This lecture will consider the historical context that provoked the study of this enduring practice of bridewealth payment, examine the consequences of such prestations for marriage and beyond—such as for women’s autonomy in reproductive decision making and the prospects for fertility—and explore other seemingly related but unanticipated outcomes, particularly regarding domestic violence. Various methodologies and data points are brought to bear on the research, and the lecture will conclude with some reflection on (i) the broader implications of the findings, and (ii) the way forward with this work.