isiZulu culture
Umemulo: what happens, and what to say
Umemulo is a Zulu coming-of-age ceremony that a family holds for a daughter. It thanks her for growing up well (respecting her elders, behaving well, working hard at school) and announces that she is now a grown woman who may marry. It is most often held around her 21st birthday, but families choose the time that suits them. Customs differ from family to family and between rural and city homes, so the steps below are the usual shape, not a fixed rule.
Umemulo is not umhlonyane
Umhlonyane is a smaller, earlier rite held when a girl reaches puberty; a goat is often slaughtered. Umemulo comes later, is a much bigger celebration with a cow, and marks that she is ready for marriage. In both, the family speaks to the ancestors (amadlozi) on her behalf.
What happens, in order
The order and details vary by family. In many homes the ceremony runs like this:
1. The family decides on the date with the elders and tells the ancestors (ukubika emadlozini), often burning impepho.
2. She chooses close friends as her izimpelesi (companions). For about a week before, they stay together in a separate house, practise the songs and learn ukusina, the women's dance.
3. On the eve or the morning, a cow (inkomo) given in her honour is slaughtered. Some families also slaughter a goat to make an isiphandla, a skin wristband linking her to the ancestors.
4. Early in the morning she and her companions go to the river to bathe (some city families leave this out).
5. She is dressed in traditional attire (imvunulo) with beads (ubuhlalu); fat from the cow (umhlwehlwe) is laid over her.
6. Her father or an elder brother sprinkles bile (inyongo) from the cow on her, to place her under the care of the ancestors.
7. She is given a spear (umkhonto), a sign of strength and victory, and leads the dancing. In some homes she throws or points the spear and the head of the home dances and praises where it lands.
8. Guests sing, ululate and pin money on her (often on her head or headdress) as their gift and thanks.
9. Everyone shares the meat and the feast, and the celebration goes on into the day.
Songs, dance and words you will hear
Umemulo songs are traditional and are sung by the girls and the women of the family; learn them from the family rather than from a recording. These words come up all through the day:
Halala!
Hooray! Congratulations!
Siyakuhalalisela!
We congratulate you!
Usukhulile.
You are grown up now.
ukusina
the women's dance, with high kicks and stamping
ukukikiza
to ululate, the women's joyful cry
ukugiya
the men's display dance, with a stick or shield
izimpelesi
the girl's companions for the ceremony
inyongo
bile (gall)
umhlwehlwe
the fat from the cow's stomach, worn by the girl
isiphandla
a wristband of skin from the slaughtered animal
impepho
the herb burned when speaking to the ancestors
amadlozi
the ancestors
imvunulo
traditional attire
ubuhlalu
beads, beadwork
Messages and captions to post
Short isiZulu lines for a message to the girl or a photo caption. Replace the name in [brackets].
Halala ngomemulo wakho, dadewethu! Usukhulile.
Congratulations on your umemulo, my sister! You are grown up now.
Namuhla sigubha umemulo ka[Nandi]. Amadlozi akubusise.
Today we celebrate [Nandi]'s umemulo. May the ancestors bless you.
Ngiyabonga baba nomama ngokungenzela umemulo. Nginithanda kakhulu.
Thank you, Dad and Mom, for holding my umemulo. I love you very much.
Intombi yakithi isikhulile!
Our girl is all grown up!
Siyakuhalalisela, ntombi. Kwangathi impilo yakho ingagcwala ukuthula nenjabulo.
We congratulate you, young woman. May your life be full of peace and joy.
Imvunulo, ubuhlalu, ukusina: usuku olungeke lukhohlwe.
Traditional dress, beads, dancing: a day that will never be forgotten.
Ubuhle bamasiko ethu bubonakale namuhla.
The beauty of our customs showed today.
Ngiyaziqhenya ngawe, mntanami. Uyintombi ehloniphekile.
I am proud of you, my child. You are a respected young woman.
Siyabonga kuwo wonke umuntu oze ukuzogubha nathi namuhla.
Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with us today.
Halala, [igama]! Umkhonto wakho ukhombe ikusasa eliqhakazile.
Hooray, [name]! Your spear has pointed to a bright future.
Sources
- Briefly News, "Umemulo ceremony: Everything you need to know about the momentous event" (briefly.co.za/29218-everything-momentous-umemulo-ceremony.html)
- Wikipedia, "Umemulo" (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umemulo), citing City Press and The Witness (22 April 2011)
- Wits Vuvuzela, "Slice of life: Umemulo, coming of age in modern times" (18 April 2019)
- isiZulu phrases and captions: written for Bhala, common usage, needs native check
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