Ululululu! This is the sound women will make when welcoming your future bride (muroora) into the home at the end of successful Roora (bride price) negotiations. Here's a brief breakdown of what to expect if you ever think of spicing up your life and bagging yourself a fiesty Zimbabwean queen.

I constantly get asked questions by my students about what some of the most prominent cultural practices are in my country. I'll preempt these questions by giving you a breakdown of one of many interesting cultural practices in Zimbabwe, the traditional wedding, better known in my Country as Roora(Pronounced Ro-or-rah). This is our traditional marriage ceremony. It involves a lot of negotiations, an exchange of copius amounts of money and of course at the end, some of that mouth watering finger licking, traditional Zimbabwean food!

Unlike in some Western and Eastern cultures, where marriage is a decision made between two people which culminates in marriage, in Zimbabwe things are done slightly different. Let me break it down.

On the day you visit your futures wife's familial home to pay the roora you are usually accompanied by your uncles and close friends. In the Shona culture, you, as the future groom (mukwasha), have to clap (or wombera) from the gate of the bride's home. This is an indication of your arrival as well as a sign of respect and thankfulness for being allowed the opportunity to partake in the roora ceremony. The louder the claps the better, so you better put in a couple of practice hours to get it just right!

When your presence is acknowledged you are ushered into the home and upon entering, you are directed to sit on the floor, this is seen as a sign of respect and humility towards the bride's relatives . Once you are seated the negotiation games begin!

The first amount you have to pay is "vhura muromo" which directly translates to "open the mouth" this is payed to initiate the negotiations. There is usually a list of payments that you are given, but the two most important ones you have take note of are Rusambo( which is the actual bride price) and then Danga which is the number of cows to be paid to the bride's parents. This can either be paid in cattle or in cash. The amounts for Rusambo can range from USD3000 to USD 20000(yes you read that right! ), and the number of cattle for the Danga payment averages around 7 cows. The price for Rusambo is usually determined by the bride's family's background and education level. The higher a family's social status and Bride's educational background the higher the Rusambo.

Finally after all the negotiations are done. It's time to celebrate! You and your entourage of negotiators are given chairs to sit on as a sign of being welcomed fully into the home, after which the festivities begin.

P.S Wear a jacket, showing any skin other than that of your face and hands is seen as disrespectful and will attract a fine. (I know this from personal experience). That's said, all the best with the negotiations!