Umemulo

The 21st!

When it comes to Zulu culture everyone if not most know about this ritual only because it's believed by the people that this is when the girl can give the cake to who they feel deserve it. Zulu culture allows yes because at this stage your family gives thanks to the Zulu child, saying "Thank for controlling yourself, it's now time for you to start your own family because you're no longer a child but an adult" However with the Shembe religion the girl has to stay a virgin till they meet someone who is willing to pay lobola meaning that to the family yes the 21st has been done but to then you're still a child.
Our topic for today, umemulo. Umemulo is a traditional Zulu coming of age ceremony for women. The rituals involve slaughtering a cow and the traditional Zulu dance Ukusina involving a spear.A woman's Umemulo ceremony signifies that the she is now ready for marriage.
The Umemulo ceremony, for the whole week the girl who is turning 21 years old is referred to as the bride, she sits in her room with her bridesmaids and is not allowed out and thebridesmaids assist her with everything she needs.
The family buy a cow for the bride and present it to her on the Friday which is the eve of the ceremony. Then she is allowed out but must cover herself with a blanket to welcome her cow. After welcoming her cow they sing and return to the room. Spirits are very high all around the yard as potential husband’s and the family boys slaughter the cow. Every single part of the cow has a part to play in the ceremony, the cow fat is used to wrap around the bride on the day of the ceremony. This fat must not at any point or circumstances break, because this is a sign that the girl is no longer a virgin. The other parts of the cow are used for deeper, private traditional rituals.
On the eve of the ceremony, all the girls must sleep by the river. They leave the brides home in the middle of the night in song while completely naked and only covered by a blanket as they head to the river. They all spend the night there around the fire singing and dancing. At the early hours of the morning the bride is then taken privately and tested to find out whether she is still a virgin. When the test is done, the older women run, singing and shouting as confirmation to all the people left behind at her home that the ceremony can continue as planned.
The girls then bath and get ready by the river and wait until the father or male guardian calls for them. The girls are all dressed in Zulu traditional wear and the bride is presented with a spear – this is a symbol of her victory and strength. When she gets to the front of her home she will then throw the spear and wherever it lands the father or the head of the home must run shouting words of praise and dancing to symbolise his gratitude, excitement, love and pride before the whole community.
In our culture every child belongs to the community so the head of the home will thank the community for helping to raise and protect this girl. After all this, the community is welcomed to come and join the family for traditional beer and food. They all come bearing gifts and each is presented to congratulate the the girl who is now a young woman. They all pin money onto the bride and in the olden days, this was the perfect opportunity for a young man with cows to propose marriage.
For the rest of the evening everyone sings, dances, eats and drinks in celebration of a young woman who has made everyone proud. Now show me a girl who wouldn’t be proud to be the centre of such a memorable ceremony.
#WhenReligionMeetsCulure #ZuluGirl  #ComingOfAge #Umemulo #Being21