Ruracio
The Kikuyu bridewealth ceremony in Kenya, in which the groom's family presents gifts, goats and money to the bride's family.
Also: ruracio (Kikuyu), kuuraga
Ruracio is the Kikuyu name for the traditional marriage payment and ceremony in central Kenya, also called dowry in Kenyan English though it is paid by the groom's side. The groom's family visits the bride's home with elders, and the two sides negotiate in a ritualised, playful way, with the bride's side naming items such as goats, a ram, cash and blankets. When the talks are done, the bride is brought out and the families share a meal. The ceremony often comes before a church or civil wedding.
Region: Sub-Saharan Africa