Choosing Negotiators (Uncles)

Ukukhethwa Kwabakhongi

Before anyone travels, the family chooses the abakhongi who will go to ask for a good kinship: the umkhongi omkhulu who leads, the umkhongi omncane who accompanies him, one or two young women, and the unobhala who records the day.

Ngaphambi kokuthi kuhanjiwe, kukhethwa abakhongi abazoya ukuyocela isihlobo esihle, kuhlanganisa umkhongi omkhulu, umkhongi omncane (omphelezeli), intokazi eyodwa noma ezimbili, kanye nonobhala.

Under a large tree, the groom's family sits in an arc and chooses the negotiators: two men, two young women and the scribe with a notebook.
Scene two. The family chooses who will go.

What happens

  • The chief negotiator (umkhongi omkhulu) and the junior negotiator who accompanies him (umkhongi omncane, or umphelezeli) are chosen.

    Umkhongi omkhulu, umkhongi omncane (omphelezeli) bakhethwa.

  • One or two young women are chosen to carry the bride's gifts.

    Intokazi eyodwa noma ezimbili zikhethwa ukuze ziphethe izipho zikamakoti.

  • The scribe (unobhala) writes down everything that happens on the day.

    Unobhala ubhala konke okwenzekayo kulosuku.