5.1 3 The Steps of a Traditional Xhosa Wedding
Step 1: Ukuthwala (choosing the one)
The man that wants to get married chooses a lady he's interested in. He informs his family, and they visit the lady's family to talk about what they want.
Step 2: Lobola (bridal price)
The lobola is the money that the groom (and his family) pay to the bride's family. It used to be normal to pay six cows or goats. Now, it's normal to pay cash. If the girl has studied, the price will be higher.
Step 3: The wedding
The couple are not allowed to see each other the day before the wedding. It's a large event for the whole village. There's lots of dancing, singing and people drink a lot of umqombothi (traditional beer). At the end of the day the couple walk through the village to show that they are now husband and wife. The woman must always wear a hat or a scarf on her head to show that she is