How to write a lobola letter (with templates)

[Ikheli lomndeni womkhwenyana] [Usuku] Kumndeni wakwa-[Sibongo sentombi], [izithakazelo zomndeni wentombi], Sanibona. Sinibingelela ngenhlonipho enkulu, sethemba ukuthi nonke nisaphila kahle ekhaya. Thina, umndeni wakwa-[Sibongo somkhwenyana], [izithakazelo zomndeni womkhwenyana], sibhala le ncwadi ukunazisa ukuthi indodana yethu, u-[igama lomkhwenyana], isitshelile ukuthi iyithanda kakhulu indodakazi yenu, u-[igama lentombi], futhi bobabili bafisa ukwakha umuzi ndawonye. Ngakho-ke sicela imvume yenu yokuthi sithumele abakhongi bethu, beze kini ukuzocela ukwakha ubuhlobo nani nokuxoxisana ngelobolo ngokwesiko lethu. Uma kunilungele, siphakamisa ukuthi abakhongi abangu-[inani] bafike ekhaya kini ngomhla ka-[usuku] ngehora [isikhathi]. Uma lolu suku lungalungile kini, sicela nisazise usuku olunilungele. Ningaxhumana nathi kule nombolo: [inombolo yocingo], nicele ukukhuluma no-[igama lomxhumanisi]. Sibonga kakhulu ngokusamukela nangesikhathi senu. Ozithobayo, [Igama nesibongo], egameni lomndeni wakwa-[Sibongo somkhwenyana] [Isiginesha]

[Address of the groom's family] [Date] To the [bride's surname] family, [bride's family clan praises], Greetings. We greet you with great respect, and hope that you are all well at home. We, the [groom's surname] family, [groom's family clan praises], write this letter to let you know that our son, [groom's name], has told us that he loves your daughter, [bride's name], very much, and that the two of them wish to build a home together. We therefore ask your permission to send our negotiators to your home, to ask to build a relationship with you and to discuss lobola according to our custom. If it suits you, we propose that [number] negotiators arrive at your home on [date] at [time]. If this date does not suit you, please let us know a date that does. You can reach us on this number: [phone number], and ask to speak to [contact person's name]. Thank you very much for receiving us and for your time. Yours faithfully, [Name and surname], on behalf of the [groom's surname] family [Signature]

[Idilesi yosapho lomfana] [Umhla] Kusapho lakwa-[Fani yentombi], [iziduko zosapho lwentombi], Molweni. Sinibulisa ngembeko enkulu, sinethemba lokuba nonke niphilile ekhaya. Thina, usapho lakwa-[Fani yomfana], [iziduko zosapho lomfana], sibhala le leta ukunazisa ukuba unyana wethu, u-[igama lomfana], usixelele ukuba uyayithanda intombi yenu, u-[igama lentombi], kwaye bobabini banqwenela ukwakha umzi kunye. Ngoko ke sicela imvume yenu yokuthumela oonozakuzaku bethu kowenu, beze kucela ukwakha ulwalamano nani nokuthethathethana ngekhazi ngokwesithethe sethu. Ukuba kulungile kuni, sicebisa ukuba oonozakuzaku abangama-[inani] bafike ekhaya kowenu ngomhla we-[umhla] ngentsimbi ye-[ixesha]. Ukuba lo mhla awunilungelanga, nceda nisazise umhla onilungeleyo. Ningaqhagamshelana nathi kule nombolo: [inombolo yefowuni], nicele ukuthetha no-[igama lomntu onxibelelanayo]. Sibulela kakhulu ngokusamkela nangexesha lenu. Ozithobileyo, [Igama nefani], egameni losapho lakwa-[Fani yomfana] [Utyikityo]

[Address of the groom's family] [Date] To the [bride's surname] family, [bride's family clan names], Greetings. We greet you with great respect, and hope that you are all well at home. We, the [groom's surname] family, [groom's family clan names], write this letter to let you know that our son, [groom's name], has told us that he loves your daughter, [bride's name], and that the two of them wish to build a home together. We therefore ask your permission to send our negotiators (oonozakuzaku) to your home, to ask to build a relationship with you and to discuss ikhazi (lobola) according to our custom. If it suits you, we propose that [number] negotiators (oonozakuzaku) arrive at your home on [date] at [time]. If this date does not suit you, please let us know a date that does. You can reach us on this number: [phone number], and ask for [contact person's name]. Thank you very much for receiving us and for your time. Yours faithfully, [Name and surname], on behalf of the [groom's surname] family [Signature]

[Aterese ya lelapa la mohlankana] [Letsatsi] Ho lelapa la ha [Fane ya morwetsana], [seboko sa lelapa la morwetsana], Dumelang. Re le lumelisa ka tlhompho e kgolo, re tshepa hore le phela hantle lapeng. Rona, lelapa la ha [Fane ya mohlankana], [seboko sa lelapa la mohlankana], re ngola lengolo lena ho le tsebisa hore mora wa rona, [lebitso la mohlankana], o re boleletse hore o rata moradi wa lona, [lebitso la morwetsana], mme bobedi ba bona ba lakatsa ho aha lelapa mmoho. Ka hona re kopa tumello ya lona ya ho romela baemedi ba rona ho lona, ba tlo kopa kamano le lona le ho buisana ka bohadi ho ya ka moetlo wa rona. Haeba ho le loketse, re kopa hore baemedi ba [palo] ba fihle lapeng la lona ka la [letsatsi] ka hora ya [nako]. Haeba letsatsi lena le sa le lokela, ka kopo re tsebiseng letsatsi le le loketseng. Le ka ikopanya le rona nomorong ena: [nomoro ya mohala], le kope ho bua le [lebitso]. Re leboha haholo ka ho re amohela le ka nako ya lona. Ka tlhompho, [Lebitso le fane], lebitsong la lelapa la ha [Fane ya mohlankana] [Tshaeno]

[Address of the groom's family] [Date] To the [bride's surname] family, [bride's family clan names], Greetings. We greet you with great respect, and hope that you are all well at home. We, the [groom's surname] family, [groom's family clan names], write this letter to let you know that our son, [groom's name], has told us that he loves your daughter, [bride's name], and that the two of them wish to build a home together. We therefore ask your permission to send our representatives to your home, to ask to build a relationship with you and to discuss bohadi (lobola) according to our custom. If it suits you, we ask that [number] representatives arrive at your home on [date] at [time]. If this date does not suit you, please let us know a date that does. You can reach us on this number: [phone number], and ask for [contact person's name]. Thank you very much for receiving us and for your time. With respect, [Name and surname], on behalf of the [groom's surname] family [Signature]