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Lobola Letter in Xhosa
A respectful lobola negotiation letter template in Xhosa — adapt the [placeholders] to your families, then it is ready to send.
[UMHLA]
Kusapho lakwa-[IFANI YOSAPHO LWAMAKOTI]
[IDILESI YEKHAYA]
Molweni Zihlobo, bantu abadala kunye nosapho lonke lakwa-[IFANI YOSAPHO LWAMAKOTI],
Siyanibulisa ngembeko enkulu nangokuthobeka. Asizi kuni njengabantu basemzini, koko sizise njengosapho olufuna ukumanyana nosapho lwenu.
Thina singusapho lakwa-[IFANI YOSAPHO LOMYENI] base-[INDAWO/IZIDUKO ZOMYENI]. Lulonwabo kuthi ukunibhalela egameni lonyana wethu, u-[IGAMA ELIPHELELEYO LOMYENI], unyana ka-[IGAMA LIKATATA WOMYENI] no-[IGAMA LIKAMAMA WOMYENI].
Unyana wethu usixelele ukuba ufumene intyatyambo ekhaya lenu, intombi yosapho lwenu egama layo ngu-[IGAMA ELIPHELELEYO LOMAKOTI]. Uthethe ngaye ngothando nangembeko enkulu, kwaye kungumnqweno wakhe, nokwethu, ukuba la masapho mabini amanyane ngomtshato.
Silandela izithethe zethu, kwaye ngenxa yembeko kusapho lwenu, sicela ngokuthobeka ukuba samkelwe ekhaya lenu. Sifuna ukunibona ubuso ngobuso, ukuzazisa ngendlela efanelekileyo, nokuqalisa iingxoxo zelobola ngendlela enesidima efunwa zizithethe zethu.
Sicebisa ukutyelela ikhaya lenu nge-[UMHLA OCETYISWAYO] ngentsimbi ye-[IXESHA ELICETYISWAYO], ukuba niyavuma. Siza kuthumela iqela labantu abadala abahlonelekayo aba-[INANI] abamele usapho lwethu, bekhokelwa ngu-[IGAMA LOMKHOKELI WEENGXOXO]. Sicela ukuba niqinisekise ukuba lo mhla uyanifanela, okanye nicebise umhla onifanele ngcono.
Siza ngoxolo, sineentliziyo ezivulekileyo neenjongo ezilungileyo. Siyayihlonela kakhulu intombi yenu, kwaye sizibophelela ukuyihlonela, ukuhlonela usapho lwenu, nezithethe ezisibophelelayo.
Silindele impendulo yenu nentsikelelo yokwamkelwa ekhaya lenu.
Ngembeko nangokuthobeka,
[IGAMA LOMKHOKELI WEENGXOXO]
Egameni losapho lakwa-[IFANI YOSAPHO LOMYENI]
[INOMBOLO YOMNXEBA]
Kusapho lakwa-[IFANI YOSAPHO LWAMAKOTI]
[IDILESI YEKHAYA]
Molweni Zihlobo, bantu abadala kunye nosapho lonke lakwa-[IFANI YOSAPHO LWAMAKOTI],
Siyanibulisa ngembeko enkulu nangokuthobeka. Asizi kuni njengabantu basemzini, koko sizise njengosapho olufuna ukumanyana nosapho lwenu.
Thina singusapho lakwa-[IFANI YOSAPHO LOMYENI] base-[INDAWO/IZIDUKO ZOMYENI]. Lulonwabo kuthi ukunibhalela egameni lonyana wethu, u-[IGAMA ELIPHELELEYO LOMYENI], unyana ka-[IGAMA LIKATATA WOMYENI] no-[IGAMA LIKAMAMA WOMYENI].
Unyana wethu usixelele ukuba ufumene intyatyambo ekhaya lenu, intombi yosapho lwenu egama layo ngu-[IGAMA ELIPHELELEYO LOMAKOTI]. Uthethe ngaye ngothando nangembeko enkulu, kwaye kungumnqweno wakhe, nokwethu, ukuba la masapho mabini amanyane ngomtshato.
Silandela izithethe zethu, kwaye ngenxa yembeko kusapho lwenu, sicela ngokuthobeka ukuba samkelwe ekhaya lenu. Sifuna ukunibona ubuso ngobuso, ukuzazisa ngendlela efanelekileyo, nokuqalisa iingxoxo zelobola ngendlela enesidima efunwa zizithethe zethu.
