Roora – an important part of Zimbabwe Wedding Traditions
- Every traditional Shona Wedding involves payment of dowry, also known as roora, to the bride’s family. This is meant to be a token of appreciation to the bride’s family, while the actual ceremony acts as a way to bring the two families together.
- Certain steps must be followed before the actual roora, an important Zimbabwe wedding tradition.
Engagement
- The bride and groom inform their aunt (their father’s sister on either side) of their intention to get married. This aunt usually plays a crucial role in the traditional Shona wedding.
- After this, the bride and groom then go to the bride’s aunt’s house, where they trade something of value to them, as a promise to marry. This is similar to the modern-day proposal where the man proposes to his future wife with a ring.
Planning for the Roora
- The aunts from both sides then pass the information about the couple’s intentions to their respective families. Though the parents may already know what is happening, it’s the role of the aunts to make a formal announcement. Once this announcement is made, planning begins.
- After the bride’s aunt talks to the bride’s parents, they then discuss the date when the roora will be held, how much will be charged for the roora, and the clothing and grocery list. The bride’s aunt then passes on the date and a list of what they should bring on that date to the groom’s family through the Munyai (go-between). A Munyai is a friend or relative of the groom’s family who acts as a link between the groom and the bride’s family. Note that the groom’s family does not receive a list of what they may be asked for as the roora.
- According to Zimbabwe wedding traditions, once the Munyai passes on the information to the groom’s family, they are required to comply by providing everything on the grocery list. The list is followed to the letter, though in some cases, families agree to accept cash as part of the groceries. These groceries are used to feed people at the roora gathering without straining the bride’s family financially.
The Roora
- On the day of the roora negotiations, the groom, his immediate family, a delegation comprising his relatives, and the Munyai head for the bride’s parents’ home, where the Munyai continues to act as the link between both families. They are welcomed to the home by the bride’s aunt, after which they hand over the groceries. At this point, the groceries are checked against the list supplied by the bride’s family. The groom and his immediate family are then put in a separate room while the Munyai and the family delegation remain in the main room to participate in the roora proceedings.
- The Munyai starts the proceedings by telling the bride’s family “tirikutsvaga sadza” (we have come to look for a bride). The bride is then called to confirm if she knows the people asking after her, which she does, and then the proceedings begin. The bride’s family asks for a plate where all the money is placed during the negotiations.
- Note that negotiation is a major part of the roora process, as it makes the process engaging and interesting. The prices of items on the roora list are not always firm, and the groom’s family may be given time to leave the room to discuss with the rest of the family or to negotiate for a lower cost at each stage. There is always room for negotiation!
- The roora is done in sequential steps, with different amounts charged according to the step. These include:
- Vhura muromo – a fee charged to the groom’s family for them to state their business. If the family has previously missed a roora date, this is the point where they are charged for it.
- Matekenyandebvu (playing with the beard) – This is the first payment given to the father as a token of appreciation for raising the bride. It is given to him for letting his daughter sit on his lap and pull his beard.
- Mafukidzadumbu – This is given to the bride’s mother in appreciation for the time she spent carrying the bride throughout pregnancy.
- Mbereko – This is another payment given to the bride’s mother for carrying the bride on her back.
- Mbudzi yedare (Goat for the gathering) – This goat is part of the grocery list and is supposed to be cooked on the day of the gathering. If the groom’s family does not provide a goat, they have to pay some money instead.
- Mari yekunonga (Present for the bride) – This is money paid to the bride. She collects it from the money already collected from the groom’s delegation. She then shares it with the women who participate in the roora proceedings. The groom’s family must replace the amount that the bride takes for herself.
- Rusambo/Rugaba – This is the payment given to the bride’s family. Without it, one cannot be considered to be married. It is usually paid over a long period.
- Danga (Livestock) – These are presented to the bride’s family according to the list provided. The most important cow presented by the groom is known as mombe yeumai (the mother’s cow). It is always presented as a live cow that is supposed to have calves as proof that the union has been sanctified.
- Majasi (Clothes) – This is the list of clothes for the bride’s parents given to the Munyai. These clothes are given to the bride’s parents at the roora.
- Once all the steps have been completed, the groom’s family asks for permission to have a church or civil wedding at a later date. The roora is, however, a valid and recognized union.
Welcoming the groom (Kupinzwa mumsha)
- The process of welcoming the groom into the family, another of the Zimbabwe wedding traditions, then takes place. He greets his new in-laws for the first time as their daughter’s husband in the room where the proceedings were taking place. He greets his new in-laws through claps called gusvi.
- After the roora is over, both families eat and drink together to celebrate the new union. Once the celebrations are over, the bride remains at her parents’ house for two or so days before she packs to go to her husband. She then goes to her husband’s home where kuperekwa (being accepted into the groom’s family) is done.
The roora is an integral part of Zimbabwe wedding traditions, as it unites two families into one through a series of rituals that display the rich Zimbabwean culture.