Roora (roh-oh-rah), the traditional Zimbabwean Shona wedding, is one of the most beautiful, and strongly upheld parts of the culture of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. This article aims to not only to provide a source of information about the roora ceremony but to also celebrate and highlight this beautiful part of Zimbabwean Shona culture.

Before we start: Find the best wedding vendors to plan the roora of your dreams here.

What is a traditional Shona wedding (roora)?

A traditional Shona wedding is a customary joining of a man and a woman to become husband and wife.

The traditional Shona wedding involves a groom paying a dowry known as roora to the family of a woman. This bride price element of roora is meant to be a token of appreciation to the family of the bride. The roora ceremony itself is a way to unite and bring two families together.

Fun fact: In centuries past, it is said that roora was paid using a garden hoe as the token to the bride’s family! If the groom was not able to give the family of the bride the garden hoe, they would work for the bride’s family for an agreed period of time, giving his labour an alternative. This is known as kutema ugariri.

Though some things have changed and adapted over time, the

There are a lot of steps and procedures that must be followed before, during and after the actual roora ceremony.

The engagement

The first step is for the bride and groom to state their intention to get married to their families. The groom will let is aunt (tete) know, and the bride will also let her tete know. Tete is the fathers’ sister, and plays an instrumental role in the traditional Shona wedding process.

Though not widely practiced anymore, nduma or nhumbi would then follow after the intention is stated. The bride and groom would go to the tete’s house (usually the bride’s aunt). They would trade something of value to them, this could be clothing (nhumbi), jewellery or something else of value.

This is pledge of love, or a promise to marry. This process can be equated to the engagement or marriage proposal in western societies. Though now a lot of couples do have the western proposal with a ring, and the man going down on one knee.

What happens before the roora

Once the aunts know the bride and groom’s intentions to marry, it is their job to formally pass this information on to their respective families, particularly the bride and groom’s parents. In reality parents may know beforehand, but the formal announcement to start those proceedings comes from the aunts.

After the bride’s aunt has let the family of bride know of the upcoming nuptials, the bride’s family will then sit down and discuss the date when the roora will be held. The discussion will also include decisions of the amount that will be charged for the roora, along with the grocery, and clothing list (see below).

The bride’s aunt is then supposed to pass on the date to the groom’s family through the munyai, (see below) and a list of what they should bring on the date of the wedding. The will not, however, receive a list of what they are likely to be charged as the roora. That remains confidential. In a traditional Shona wedding, the man’s family appoints a “Munyai,” – the “go between” who is a friend or relative of the groom’s family to be the link between the groom and the

bride’s family. The groom does not contact the bride’s family directly but sends the Munyai to negotiate for the roora to take place. These negotiations are called pre-roora negotiations

The Munyai conveys the information he or she receives to the bride’s family to the groom’s family, including the grocery list. Everything on the grocery list is supposed to be bought before the day of the roora negotiations. This list is supposed to be strictly followed, but some families are lenient and do accept cash for part of the groceries. The reason for the groceries is that they are supposed to be used to feed people at the roora gathering, and the bride’s family should not be “put out” to feed the people at the gathering.

The day of the Roora

On the day of the roora negotiations, the groom is accompanied to the bride’s parents’ home by a delegation comprising of his family and the munyai.

The munyai continues his/her role as the link between the groom and the bride’s family. The groom and his family are welcomed by the bride’s aunt when they get to the home. They have to hand over the groceries, which are checked against the list that was supplied before the day.

Once the groceries are in place, the groom and his family are allowed in and placed in a separate room from the rest of the proceedings by the aunt. It is the Munyai and part of the family delegation that are allowed to be part of the proceedings in the main room.

The Munyai starts by telling the bride’s family that “tirikutsvaga sadza”. This phrase indirectly means “we have come to look for a bride”.  The bride is called to confirm if she knows the people asking after her, and if she does then the proceedings begin.

Once the proceedings begin, the bride’s family asks for a plate where all the money is to be placed during the negotiations. The money is not handed over to the bride’s family in their hands.

There roora is done in steps from beginning to end, with different amounts charged according to the step. The steps include:

• Ndiro
• Kupinda mumusha
• Vhura muromo
• Makandinzwanani?
• Mafukidza dumbu
• Rusambo
• Mari yekunhonga
• Mombe inotsika (yaamai)
• Matekenya ndebvu
• Danga (cows)
• Damage (payment made if the bride falls pregnant before the roora)

The elements of roora and what they are called differ according to the region and dialect of Shona. However the premise is the same. The details of each are listed below:

Vhura muromo

Vhuramuromo, a term which can be translated to “permission to talk/negotiate.” This is a nominal fee charged to the groom’s family for them to state their business. If there are any other penalties such as a missed roora date, this is when they are charged.

Once all the payments for this step are done, the bride’s family loosen up and make the Munyai feel comfortable to negotiate further. The Munyai then asks to proceed further with the negotiations and this is when the payments start.

