Thread by @RealMzalaTom

1. THE SPECIAL MARRIAGE RITUALS OF THE NDEBELE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE 🇿🇼 (PART 2)

Upon arrival at the groom's village, umthimba ensured that the bride was concealed from public view. At this point umthimba was called umtshitshi womthimba.

2. The bride was not allowed to step on the soil lest the witches stole her foot prints, ukucupha inyawo. Reed mats were thus placed along the path, ukudaya amacansi as the procession entered the village to wild celebrations and ululations.

3. Umthimba would then wait by the groom's cattle kraal. After discussions and exchanges by the families a beast was paid for the entourage to sit down, inkomo yamacansi.

4. Some delegates traveling with the bride would then go to the cattle kraal to identify the beast that would be slaughtered to cola the bride, this time by the groom's father. A man from the groom's side was chosen to kill the beast.

5. If the man failed, another man from the bride's side was chosen to kill the beast. The father in law performed ukucola on the bride for the ancestors to receive her in the family. Ukucola process is as described in part 1of this thread. Usonyongwana wore the bladder as again.

6. The next phase was a ceremony known as UKUMEKEZA. For the ceremony, umlobokazi wore a crown, known as amantiya. It was made of beautiful feathers from doves or ifefe bird. She also applied a powder on her face known as isibhuda & had decorations known as ukubalaza or ukuloba.

7. The bridal dance /ukumekeza took place inside the cattle kraal. Osomthanyelwana danced first. The bride came next, holding the knife given to her by her father on one hand and indabula, small broom made from grass, on the other hand.

8. The bride would naturally advanced towards the groom, beckoning him to dance with her. Her dance was known as ukukhupha umqalo, as it involved a rhythmic movement of the head and neck, back and forth.

9. The two would dance until the matron, iqhikiza stopped them by using a short stick to tap the bride on the back to signal the end of ukumekeza. Thereafter, people would eat, drink and be merry!

10. After the celebrations the bride's family and friends returned home and performed a ritual known as ukwethula imincwazi, which were bands of skin or cloth worn around the head.

11. Usonyongwana remained behind to assist the bride at her new home. The last ritual the bride had to perform, at her home, was known as UKUPHINDA IMIKHONDO. The bride and usonyongwana returned to the bride's home after 3 weeks.

12. Upon returning home, her people shaved her hair and left a top knot, ukukhehla/ukubekwa isicholo. Isicholo head gear was worn by married women only. The bride also collected her gifts gathered from her relatives and friends.

13. The last ritual the burning of the gall bladders worn by usonyongwana. The two bladders from both families were burnt together in udengezi, potsherd. This symbolized the creation of a lasting union between the two families.

14. The ashes of the burnt bladders were finally deposited on the midden, esilotheni. At this point the bride was now a full fledged married woman wearing isicholo. She was handed over to her inlaws to build her new home. That's how the ancient Ndebele tied the knot!

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