This is usually negotiated between the two families who eventually settle on the final bride price.
If the groom’s family does not have that much cattle, then they would just pay the price of 5 cattle (2,500,000 MWK). To put this in perspective, you can buy a simple house in a village for 3,000,000 MWK, so a normal dowry for an educated, well-to-do woman can be nearly the price of a small house! In addition, the groom or his family is expected to get a place for them to live after they are married, which is another expense. As you can see, it can get very expensive, which helps explain why the reception is centered around the fundraising aspect. This is also why some will save money over time so that after a few years they will finally be able to afford to marry the woman of their dreams.
As you will see in the video linked above, there is a lot of connection to the environment in the more traditional dances and rituals done in the rural villages of Malawi. These are highly symbolic and carry a lot of meaning. Every tribe’s ceremonies vary slightly, but they all involve music and dancing in some form. This music is mostly with African drums and other naturally-made instruments as well as their voices.
For example, the first few videos in the compilation were from one of my fellow teachers showing footage of some of the dances that are part of Gule Wamkulu, a group of ceremonial dances and other rituals that are part of the Chewa Tribe in the central region of Malawi. Gule Wamkulu (“The Great Dance”) is a secretive and sacred Chewa dance performed for initiations, funerals, and major ceremonies.
