Bride price or Roora in shona is a token paid by the groom-to- be when he is about to marry his bride- to- be. Bride price or Roora is split into catergories eg makandinzwanani, matekenya ndebvu, kunhonga, kupinda mumusha and rusambo. Some of these catergoties may not be included on the list depending on culture and region of the families. Paying the bride price or roora is an acceptable way in the shona culture for a groom to ask for his bride’s hand in marriage. This is a token of appreciation paid to the bride’s parents for raising the bride-to-be. In the Shona culture there is a saying which say Ukama igasva hunozvadziswa nekudaya, prior to the day the in-laws compile a groceries list which is forwarded to the groom to be and he will buy and present the groceries on the day of the ceremony.
Roora is split into 5 categories listed
Zvidiki kana kuti Zvibinge
These are small items on the list
- ndiro,
- vhuramuromo,
- kupinda mumusha
- makandinzwa nani,
- kunonga,
- Pwanyaruzhohwa (Dhameji),
- matekenyandebvu,
- marava nhungo ne zvimwe nezviripwa ripwa.
Zva Mai
These are the tokens given to the mother of the bride-to-be,
- mafukidza dumbu,
- Mombe yeumai.
- Mbatya dza amai
- Rusambo/Rugaba/Matsvagirano
This is the part that is considered to be the most important part when paying the bride price, traditionally one would not be given his bride before he pays rusambo. The family of the bride would request a cow or goats but nowadays it being paid in cash.
Danga
This refers to the live stock that is given to the bride’s father traditionally the groom would bring cattle but nowadays part of it can be paid in cash and few cattle (Dzinotskiaka) meaning live.
Majasi
Clothes bought for the bride’s father
Baba (1 x suit) (1 x shoes) (1x shirt) (1 x hat) (1 x umbrella) (1 x overcoat)
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