SIKOLETHU
Today was finally our big day , I got home two days back and I've been locked up in my room since , I'm not allowed out.
Mom : "Come Siko , we don't wanna be late." She had my outfit in her hand and she was gonna help me get dressed. I was dressed in a traditional skirt known as Isidwaba , a plain white vest , white takkies with beads known as ogogo shoes. I had many beads on me as accessories. MaSibiya came in and helped me wear the traditional animal skin over my shoulders , it covered almost my whole upper body and my bump was safely hidden. Mom put on Inkehli on my head.
Mom : "Waze wamuhle." She said wiping the corner of her eyes. I smiled.
MaSibiya : "Indeed you are beautiful makoti." She smiles , kisses me then walks out. Uncle Smiso came in with dad and handed me Umkhonto neHawu (spear & a shield). I could hear singing outside the room. Lindi walked in
Lindi : "Nazi izimpelezi emnyango , let's go." She was my maid of honor since Thube couldn't , we walked out and I was in the front , in the middle. It was a singing battle , the groom's side of the family was also singing their own songs and they were singing on top of their lungs.
I caught a glimpse of my man , his father and brother. They were wearing amaBheshu with animal skins over their shoulders , the King had a crown and was carrying a royal sceptre with his one hand ; MaSibiya was in a long elegant back dress that had traditional prints and isiChoyo while Lwa's sisters were also in traditional printed princess dresses.
We finally met in the middle of the yard as the singing subsided. The exchange of gifts between both families took place and now was my turn. Ndondo laid a grassmat in the centre of the crowd and I was told to sit after they placed a cushion to sit on. Lwa helped me sit then his mother came carrying a dish with gifts inside , she placed it in front of me
MaSibiya : Siyakwamukela lay'khaya makoti. These are our gifts to you." She places a mink blanket on my shoulders as she talks
MaSibiya : "We loved you the first time we met you as you were so do not change yourself all in the name of marriage , if you still want to wear your pink , green hair you kids wear today , wear it makoti. Whatever looks good on you makoti , wear it. Siyakuthanda ke thina." She says , the crowd ululates loudly. Lwa helps me up as my maidens take the gifts inside.
I lie another grassmat on the ground then a sponge , Lwa comes to sit on it and I grab the basin that had things inside.
Me : "I promise to wash your feet everytime you tired , coming back from work exhausted." I say as I imitate washing his feet and wipe them. I prepare the sponge for him to lay down , he gets in then pulls me with him then covers the both of us , the women start hitting him and he jumped out and ran away , I was laughing.
The ceremony continued until it was time for lunch , there were waiters who went around taking orders. The was the moms idea.
Lwa : "What do you want baby?"
Me : "Can i just have steamed bread with tripe and beef." Lwa ordered the same.
#
Lwa : "I love you sthandwa sami , I'll see you tomorrow morning ke okay?" I nodded crying as he pressed me against his chest.
Lwa : "Don't cry baby." They finally left and we were left cleaning. Tomorrow I'll finally be introduced to his ancestors traditionally.
Mom : "Go rest I'll wake you up when it's time to go." I didn't need to be told twice.
》》》
Mom woke me up and dressed me back into my attire that i had been wearing. Since we won't be having a white wedding , i was gonna travel in this attire , dad and my uncles were reciting our clan names while walking around the house holding my kist which symbolizes my coffin. The whole thing simply meant that i was no longer a Zikalala but a Zulu and I would be buried there if I die.
We finally got in the cars and drove off to Umzumbe , I was in the car with my cousins and gogo. Lindi was busy feeding me
Me : "I'm full now sis." She smiles and nods , she is so beautiful.
Lindi : "We've never really got a chance to sit just us both. I just wanna let you know how happy I am to habe you in my life after hearing so much about you. I never wanna lose you again sis and I hope we can work on our relationship and be close like I've always wished. I've always wanted someone my age or almost my age to bond with and I finally have you. I love you so much." We hugged and my emotional pregnant self was already crying.
Me : "I love you too sis. I also want us to work on our relationship , I'd be happy to."
We finally arrived at Lwa's and it was around 03:00 in the morning , it was still dark. We laid grassmats and sat on them as we started singing waiting to be welcomed in. Around 4am , helpers served us some refreshments and one came to me with a big container and a flask cup
Helper : "Sisi. The Queen said to give you these." I thanked her , they were already hovering around me to see ; I opened it and it was muffins with tea on the flask.
Finally Lwa's dad came to the gate to welcome me , he sprinkled some goats bile on my head , hands , feet and lastly on my tongue ; it was bitter but I kept my face straight. He then took my hand and walked with me as Lwa's uncles were now carrying my kist and Bab'Zulu was doing all the talking ; letting the ancestors know that I'm now their bride and they must protect me as their own at all times then they took me to the ancestral hut were they burned incense and everything then made me wear goatskin as a bracelet (isiphandla).
MaSibiya then took me to the house and dressed me in a bob-tube , A-Line white dress with a red detail on the end hem. She put beads around my waist , neck and beaded bangles on my wrists. Then my shoes which weren't that high but a heel , an Inkehli with a white big feather in front which symbolized purity.
'Uthe ubhuti asizom'landa , umakoti.' They sang outside the door.
MaSibiya : "Let's go."
We walked out of the room. People were ululating and singing as she walked me over to Lwa who had the biggest grin on his face. Lwa took my hands and kissed me passionately.
Lwa : "Thank you so much baby. I love you MaZulu." He kissed me again. Im happy.
