Originally, the Zulu traditional wedding is in four stages:
1. Lobola: negotiation and payment of bride price (dowry).
2. Umembeso: Groom’s family bring gifts to bride’s family, based on the list they (bride’s family) gave him.
3. Umbondo: Maidens accompany the bride to take food to the groom’s family home.
4. Umabo: New wife takes gifts to her husband’s house.
Nowadays, many carry out the Umembeso like a Traditional Engagement ceremony after the lobola. After the Umembeso, they do their white (church) wedding.
So it’s now like, negotiate and pay the dowry first, then bride’s and groom’s families exchange gifts, then white wedding.
According to South African law, you are regarded as married when the lobola has been paid and some form of celebration has taken place (Consult with your lawyer). In this wise Umembeso can be seen as a Traditional Wedding.
You can share your own experiences.?
