I attended a dowry ceremony in Yopougon, Abidjan, Ivory Coast. In my language, we call it 'lobola'. Before this ceremony, there is another ceremony were discussions take place and the brides family creates a list of items they want. This may include a small amount of cash, clothings, alcohol etc. Of course this varies between tribes and families. The colours of the days for the husband's was purple and some beige. So I just looked for a purple dress. The husband in this occasion is from the Boule tribe. I know that tribe because I visited one of their villages and I know of Queen Abla Pokou. The founder of the tribe. The bride is from the Agni Tribe. So it's only the husband's side of the family that brings these items. Depending on the family, these may be given to the newlyweds or split with the broader family. The women are involved in the ceremony but I figured that makes perfect sense because the Baoule people use the matriarchal system. It was only with colonization that it changed to the patrical system. Otherwise the the talk from the uncle's, the bride coming in at the end covered and the husband guessing if it's her not all looked very familiar to me. I've seen it in South Africa many times. Unfortunately I was only able to attend the first part of the function and I missed the lunch/celebration...