Planning A Traditional Xhosa Wedding: A Step-By-Step Guide

Planning a traditional Xhosa wedding involves a lot of rituals and community involvement. The wedding ceremony is held at the groom's home and lasts at least two days. The bride is chosen by the groom's family, and the groom's family also performs the 'ukutwala' or 'taking' of the bride to his home. The bride and groom participate in the utsiki ritual, where they eat goat meat and sour milk prepared by the groom's family. They also perform the ukucanda ibala, a walk to present themselves to the community. The bride receives a gift from her family after the dowry, or 'lobola', is paid.

The bride is chosen by the groom's family

In a traditional Xhosa wedding, the bride is chosen by the groom's family. This is followed by the "ukutwala" or "taking", where the groom's family takes the bride to the groom's home. The bride can return home at any time, but this act symbolises the groom's intention to marry her.

Once the bride has been chosen, the wedding ceremony can take place. The wedding, known as "ukwenda", is a community event lasting at least two days and is held in the groom's home. It involves many rituals, including "utsiki", where the bride must eat goat meat and sour milk prepared by the groom's family. The newlyweds also perform "ukucanda ibala", a walk to present themselves to the community.

The bride's family will receive a dowry, or "lobola", from the groom's family. Traditionally, this includes cattle or up to eight animals.

Xhosa weddings are a big event for the whole community and are an important part of welcoming the bride into her new family.

The groom's family performs the 'ukutwala' or 'taking' of the bride

In a traditional Xhosa wedding, the groom's family chooses a bride for him and then performs the ukutwala or 'taking' of the bride. This involves the groom's family taking the bride to his home. The bride can return home at any time, but this act symbolises the groom's intention to marry her.

The Xhosa wedding ceremony, or ukwenda, is a community event lasting at least two days. The wedding is held in the groom's home, and the bride is welcomed into her new family. The bride participates in rituals including the utsiki, where she eats goat meat and sour milk prepared by the groom's family. The newlyweds also perform the ukucanda ibala, a walk to present themselves to the community.

The lobola, or dowry, is paid to the bride's family. Traditionally, this includes cattle or up to eight animals. After the lobola is paid, the bride receives a special gift from her family.

The Xhosa people live in parts of South Africa, with most living in the Eastern Cape region.

The wedding ceremony is held in the groom's home

The wedding is a community event lasting at least two days, with the bride participating in rituals including "utsiki", which involves eating goat meat and sour milk prepared by the groom's family. The newlyweds also perform "ukucanda ibala", a walk to present themselves to the community.

The wedding ceremony involves sacrificing some meat to the ancestors. The bride, or "umakoti", has to eat the goat meat and sour milk prepared by the groom's family. The bride's family gives her a special gift after the dowry, or "lobola", is paid. The dowry traditionally includes cattle or up to eight animals.

The bride and groom's outfits are also important. The bride might wear a Xhosa wedding dress with modern elements, such as an off-white Duchesse satin creation by Asanda Madyibi with Xhosa beading and black stripes, accessorised with a Xhosa headwrap and blue beaded jewellery. The groom might wear a wrap skirt, traditional scarf, and beads made of Umbaco, a classic Xhosa fabric.

The bride and groom perform 'ukucanda ibala' or a walk to present themselves to the community

Xhosa weddings, known as "ukwenda", are community events lasting at least two days. The bride and groom perform ukucanda ibala, or a walk to present themselves to the community. This is a significant part of the wedding ceremony, where the newlyweds walk down the road and show themselves to the whole community. The bride wears a Xhosa wedding dress, which can be modern in design, accessorised with a Xhosa headwrap and blue beaded jewellery. The groom's outfit is a wrap skirt, traditional scarf, and beads, made of Umbaco, a classic Xhosa fabric.

The wedding ceremony is held in the groom's home, and the bride is chosen by the groom's family. The bride and groom also participate in the "utsiki" ritual, which involves eating goat meat and sour milk prepared by the groom's family. The bride has to eat these foods. The dowry paid to the bride's family is known as the "lobola" and traditionally includes cattle or up to eight animals.

The bride wears a Xhosa wedding dress, headwrap and blue beaded jewellery

The Xhosa wedding is a community event lasting at least two days, where the bride, chosen by the groom's family, participates in rituals including "utsiki", which involves eating goat meat and sour milk prepared by the groom's family. The newlyweds also perform "ukucanda ibala", a walk to present themselves to the community, and the bride receives a special gift from her family after the dowry, or "lobola", is paid. The dowry traditionally includes cattle or up to eight animals.

Frequently asked questions