If you have attended a traditional wedding before, or what most people refer to as Ruracio, you’ll notice a set of traditions that vary among the different Kenyan tribes. However, one practice that stands out for most people is where the bride and other women are entirely covered up, and the groom asked to select his future wife. This tradition has been there for years, but recently, a section of Kenyans feel like the bride’s family takes the process a bit too far. The groom can be fined if he picks the wrong person, and in other cases, the bride’s family refuses to hand her over to the groom.
On Wednesday, pictures of a ‘ruracio heist’ left netizens talking. The photos taken by Qip Photography during an engagement party in Kericho County showed the bride and the other women completely covered in red, white, and black patterned shukas. The masks, replicas of costumes donned by actors in the Spanish hit drama series ‘Money Heist’, however, stood out for most people.
ALSO READ: Power of ruracio: Why Kikuyu men rarely go for dowry refunds
According to the photographer, the couple aimed for the function to be unique and fun. However, the photos brought about mixed reactions among netizens.
Ati kwa hii Ruracio The Aunties walikuwa wakiimba "O besha ciao besha ciao besha ciao mbeca ciao ciao ciao"????????#RuracioHeist#RejectBBI
General Badi pic.twitter.com/IAJCSiLybB— Anombi (@anombi) November 11, 2020
???????????????????? ...mjamaa must have had a very very long day. #Heist #Ruracio
Wewe ungefanya nini? pic.twitter.com/r3u2TwYvD1 — Maina Kageni (@ItsMainaKageni) November 11, 2020
Surely si ikae bas kama is this kinda torture?? Poor son #ruracioheist pic.twitter.com/V69mXmyoP1 — kesh???? (@Uno_Serendipity) November 11, 2020
Mi husema ule naguza Huyo ndo naenda nayo ni fine I’m paying. I came to get a wife I must leave with one — sidemirror ya ndege (@Livasiadenis) November 11, 2020
Man!! This is insane. ????????Hapa unakua na siku mrefu. Why lie.
— Mbogo Waweru (@MbogoWinston) November 11, 2020
Other traditions
Common among the Kikuyu, other tribes such as the Kamba, have also embraced the tradition. During the traditional wedding, what stands out is that the groom’s family has to cook on the wedding day. This is mainly to symbolize that the bride would still be taken care of once she leaves her home. Among the Luhya, the bride is usually hidden in the boma, and the groom has to search until he finds her. If he fails to do so, the groom is fined.
ALSO READ: This is not dowry! Kikuyu elder wants soda, beer banned during ruracio
These traditions are, however, dying over time as most people now embrace straightforward, modern ways when it comes to engagement and weddings.
