Zulu Traditional Marriage in South Africa
The Zulu are a Nguni ethnic group in Southern Africa. With a population of over 15 million, they form South Africa the largest ethnic group. Small numbers also live in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique. Living mainly in the province of KwazaZulu-Natal.
They originated from Nguni communities who took part in the Bantu migration over millennia. Their language is Zulu or isiZulu, which is a Bantu language; more specifically part of the Nguni subgroup.
Zulu Marriage Custom: Zulu traditional wedding culture
The traditional Zulu wedding is called umabo. As with most cultures, there are different stages in a Zulu wedding. A traditional Zulu wedding is quite different but also has distinctive stages.
When a Zulu girl informs her father that shes ready to get married, her father arranges a ceremony to inform the public about her availability. Once the bride finds a suitor, the bride price payment called Loloba is next.
The Zulus try very hard to stick to the traditional part such as lobola (which is paid by the groom), umembheso (done by the groom’s family to the bride’s family including the bride according to the list) and umabo (by the bride’s family to the groom’s family including the groom) – they usually do not compromise on these.
Once lobola has been paid izibizo will follow, where gifts are given to the brides family, followed by umbondo where the bride reciprocates by buying groceries for the grooms family, and finally the actual wedding or umabo.
Setting the wedding Date (Ukubona Izinkomo) : Zulu wedding date preparations
The wedding process starts with Lobola (bride price), which is the most important aspect of the marriage. This wedding stage is when the grooms family and the brides family meet officially to discuss the grooms intentions for his bride and how much he is willing to offer the family for their daughters bride price.
After finalizing lobola, the wedding date is set. This process is called Ukubona Izinkomo. Having agreed on a date, the brides family will go back home with the cows and start the wedding preparations.
Zulu Wedding Preparations: Zulu traditional wedding cost
The brides family will slaughter a goat to appease the ancestors about their daughters marriage. The goat is used in a ceremony known as Umncamo for the ancestors to protect the daughter. The grooms family will slaughter a goat to welcome the bride into the family.
Bride Family Sendoff
The traditional Zulu wedding always takes place at the family home of the groom. The bride will leave her home early in the morning, covered in a blanket given to her by her mother.
The brides father leads her to her new family home, and she is advised not to look back, so as not to invite bad luck. The brides father will call out the family’s clan names, telling the ancestors that his daughter is officially leaving home to join another family.
On arrival at the grooms house, the bride must walk around the house to be introduced to her husbands ancestors, before entering the home through the kitchen while nobody is noticing the grooms family will pay a penalty for not being aware of the bride they should have gone to fetch her. The brides family also comes early in the morning, with the wedding ceremony starting at around midday.
Wedding Ceremony
Traditionally the brides family was not allowed to attend umabo (wedding), however, this has now changed as the brides family is now expected to attend.
During this ceremony, the family of the groom slaughters a cow to show that they are accepting the bride into their home. The bride puts money inside the stomach of the cow while the crowd looks on.
This is a sign that she is now part of the family. He also buys a goat that is slaughtered after the head of the family has spoken. The father of the groom opens the ceremony by welcoming his new daughter, with the brides father also saying some words, as a sign that he approves of the union. During the ceremony, there is dancing and merriment. Lots of drinks (sorghum beer) and foods are served as everyone feast.
Throughout the ceremony, the bride will carry a small knife which implies that she is a virgin. One of the highlights of a traditional wedding comes when the parties from the brides and the grooms families compete with each other in Zulu dance and songs.
The bride and groom families will have a singing contest between the two families about who the bride belongs to, Umakhoti ngowethu is often sung by the grooms family. The song describes that the bride belongs to the grooms family and that the bride will cook and clean for the family and that they welcome her to do so.
Ukwaba
While gifts and money are given to the brides family before the wedding, on the day of the umabo it is the turn of the bride to give the gifts. The bride gifts every member of the groom’s family a blanket. This tradition is called Ukwaba. Even the long-deceased family members receive gifts and are represented by the living ones.
The brides family buys grass mats, beer pots for the men, as well as some pieces of furniture and brooms, which are given out to the guests at the wedding by the bridesmaids and sisters of the bride.
The family cover themselves with blankets in an open area where everybody will see. The spectators ululate, sing, and dance for the family.
