Hybrid roora ceremonies now a hit

A solemnised union before multitudes of adoring family members and friends is usually a dream come true for many couples.

“How was her dress? What about the cake? How was the decor?” These are some of the questions that are randomly thrown at people coming from a white wedding.

However, it seems a new trend is taking over.

Under this arrangement, the bride-to-be’s friends and some relatives — known as the roora/lobola squad — usually accompany her on the day the bride price is paid.

The squad often dresses in distinct traditional African prints.

Many couples are now preferring to forego the white wedding, opting to conveniently combine the roora/lobola ceremony and the exchange of wedding vows and rings to solemnise the union.

Businessman Tinashe “Nash” Mutarisi believes white weddings are unnecessarily expensive.

“I personally had a white wedding and I speak from experience. One thing for sure is that I don’t know over 70 percent of the people who attended my wedding. In fact, they never brought me presents but demanded good food,” he said.

“You don’t need to gather such people. A wedding day is too special to spend with some people you don’t know or who don’t add any value to you. The roora squad is enough for such an occasion.”

Receiving the bride price is usually marked by merry-making. In the past, the rite used to be sacred and was a milestone achievement for many. Families would gather and even deliberate on the issue before the arrival of the in-laws for negotiations.

Those into baking also line their pockets, as some of the roora/lobola rites result in couples having cakes and other goodies for the occasion.

In reality, the rite is now more of a fashion show and display of flamboyance. The décor and some of the roora events are now classier than what used to be witnessed at traditional white weddings. This means, unlike in the past, one has to invest not only in the bride price, but the wardrobe, expensive drinks and food, among other things.

Mr Mat, real name Jonathan Muvingi, a wrestler, agrees with Mutarisi’s sentiments.

“True happiness is found when you get together with your close friends and family. The rest is just drama. Most of the people who attend those white weddings might not even support the union,” he said.

There are some who are of the opinion that while culture is dynamic, there is need to safeguard it against foreign influence.

“A white wedding is a borrowed cultural practice. Through the roora/lobola squads, we are trying to reidentify ourselves. Having friends (sahwira) at your roora/lobola day is part of our culture because nobody lives in isolation. What is important is to have real friends around you,” said Angeline Mbiriyamveka of Hatfield.

Socialite-cum-comedienne Felistas Murata (Mai TT) recently had what was described by some as the “Wedding of the Year”.

Her fairy-tale love story, however, seems to have come to an ignominious end.

Village head under Chief Nenguwo in Marondera, Michael Chiokomhende, sees nothing wrong in roora/lobola ceremonies.

“People now realise that white weddings are a foreign concept and that they are also costly.

“We need to revert to tradition and maintain our identity,” said Chiokomhende.

Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs deputy president Chief Mtshane Khumalo weighed in.

“A lot of people have been misled to believe that our tradition is incomplete without complementing it with the Western lifestyle. However, with the recently gazetted marriage law, roora/lobola is now officially recognised, which means we are gradually getting somewhere in terms of aligning our culture to our laws.”

Renowned social commentator and marriage counsellor Dr Rebecca Chisamba dismissed the notion that roora/lobola squads are a new phenomenon.

“For youths, this might seem new, but it actually existed years back. We used to have what we called mapondwe (younger sisters of the bride), who would accompany their sister during the marriage procedures.

“Maybe what has become new is that you are now including more of your friends. This is the part that people need to be careful of. It used to be specifically for blood sisters because the roora/lobola used to be more of a family ritual,” she said.

Mai Chisamba urged couples to be cautious when selecting squad members.