Sicebisa ukutyelela ikhaya lenu nge-[UMHLA OCETYISWAYO] ngentsimbi ye-[IXESHA ELICETYISWAYO], ukuba niyavuma. Siza kuthumela iqela labantu abadala abahlonelekayo aba-[INANI] abamele usapho lwethu, bekhokelwa ngu-[IGAMA LOMKHOKELI WEENGXOXO]. Sicela ukuba niqinisekise ukuba lo mhla uyanifanela, okanye nicebise umhla onifanele ngcono.
Siza ngoxolo, sineentliziyo ezivulekileyo neenjongo ezilungileyo. Siyayihlonela kakhulu intombi yenu, kwaye sizibophelela ukuyihlonela, ukuhlonela usapho lwenu, nezithethe ezisibophelelayo.
Silindele impendulo yenu nentsikelelo yokwamkelwa ekhaya lenu.
Ngembeko nangokuthobeka,
[IGAMA LOMKHOKELI WEENGXOXO]
Egameni losapho lakwa-[IFANI YOSAPHO LOMYENI]
[INOMBOLO YOMNXEBA]
English translation
[DATE]
To the [BRIDE'S FAMILY SURNAME] Family
[HOME ADDRESS]
Greetings, relatives, elders and the whole [BRIDE'S FAMILY SURNAME] family,
We greet you with great respect and humility. We do not come to you as outsiders, but as a family that wishes to be united with your family.
We are the [GROOM'S FAMILY SURNAME] family of [GROOM'S PLACE/CLAN NAMES]. It is our joy to write to you on behalf of our son, [GROOM'S FULL NAME], the son of [GROOM'S FATHER'S NAME] and [GROOM'S MOTHER'S NAME].
Our son has told us that he has found a flower at your home, a daughter of your family named [BRIDE'S FULL NAME]. He has spoken of her with love and great respect, and it is his wish, and ours, that these two families be united in marriage.
We follow our customs, and out of respect for your family, we humbly ask to be received at your home. We wish to see you face to face, to introduce ourselves properly, and to begin the lobola negotiations in the dignified manner our customs require.
We propose to visit your home on [PROPOSED DATE] at [PROPOSED TIME], if you agree. We will send a delegation of [NUMBER] respected elders representing our family, led by [LEAD NEGOTIATOR'S NAME]. We ask that you confirm whether this date suits you, or suggest a date that suits you better.
We come in peace, with open hearts and good intentions. We respect your daughter greatly, and we commit to honouring her, honouring your family, and the customs that bind us.
We await your response and the blessing of being welcomed into your home.
With respect and humility,
[LEAD NEGOTIATOR'S NAME]
On behalf of the [GROOM'S FAMILY SURNAME] family
[TELEPHONE NUMBER]
To the [BRIDE'S FAMILY SURNAME] Family
[HOME ADDRESS]
Greetings, relatives, elders and the whole [BRIDE'S FAMILY SURNAME] family,
We greet you with great respect and humility. We do not come to you as outsiders, but as a family that wishes to be united with your family.
We are the [GROOM'S FAMILY SURNAME] family of [GROOM'S PLACE/CLAN NAMES]. It is our joy to write to you on behalf of our son, [GROOM'S FULL NAME], the son of [GROOM'S FATHER'S NAME] and [GROOM'S MOTHER'S NAME].
Our son has told us that he has found a flower at your home, a daughter of your family named [BRIDE'S FULL NAME]. He has spoken of her with love and great respect, and it is his wish, and ours, that these two families be united in marriage.
We follow our customs, and out of respect for your family, we humbly ask to be received at your home. We wish to see you face to face, to introduce ourselves properly, and to begin the lobola negotiations in the dignified manner our customs require.
We propose to visit your home on [PROPOSED DATE] at [PROPOSED TIME], if you agree. We will send a delegation of [NUMBER] respected elders representing our family, led by [LEAD NEGOTIATOR'S NAME]. We ask that you confirm whether this date suits you, or suggest a date that suits you better.
We come in peace, with open hearts and good intentions. We respect your daughter greatly, and we commit to honouring her, honouring your family, and the customs that bind us.
We await your response and the blessing of being welcomed into your home.
With respect and humility,
[LEAD NEGOTIATOR'S NAME]
On behalf of the [GROOM'S FAMILY SURNAME] family
[TELEPHONE NUMBER]