Among the Wangoreme
people in Northwestern Tanzania when a boy falls in love with a girl the first
thing for him to do is to introduce himself to the girl’s parents.  The girl’s
parents then call their daughter and ask her how she feels about this boy who
has announced himself as a suitor.  If the girl declares she is in favour of the
boy, he is told to visit the girl’s household with one of his parents, and, at
the same time, the girl’s family calls a meeting to agree on the amount of the
bride price (dowry) to be charged for the girl. After this the parents on both
sides meet to agree on the amount of the bride price. Once this is agreed, a day
is set for the boy’s family to come and deliver the agreed amount. Traditionally
the Ngoreme pay bride price in livestock. It may be paid with cows, goats or
sheep, or a mixture of all three, depending on the economic standing of the
boy’s family. During the three decades from 1950 to 1980, the average
bride-price ranged from 30 to 50 cows.  However, since then there has been a
drop in the number of livestock owned by the Wangoreme, and currently, the
average bride price has shrunk to between one and 10 cows.

    As soon as mutual
agreement between the two parties has been achieved, the parents on both sides
arrange another meeting at which the day will be chosen for the wedding
ceremony. The groom’s best man goes to the bride’s household, and escorted by a
group of the bride’s age mates brings her to her husband’s home. When the newly
married girl first gets pregnant, in about the eighth month of pregnancy, she
goes back to her parental home to give birth and only returns to her husband
when the last piece of the umbilical chord drops off of its own accord.  As soon
as this happens, the girl’s mother calls a meeting of her close relatives and
friends to make plans for the day when the girl will be escorted back to her
husband’s home. The girl’s husband is immediately informed of the date of his
wife’s return so that he can make preparations for the guests. The girl’s mother
buys clothes and other members of the party come with a variety of presents.

   
When they are
approach the husband’s homestead they start singing the song Wabho Omona
Tuchirhe which means The Child’s Relatives Have Arrived with
clapping, ululation and joyful cries.  When the boy’s mother hears this song
heralding the arrival of her son’s mother-in-law she goes out to welcome the
guests.  By tradition she has prepared three goats as a present for the
mother-in-law.  According to Ngoreme tradition as soon as her daughter is
married the mother-in-law faces three strong taboos.  She is not allowed inside
her son-in law’s house; she is not allowed to eat with him; and she is not
allowed to touch his bed.  However, when she has been presented with the three
goats these three taboos are removed instantly.  After accepting these three
goats the mother-in-law is welcomed inside by the boy’s mother who receives the
gifts brought by the visiting party. Then the mother-in-law formally presents
the child to the father, saying "my daughter has now given birth, as I gave
birth to her."  This is really the climax of the day’s ceremonies and is
accompanied by singing and ululation from all sides.  Food and drinks are then
served and soon after this the guests depart for their homes.  However if they
come from some distance away they will spend the night and leave the next
morning.