Le ndatshana siyishicilelwe ngu-Phumla Msani waseMagabheni, eNingizimu yeTheku.
Yahlelwa nguMike Msani noNkosikhona Duma.
Isiko lokucimela lenziwela intombazane esike isilotsholiwe. Ukucimela kusho ukuyocela izipho komalume ngoba intokazi isuke isizohamba iye kogana. Intombazane icimela koninamalume.
Uma intombazane iya kocimela, iye ihambe nempelesi okuyiyona ezoyikhulumela kubo koninalume. Umalume ohlinzayo uyaye enze isiqiniseko sokuthi intombazane iyalala ukuze ayihlabele imbuzi.
Kuvame ukuthi oninalume bacimelise intokazi ngezipho ezifana necansi, amavovo kanye nokunye okuyizipho eziyolekelela lapho esabela abasemzini.
Emuva kokucimela koninalume intombazane ibe isidlulela koyise. Iyaye iqale ngokucimela kuyise omncane bese idlula ngezigaba igcine ngoyise mkhulu. Ayigcini ngokucimela ezihlotsheni kuphela nje kodwa nomakhelwane nabo abasali ngaphandle. Kepha uma ingabange isalithola ithuba lokucimela kubona bonke, labo engafinyelanga kubona kuvame ukuthi balindelwe nezipho zabo ngosuku lomemulo noma ngosuku lomshado. Izipho kazivamisile ukuhamba ngazodwa kodwa zihamba nezeluleko.
Intombazane iyalulekwa ukuthi kuyabekezelwa emendweni. Ukucimela kumele kuphothulwe kungakaqalwa ukuphiswa kotshwala. Ngaphambi kokuba bugaywe utshwala kubalulekile ukuba kuqalwe kukuyolanda izinkomo zelobolo. Ziyonede zingagcwala isibaya, lusuke lishikishi.
OVERVIEW
This article takes us through a traditional process of ukucima that is done by the Zulu people. A bride-to-be practices the tradition of ukucima by visiting oninalume (aunts on the side of her father’s family) who shower her with gifts and advice. It is important for a woman for whom ilobolo has been paid for to go through the traditional practice of ukucimela as it prepares her for the life of marriage.