Ukucimela

Kuyimfanelo kumZulu ogcina isiZulu ukuba intombi ngaphambi kokuba iyogana icimele. Ukucimela isiko lokuvalelisa ekhaya nasezihlotsheni. Ukuganisa intombazana akuyiwona umsebenzi kayise yedwa kodwa kungumsebenzi wakhe nabafowabo. Yingakho umuntu ecimela kuyo yonke imizi yakwabo, afike ahlatshiswe, afakwe isiphandla, agcotshwe ngenyongo ukuze abaphansi bamkhothe, bamqinisele uhambo lwasemendweni. Kuyo yonke lemizi uyahlatshiswa, alale, avuke, abuyele ekhaya, aphinde ahambe njalonjalo. Izinyongo ziyafuthwa ahambe nazo kanye nenyama eyisipho abuyela nayo kwabo. Izinyongo uyozichoma esicholweni mhla esina. Lezi zinyongo zemindeni yakubo azifake ekhanda ziwuphawu lokuhlanganyela kwayo lemindeni futhi kunika isiqinisekiso sokuthi abaphansi bacelwa ukuba bahambe naye umntwana wabo.

Lelisiko lingabuye libukwe njengokumondla umntwana ngokuhlanganyela, izihlobo kanye nomndeni. Ukucimela kuyisiko lamaZulu. Isiko lokuvalelisa intombazane ngaphambi kokuba iyogana. Eqinisweni usuke evalelisa kogogo nomkhulu abangasekho. Kuyo yonke lemizi kuyabikwa emsamo ngempepho, kunxuswa kwabadala ukuba bahambe nayo intombazana. Ukucimela kwenziwa ngemuva komcimbi wembuzi yabakhongi. Ukucimela komntwana kuqhutshwa ngosiko lwakhona kusukela ekuqaleni kuze kube sekugcineni. Ngisho ngabe basaphila omkhulu nogogo bakhe kodwa uyoqonda ngqo kuninalume kuqala.

English Summary
Marriage in the Zulu Culture is a process which involves a lot of stages to be taken into consideration before the wife-to-be embarks on the journey of marriage. This means a stage which is known as ukucimela is performed to wish the wife-to-be good luck and best of wishes in the near future. It clearly indicates that the girl is preparing to leave her family for her new family. The fact that two people are getting married does not mean that it’s only the two of them involved, but both families are getting married too. In the Zulu culture ancestors play a major role in every norm or culture that is practised, therefore during this ceremony ancestors are being notified. Incense is burnt, then a goat is slaughtered. This signifies the fact that the wife-to-be will have a safe journey into the life of marriage.

By: Sbo Dladla
Reference: Mr GC Cele, Ohlange, eNanda