Gifting of Bride Family

Umembeso

What follows is ushukela, which some places call izikhwehlela. Some families combine it with umembeso, or with the izibizo, the gifts the bride's family has asked for.

Okulandelayo kube ngoshukela (ezinye izindawo zibiza ngezikhwehlela), abanye bakuhlanganisa nomembeso noma ngezibizo.

The groom's mother, in a wide red hat, leads the groom and young men carrying a trunk, mats and a goat to the bride's home, where her family waits at the door.
Scene four. The groom's mother leads the gifts to the bride's home.

What happens

  • The groom's mother brings the gifts and goods listed in the letter of izibizo.

    Umama kamkhwenyana uletha umbondo wezipho nezimpahla ezibhalwe encwadini yezibizo.

  • There is also a goat, called ubikibiki.

    Kukhona nembuzi ebizwa ngobikibiki.

  • Some families slaughter a goat for the groom, so that he may eat at this home once he has come in.

    Abanye bahlaba imbuzi behlabela umkhwenyana ukuze adle kulomuzi uma engenile.

  • The groom goes with young men to the bride's home, entering behind the mothers who carry the izibizo.

    Umkhwenyana uhamba nezinsizwa aye kubo kamakoti, bangena emuva komama abeletha izibizo.

  • The groom does not eat of the goat before it is offered to him.

    Umkhwenyana akadli imbuzi engakanikwa.

  • Some combine it with umemulo at the home where the young woman grew up: she dances on the dance ground (isigcawu) with a spear fetched from the young man's home.

    Kuhlanganiswa nomemulo lapho intombi ikhuliswe khona, iyosina esigcawini ngomkhonto owulandwa kwensizwa.

  • Umemulo has its own dance ground, and its timing differs from area to area.

    Umemulo unesigcawu, isikhathi siyahlukahluka ngezigodi.

  • Everyone returns home, where the young woman goes through umkhehlo inside the house, and insoyi or inkehli is placed on her head.

    Kuyabuyelwa ekhaya lapho intombi ikhehlwa khona endlini ifakwe insoyi noma inkehli ekhanda.

  • A goat is used for umkhehlo.

    Umkhehlo wenziwa ngembuzi.