Angola traditional marriage "alambamento" the brides price
editIn Angola there is still a strong cultural tradition of asking the bride hand in marriage the alambamento or bride price [1], Angola Rising: cultural traditions; the bride price [2]. considered by same as more important than the civil or religious marriage. before a couple decides to get married they need the approval of the brides family and this is only possible if during the request everyone is in agreement that the marriage should happen. The young couple sets the date of the request. This date is agreed upon by the aunt and uncle of the bride as its necessary to bring together the whole family and a list is delivered to the groom of all the things he must get before the day of the request. The request day is set and the groom goes in search of all the materials so that nothing is lacking on the day. On the list is included firstly is an envelop with money. 300, 400,500 USD, depending on what the uncle stimulates. The height of the bride in cases of beer, the height of bride in cases of coca-cola or juice, a goat, a suit for the uncle and same shoes for the mother. This value can be greater, in the case that the groom has "jumped through the window." Jumping through the window means that the bride is pregnant before the wedding and the request is made stronger.
When the day came the family of the groom (father, mother, uncle, aunt, brothers and sisters) meet with the brides family to continue the wedding talk [3] a written request is handed over to the bride's uncle to be read out to all those present. If the brides father accepts the proposal then the groom has to go collect the alambamento/ the brides price. When the alambamento is presented and is complete and accepted by the bride's family then the wedding/marriage logistics plan can be put on the table by both parties to be discussed and agreed upon. After finalizing the wedding logistics the two families engage in song and dance and drink.From this day on, if everything goes well, the couple becomes husband and wife. Arriving at the wedding, some couples tie the knot wearing traditional clothes and some prefer to use the famous suit and tie with brides wearing the traditional white dress.On the day of the wedding the woman wears an outfit, a typical traditional clothing of the country, and the man wears a button-down shirt, suit and tie. Before it begins, the bride appears below a piece of cloth, to test if the husband really recognizes her.