What is the importance of bridewealth?
In traditional African communities, bride wealth is given as a sign of commitment by the groom. It is a way of thanking/appreciating the bride’s family for taking good care of the girl. Bride wealth acts as an outward seal of the marriage contract/cements the marriage.
What was the purpose of a dowry?
The purpose of a dowry is often threefold. First, it gives the bride and groom the money and goods that they will need to build a home together. Second, the loss of a dowry gives the bride some manner of protection in cases where her husband becomes abusive and/or the marriage ends in a divorce.
What is Ruracio in English?
Ruracio in Kenyan Kikuyu culture simply refers to Negotiation and Payment of the Dowry or Bride price. It is the last stage in the Kikuyu Traditional wedding ceremony. This is similar to the “Introduction Ceremony” in West Africa, where both families of the lady and her groom to be are introduced to each other.
What are the benefits of bride price?
Historically, the function of a bride price was to provide compensation to the family of the bride, who would typically move in with her new husband’s family.
What happens as the value of Bridewealth increases?
In general, what happens as the value of bride wealth increases? marriages become more stable.
What is the purpose and use of a dowry to a wife?
The dowry can serve as a gift to in-laws or insurance for the bride should she choose to leave her husband. It is something she can take with her in the event of divorce to ensure her financial security. Other terms for this exchange may be “bride price” or “bridewealth.”
What significance a dowry plays in a marriage?
The paying of dowries is a common feature of traditional marriages. A dowry can be defined as a some of money or a piece of property brought by a bride to her marriage. The richer the bride’s family, the larger the dowry, and the larger the dowry, the better the chance of marrying well.
How much does Ruracio cost?
A goat costs between ksh5,000 to ksh18,000 so you’re looking at about ksh 500,000 to negotiate from. The Dowry payment usually lasts a lifetime but the groom is required to pay a certain amount before he takes the bride and continues after marriage.
How much is dowry in Kikuyu?
Many families today accept money instead of all the items listed above. When you accumulate the cost of all these items, the average bride price for the Kikuyu comes to about Ksh. 500,000. It is said that in the Kikuyu culture, dowry payment is never complete.
What is the essence of bride-price?
bridewealth, also called bride-price or marriage payment, payment made by a groom or his kin to the kin of the bride in order to ratify a marriage. In such cultures, a marriage is not reckoned to have ended until the return of bridewealth has been acknowledged, signifying divorce.