Photo credit: @burundiweddings
People in Burundi consider marriage as one of the main events of their culture and hence celebrate this ceremony for two days. The “bride price” is the first traditional event of the whole marriage ceremony in which bride is introduced to the groom’s family by giving them cows as bride price which depicts the sign of prosperity of the brides’s family.This act/event, is called “Gusaba”. After the completion of this event, another event yet takes place which is referred to “Gufata Irembo” where the groom’s family comes and introduces themselves to the brides’ family and confirms a date of the formal day.
Photo credit: @burundiweddings
After the date and everything is set up, the wedding ceremony is accompanied with loads of joyous rituals among both the parties. Polygamy was practiced traditionally in Burundi. Despite being forbidden by both civil law and the Christian churches, it still exists. Traditionally, it was the duty of the father to find a first wife for his son. It is still common practice for the parents of a young man to meet with his potential bride and her parents and discuss issues such as the bridewealth. This is the equivalent of a dowry, but it is given by the groom's family to the bride's. Traditionally, it consisted of cattle, goats, and hoes, but today it can include cash, clothing, and furniture. The bridewealth is delivered on the wedding day, when the bride leaves her parents (who do not attend the wedding ceremony) to participate in the festivities at the husband's home.
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Read more: * http://www.everyculture.com/Bo-Co/Burundi.html#ixzz40KUzKMqS * everyculture.com source - https://binjublog.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/marriage-practice-in-burundi