The brand new dowry commission procedure, or ruracio, on the Kikuyu culture of Kenya try some occurrences you to definitely culminate about percentage out of an amount of cash, livestock, and other valuable goods of the bridegroom or their friends to help you brand new bride’s household members. It historical heritage is seen as a method to prize and you may respect the fresh bride to be and her family relations, and enjoy the new union of the two family.
- The process starts in the event that groom offers to the latest bride-to-be and you can, in the event that she believes, he establishes an interviewing this new elders off his tribe. These types of elders are usually members of the new offered family members that are within their 1960s otherwise elderly.
- The groom delivers an excellent delegation, typically composed of 8-fifteen players, to your bride’s loved ones to tell him or her of their intent so you can marry and consult a good dowry negotiation meeting.
- If the parents come to new bride’s family, they are fulfilled by the bride’s family relations, that have also called their particular selection of parents. Both organizations replace brief merchandise out of deceased foods, for example grain, grain, sugar, teas, and preparing oils, as an indication of regard and goodwill.
- The newest dowry negotiation conference will be stored, on groom’s delegation in addition to bride’s members of the family discussing the latest terminology of your dowry commission. So it discussion processes can be lengthy, which have both parties bargaining and settling up until a collectively agreed upon count is actually reached.
- The newest dowry payment techniques comes with lots of occurrences top right up with the real payment of one’s dowry. These types of events become “kumenya mucii” (getting to know this new bride’s household), “kuhanda ithigi” (virtually meaning growing a branch away from a tree), and you can “kuracia” (actual dowry fee).
- “Kuhanda ithigi” was a great symbolic feel where in actuality the groom plants a branch regarding a tree so you can signify that the fiance has been technically booked because of the him.
- “Kuracia” is the real dowry percentage, which is dependent on plenty of affairs such as the bride’s education, job, societal class, and you can if she is an excellent virgin otherwise expecting. The dowry fee s, goats, sheep, bedding, heifers, goats measured into the 10s, and money.
- Following dowry could have been decided and you may paid off, the newest groom’s family visits the new bride’s where you can find come across where its girl will be staying in a tradition named “itara.”
- The brand new “kuguraria,” or traditional Kikuyu marriage away from antiquity, will then be kept, that involves the brand new wedding couple engaging in antique dance and you will singing.
- Throughout the Kikuyu people, the husband is anticipated to look after their loved ones making essential behavior into family, since spouse is anticipated to manage the household and you will improve the children.
Overall, the fresh new heritage of dowry fee, otherwise ruracio, is an important part of Kikuyu society in fact it is still widely experienced now. It is named an effective way to honor and esteem brand new fiance and her loved ones, and also to celebrate new union of these two group. not, it is vital to remember that the brand new lifestyle away from dowry payment is not universally accepted and that’s perhaps not experienced in all parts off Kenya or even in all the social organizations. It’s important to watch out for and you may respect this new social life and you may tradition of one’s Kikuyu someone when engaging in an excellent relationships or other crucial life events.
It’s very important to keep in mind that dowry percentage, like most customs, are going to be susceptible to discipline otherwise misuse. It is important that most of the functions involved in the dowry commission process work in respect and you will stability, and that the fresh new traditions is not used as a way away from exploitation otherwise discrimination.
Punishment Of the Dowry System
One-way where dowry percentage could have been mistreated is with the aid of dowries as a means from exploitation or discrimination. Sometimes, brand new dowry percentage could have been necessary by bride’s nearest and dearest inside exorbitant figures of money otherwise goods, leading to monetary filters and you may hardship towards groom otherwise their family.
Concurrently, dowry commission has been utilized as a way from discrimination, for the bride’s family demanding high dowries for brides who are educated, enjoys work, otherwise come from large public groups.
To handle the opportunity of abuse and you can misuse of your own dowry commission program, what is very important for everybody activities in it to behave with respect and you may stability, and to take into account the economic element of one’s families involved.
In conclusion
The fresh new dowry fee procedure, or ruracio, is actually a historical community throughout the Kikuyu community that’s required in order to prize and you can respect the fresh new bride to be and her relatives, and celebrate the new connection regarding one or two family members. It’s important to admiration the new social life style and you can heritage out of new Kikuyu anyone, and to guarantee that dowry fee is not made use of as the good a style of exploitation otherwise discrimination. All the activities involved in the dowry techniques would be to work with respect and you can stability, due to the economic feature of your own friends on it. Brand new community may vary dependent on local practices, monetary products, and you will social background, and is important to learn and you can respect these types of what to manage new social importance of dowry fee throughout the Kikuyu culture.