The brand new dowry percentage processes, otherwise ruracio, from the Kikuyu community out of Kenya try some situations you to definitely culminate from the commission from an amount of cash, animals, or other beneficial goods from the bridegroom otherwise their relatives so you can the fresh bride’s friends. Which longstanding heritage is seen as a means to award and you may esteem brand new bride along with her nearest and dearest, and commemorate the latest union of the two household.

1. The procedure initiate in the event the groom offers to the newest bride and you may, in the event that she agrees, he set a meeting with the latest parents out of his tribe. These types of parents are members of the latest stretched friends that inside their sixties otherwise elderly.
2. Brand new groom directs a great delegation, normally composed of 8-15 people, on the bride’s family unit members to share with them from his intent so you can marry and to consult good dowry settlement conference.
3. If the parents arrive at the new bride’s family, he could be came across by bride’s nearest and dearest, that also known as their particular number of elders. Both groups change brief merchandise regarding dead products, such as for example grain, wheat, sugar, beverage, and you will cooking oil, given that a sign of admiration and you may goodwill.
4. The dowry discussion appointment will be kept, on groom’s delegation therefore the bride’s relatives revealing brand new terminology of dowry commission. This discussion process is going to be extended, having each party bargaining and you will discussing until a collectively decideded upon amount is actually hit.
5. The latest dowry payment processes has enough occurrences best upwards to your real percentage of your dowry. These types of incidents include “kumenya mucii” (getting to know the newest bride’s family), “kuhanda ithigi” (actually definition growing a branch from a tree), and you can “kuracia” (real dowry percentage).
6. “Kuhanda ithigi” was an effective emblematic feel where in fact the groom herbs a branch out of a forest to denote that bride to be might have been commercially booked because of the your.
7. “Kuracia” is the real dowry payment, which is influenced by numerous points including the bride’s degree, career, public group, and you will whether the woman is an effective virgin otherwise expecting. The dowry payment s, goats, sheep, bedding, heifers, goats mentioned from inside the 10s, and money.
8. Adopting the dowry has been agreed upon and you may paid back, the new groom’s nearest and dearest check outs the fresh new bride’s where you can find come across in which its child is residing a traditions titled “itara.”
9. New “kuguraria,” or conventional Kikuyu relationships out-of antiquity, will then be kept, that requires the brand new wedding couple doing traditional dancing and you will vocal.
10. Regarding the Kikuyu people, the husband is expected to look after his household members and make essential behavior into the domestic, given that girlfriend is expected to deal with the family and you will boost the children.

Overall, brand new culture away from dowry fee, otherwise ruracio, is a crucial part of one’s Kikuyu culture in fact it is however generally practiced today. It’s thought to be ways to prize and regard new bride-to-be and her family members, and also to celebrate brand new connection of the two family members. Yet not, it is essential to observe that new heritage out-of dowry payment is not widely approved that’s perhaps not practiced in all pieces of Kenya or in all the social teams. It’s important to watch out for and you may value this new social traditions and society of your Kikuyu individuals whenever engaging in a beneficial matrimony and other important lives situations.

It’s very crucial that you remember that dowry payment, like any community, might be subject to discipline otherwise punishment. It is vital that every people active in the dowry percentage processes act in respect and you can integrity, hence the customs is not put as an easy way from exploitation otherwise discrimination.

Discipline Of the Dowry Program

A proven way where dowry payment might have been abused is through using dowries as an easy way away from exploitation or discrimination. In some cases, the brand new dowry fee could have been recommended because of the bride’s friends inside exorbitant figures of cash otherwise goods, leading to financial filter systems and you can hardship towards the groom or his members of the family.

At exactly the same time, dowry percentage has been used as a means out-of discrimination, click here for more info with the bride’s nearest and dearest requiring large dowries having brides who happen to be experienced, possess jobs, otherwise are from large public groups.

To address the opportunity of discipline and you may abuse of the dowry percentage system, the crucial thing for all activities inside it to behave in accordance and stability, also to think about the monetary element of your own group on it.

To summarize

Brand new dowry percentage procedure, or ruracio, try a historical society from the Kikuyu community that’s suggested in order to award and regard the new bride and her family, and you can commemorate this new commitment out-of one or two parents. It is important to value the cultural living and you may community away from new Kikuyu anybody, and also to make sure dowry payment isn’t made use of as good a style of exploitation or discrimination. All of the parties mixed up in dowry process should act relating and you may ethics, considering the economic element of the family unit members inside. The latest lifestyle can differ according to regional methods, monetary circumstances, and you can social record, and is required to know and you will respect this type of factors to uphold the latest social requirement for dowry payment in the Kikuyu community.