A Zulu traditional wedding — afrikanza.com
Zulu
They are found in the KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa and their traditional marriage is known as Umabo. This takes place usually after the white wedding and the lobola (bride price) and izibizo, bringing of gifts for the bride’s mother and close family.
During the ceremony, the bride wears isidwaba, a leather skirt; isicwaya, a skin to cover her breasts; and inkehli, a hat to cover her head alongside colourful beads.
She also brings some furniture and gifts for her new family, whiles she sits on a grass mat without looking at anyone or talking as a sign of respect.
When the groom is called to receive his gift, the bride gets up from the mat and makes a mock bed. She finds her husband and subsequently places grass mats on the floor leading to the bed, where he will sit.
She then takes a basin with a towel and soap and washes the groom’s feet and after the groom lies on the bed. He is, however, beaten with small sticks by the bridesmaids, which makes him rise from the bed, as part of custom.