Negotiaion

Speaking of negotiation, it is a big part of the roora process in traditional Zimbabwean shona weddings. When the groom’s delegation is given the cost of an item on the roora list, this price is usually not firm. There is room for negotiation, which they usually do. It is not uncommon for them to leave the room to “discuss with the rest of the family” when they are charged, or to negotiate for a lower cost at each stage. This is the part that actually makes the roora engaging and interesting, and a big part of building relationships between the two families.

Roora payments

For the father

These are payments that are received by the father for raising the bride. The first payment made is matekenyandebvu (playing with the beard). This is money paid to the father for tolerating his daughter while he sat on his lap and pulling his beard. The name is in jest, but the premise is to give a token of appreciation to the father.

For the mother

These are payments that are received by the mother for raising the bride. Mafukidzadumbu is paid to the bride’s mother, appreciating the mother for the time she spent pregnant, carrying the bride. Another payment often given to the mother is mbereko, which is payment that is paid to appreciate the mother for carrying the bride on her back. It is said that the money is paid as is stated, without any room for negotiation.

Mbudzi yedare (Goat for the gathering)

This goat is usually handed in as part of the groceries but it is mentioned during the payment proceedings. The goat is supposed to be cooked on the day for the gathering. If the groom’s side does not bring the goat, they have to pay some money to cover for the goat. This money is then divided among all the young men representing the bride’s family.

Mari yekunonga (Present for the bride)

This is money paid to the bride herself. She comes in and retrieves an amount of money from the sum of money already collected from the groom’s delegation. The amount of money she collects is at her discretion. The bride usually shares the money with the women who take part in the roora proceedings (usually her sisters and aunts (tete).

The groom’s family then has to replace the amount that she collected to get the total back to the original amount, before she took any money.

Rusambo/Rugaba

This is the main payment given to the bride’s family. This payment is so important in traditional shona culture such that if this not paid, one is not considered married.

This payment is not a one-time payment (though nowadays people do pay the full amount). It is usually paid over a long period of time. It is believed it is an indirect way of saying the groom is responsible to keep on taking care of the bride’s family.

Danga (Livestock)

These are gifts in the form of livestock (cows) for bride’s family.  The bride’s family will state the amount of cows they will charge. They will also state if these are to be live cattle delivered to an agreed location, (like a farm of the bride’s family’s village of origin) or paid in cash at the market value of cattle.

 The most important cow that is presented by the groom is known as mombe yeumai, meaning the mother’s cow. This is always presented a live cow. This heifer is supposed to have calves as proof that the union has been sanctified. Once it gives birth, the cow is slaughtered and cooked at an event for both families to enjoy.

Majasi (Clothes)

This is a list of clothes that the groom is supposed to buy for the bride’s parents. The Munyai is given a list of clothes for the bride’s mother and father. These are the clothes that are presented to the bride’s parents at the roora.

Once the last step is done, the groom’s family may ask for permission to have a civil or church wedding at a later date. Although customarily, and in customary law, this roora is a valid and recognised union.

Welcoming the groom

 The process of kupinzwa mumusha (being accepted into the family) the follows.

The groom is accepted into the family, and he and his delegation are then welcomed into the room where the proceedings were taking place. He then greets his new in-laws for the first time as their daughter’s husband. This is done through claps known as gusvi, which is customary for the groom to do in Zimbabweaen after the roora.

After the formal part of the roora

After all this has been done, the two families eat and drink together in celebration of the new union. After the celebrations, the bride usually remains at her parents’ house for a day or two as she packs to go to her new husband. This is a time to prepare and buy things for her new home. She then goes to her husband’s place where another procedure happens known as kuperekwa (being accepted into the groom’s family) is done.

Lastly

The traditional Shona wedding or roora is still being followed in the Shona culture although a lot has changed, particularly the celebratory elements of the roora.

There is now a lot more emphasis on attire, which is usually matching African print outfits worn by the bridal party. A “bridal party” or as it is colloquially known, a “roora squad” as an official concept, is very new. The roora squad’s role is the same as bridesmaids in a church wedding ceremony. Assisting the brides’ family and proving support to the bride on her big day.

While the roora squad is definitely a beautiful addition to the roora ceremony, it is not a cultural requirement. So if this is something you are not able to afford or that you do not want, do not feel forced to have it!

Over the years, there has been a debate as to whether the roora process is good or bad considering the groom has to pay a family to get a woman. It should be noted that everything that is handed to the bride’s family is a token of appreciation to the bride’s family for having such a daughter.  The parents of the bride must also be cognizant of that, and charge accordingly.

The Traditional Shona Zimbabwean wedding (roora) is a beautiful part of the culture and a well-honoured tradition by the Shona people.

Congratulations to all the brides and grooms of this year!

An academic research paper on roora can be found here if you are interested.

Special thanks Tina for allowing us to showcase the Zimbabwean Shona wedding roora ceremony through her special day!