Just like in most African traditional cultures, marriage carries a great significance to the people of Tooro. A man is not considered complete until he has found a wife. Batooro have a marriage tradition rich with rituals, beliefs and customs that distinguishes it from other tribes.
The responsibility of finding a suitor rested upon the parents, with or without the consent of their children. Once the boy’s family found a suitable candidate, they employed a ‘Kibonabuko’ (Go Between). The Kibonabuko’s task was to spy for the family of the girl such that they can find out basically the background of the family, their reputation and most importantly if the girl was hardworking.
When this was verified, the Kibonabuko escorted by his kinsmen dressed in the traditional wear accessorized with beaded walking sticks, would come to make their intentions known to the parents of the girl. This ceremony is called ‘Okweranga’ (announcement). Unlike in other tribes, once the intention to marry a girl was made, Batooro parents sought the consent of the girl before they gave her away.
After the girl agreed, proceedings to negotiate bride price would be instigated. Batooro are divided into two groups, the bahuma and the bairu. The bride price paid by either of these two groups would defer ranging from cattle to agricultural tools like hoes. More significantly during bride price negotiations, only men were allowed to sit in for the ceremony. “In African tradition, women are married they don’t marry. They were therefore not allowed to sit at the front during these negotiations,”
Therefore, only the young girls of the family are allowed, including the bride, to come out to greet and serve the guests. Even then, these girls were not allowed to wear shoes, look at the men in the face and they were to walk backwards to avoid showing their backs to the men a sign of respect.
The bride price was paid on a ceremony called Okujuga. This was a big ceremony organised by the family of the girl. These served coffee beans as a sign of brotherhood and local beer. It was then that the bride was considered officially engaged to her suitor. Before the new age of engagement rings and suit cases of clothes, the family of the groom would send the girl bark cloth and skin hide to make a dress.
In the event of a divorce, the bride price would be refunded to the groom’s family. But if the bride had borne children for the husband, a mere portion of the bride price would be refunded.
Ritual Roasted coffee beans and milk is given to nine people from the bridegroom’s side in a house. This is a traditional gesture of welcoming the bridegroom family. Coffee beans are served in small baskets while milk is served in milk pots in a ritual knows as okuterura amata.
Comments