Why DPP Nordin Haji’s dad publicly fired his pistol in the air – VIDEO
A video has emerged online showing Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji firing his pistol in the air during public gathering.
In the unusual spectacle, which took place during a wedding ceremony, Haji fires his pistol four times in the air after being invited to address the guests.
As Haji, who is the father of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji, fires his pistol some of the guests at the ceremony are seen cringing while others are heard cheering.
Interestingly, there are some armed Administration Police officers who are seen keeping an eye on the crowd with their backs turned on the senator.
So just why did Senator Haji publicly fire his pistol in the full glare of armed police officers?
SOCIAL STATUS
The shooting in the air is part of Islam wedding ceremonies borrowed from Arabs.
It is an old tradition which has been adopted by some tribal communities.
When one married from a different tribe, it was customary to fire shots in the air to indicate that the tribe was behind their member and expected him or her to be well treated by the other tribe.
The other tribe would then answer with gunshots of their own to indicate they expected the same consideration from the opposite tribe.
The guns are symbols of social status, showing might, honour and power among communities that practice the rite.
WEDDING CEREMONY
The weddings would go until late in the night, when the guest would fire in the air and the night sky would be illuminated by numerous gunshots.
Carrying of guns was also a defence strategy – the groom’s wedding procession often had to travel a long way late in the night to the bride’s home.
It was bound to have well-dressed people, expensive gifts for the bride’s family, making them easy targets for thieves, and so it made sense for the revelers to be armed. The guns were later replaced with swords.
Nowadays, most people use fireworks for the same reason but the Arabs countries still use guns.