To: Calpernia

I snared mine with grilled steak that had marinated overnight in olive oil, a little soy sauce, fresh minced garlic and freshly grated ginger.

We celebrate 37 years TODAY. Yep, we got married on groundhog day!


95 posted on 02/02/2007 5:42:44 AM PST by FrogMom
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To: FrogMom

Congratulations! And Happy Anniversary!


96 posted on 02/02/2007 5:45:30 AM PST by HoosierHawk
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

>>>And your first husband's reaction was...? LOL!

Shhh, I've not broken the news yet :))


97 posted on 02/02/2007 6:05:20 AM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: FrogMom

Happy Anniversary!

:))


98 posted on 02/02/2007 6:06:07 AM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: Red Badger

That may be, although I've been sick about 60 to 70% of the time I've eaten seafood...at this point the smell of fish reminds me of being sick, so I just pass on it. (no pun intended).


99 posted on 02/02/2007 8:15:02 AM PST by highlander_UW (I don't know what my future holds, but I know Who holds my future)
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To: highlander_UW

Freshwater fish and shellfish don't seem to have the problems of saltwater seafood.........


100 posted on 02/02/2007 8:22:14 AM PST by Red Badger (Rachel Carson is responsible for more deaths than Adolf Hitler...............)
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