(Note: It is long, so don't feel like you have to watch it if you are short on time!)
So this emphasis on money during the wedding might seem odd and confusing. Let me try to help you better understand why it is this way.
When a man wants to marry a woman, he (or his family) has to pay the family of the woman a dowry. There are a variety of reasons for why this bride price is part of the culture. For one, this is a way for the groom and his family to show respect for the bride's family. It also symbolizes the value placed on the bride, acknowledging her upbringing and the sacrifices her family made in raising her. In can also be seen as a form of compensation for her family for the loss of her labor, particularly in rural areas where women contribute significantly to household work and agriculture. It also symbolizes the groom's commitment to the marriage as well as a way for the groom to display his social standing or wealth. Lastly, many Malawians just see that as the bride price as a cultural or spiritual duty, tied to the traditional values of their ethnic groups.
This dowry, or bride price, is paid in cattle or the amount of money equal to the number of cattle (1 head of cattle = 500,000 MWK) before the wedding can happen. The price depends on the woman and how much education she has received. If she doesn’t have an education or lives in a poorer area, then the price might even be as low as a single goat (100,000 MWK). If she does have an education, then her bride price will likely be closer to five cattle or even more!
