South African Indigenous Weddings- Culture, Customs & Traditions

Description

This book’s main area of interest is indigenous African weddings and more specifically their different cultures, customs and traditions. The book focuses chiefly on the heterosexual type of weddings of ‘ordinary people’ or ‘commoners’ of indigenous African descent and not chiefs or royal families. Traditionally, most commoners marry amongst themselves; they do not marry royalty.

The book discusses mostly formally unwritten customs, rules and practices of ordinary people belonging to specific South African groups. Chapters two to eleven focus in detail on wedding cultures, customs and traditions of the ten South African indigenous groups. These are the Khoisan, who are the first nation, Bapedi (Northern Sotho), Basotho (Southern Sotho), Batswana, Ndebele, Swati, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. It covers African matrimonial processes including for instance, rite of passage, lobolo, welcoming the groom/bride, transfer of the bride, exchange of gifts, dissolution and more. Importantly, the rituals and practices described in the book are based on research from various sources. It’s a must read for all- Malome, Makhadzi, Nozakuzaku, Mmaditsela, prospective Matekiwa & Mukhasha and youth.