The language of love in Zululand:South Africa

Zulu traditional wedding: Photo credit Pinterest.com


The Zulu traditional wedding ceremony is one of the most fascinating and beautiful wedding ceremonies in Africa. The Zulu culture takes pride in its colorful beadwork and traditional attires which is worn on important occasions. In the Zulu culture, it is the women who determine whom they marry. When a girl is certain that she now wants to settle down she informs her father who then throws a ceremony to announce to the rest of the community that her daughter has reached the marrying age. It is at this ceremony that the daughter chooses her future husband from many different gentlemen who parade themselves at this ceremony. The future bride then goes on to make two identical necklaces of beadwork for herself and the groom to be to inform the rest of the community that they are together. The ilobola negotiations are the most important element of the marriage process.
The groom and his family have to reach an agreement with the brides family on what price they should pay for the bride. The Lobola is a way of the groom showing gratitude to the bride's family for raising her up. The lobola is also a form of financial support for the bride her children in the event that the groom divorces her. In addition, the bride price is used by the bride to buy gifts for the groom's family.

The Wedding Ceremony


On the wedding day, the bride is dressed in red and white ocher designs on her leg and arms.Pebbles are tied to her ankles for a rhythmic effect when she dances. She wears a veil made of beads and twisted fig leaves. Oxtail fringes are tied to her elbow and knees and goat hair fringe is worn around her neck. Before the wedding ceremony starts the bride's family slaughters a goat as a way of informing the ancestors that their daughter is now leaving her homestead. The groom's family also does the same to notify the ancestors.  Finally, the bride's mother gives her a blanket to cover herself on her journey. The bride then leaves her homestead early in the morning before the sun comes up for the groom's homestead, she is not permitted to look back when she leaves her family home. The wedding ceremony takes place at the groom's homestead with lots of dancing, eating and drinking traditional beer. The bride performs her own special dance which includes her raising her leg high as a sign that she is a virgin.

By: Ruvimbo Faith Chakanetsa

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