Umembeso

Umembeso wenziwa insizwa esuke isiganiwe lapho isuke ihambisa izipho ekhweni layo. Izipho lezi zisuke zibhekiswe kubazali bentombi kanye nasemndenini wayo. Umkhwenyana ubhala incwadi ayithumele ekhweni ukubazisa ngosuku azofika ngalo ukuzoletha lezozipho. Ngosuku lomembeso abakubo kwentombi bahlaba izimbuzi ezibizwa ngokuthi amakhambi. Lezizimbuzi kuhlatshiswa ngazo abakubo kamkhwenyana basuke bamukelwa umndeni wakubo kamakoti.

Abakubo kamkhwenyana bambesa umakoti wabo bamuphe nezipho ezinhle kanye nomakotshana wakhe. Baphinde bambathise umama nezihlobo zikamakoti ngezingubo zokulala, amaphinifa, amaduku, izitsha, amabhodwe nezinto zetiye. Ubaba kamakoti yena umbathiswa ngejazi, isigqoko, isambulela kanye nemvubu.

Ukukhehla
Ngosuku lomembeso umkhongi uyamukhehla umakoti. Ukukhehla yilapho umkhongi usuke enikeza umakoti izipho emgcoba nensoyi ngoba usuke esezoshada. Lokhu kuyisiko nje kunoma imuphi umkhongi uma ekhonga.

English Summary
Umembeso is a Zulu traditional ceremony that forms part of ilobola negotiations where the groom give gifts to the bride’s parents and family before the wedding.  The groom has to write a letter to the bride’s family to give the date of when he would like to come and give gifts. The gifts are blankets, dresses and scarfs for women, shirts and hand towels for men, pots and tea sets. As part of the custom the bride’s family slaughters a goat for the groom’s family, to welcome them.