Lobola Letter in Zulu
A respectful lobola negotiation letter template in Zulu — adapt the [placeholders] to your families, then it is ready to send.
[USUKU]
Kumndeni wakwa-[ISIBONGO SOMNDENI WOMAKOTI]
[IKHELI LOMUZI]
Sanibonani Bakwethu, badala nomndeni wonke wakwa-[ISIBONGO SOMNDENI WOMAKOTI],
Siyanibingelela ngenhlonipho enkulu. Asizi kini njengezihambi, kepha sizothi singumndeni ofuna ukuhlangana nomndeni wenu.
Thina singumndeni wakwa-[ISIBONGO SOMNDENI WOMKHWENYANA] wase-[INDAWO/IZITHAKAZELO ZOMKHWENYANA]. Kuyisithunzi kithi ukubhalela nina egameni lendodana yethu, u-[IGAMA ELIPHELELE LOMKHWENYANA], indodana ka-[IGAMA LIKABABA WOMKHWENYANA] no-[IGAMA LIKAMAMA WOMKHWENYANA].
Indodana yethu isitshelile ukuthi ithole imbali ekhaya lenu, indodakazi yomndeni wakini egama layo ngu-[IGAMA ELIPHELELE LOMAKOTI]. Ikhulume ngaye ngothando nangenhlonipho enkulu, futhi kuyisifiso sayo, nesethu, ukuthi le mindeni emibili ihlangane ngomshado.
Ngokulandela amasiko ethu nangenhlonipho komndeni wenu, sicela ngokuzithoba ukuthi samukelwe ekhaya lenu. Sifuna ukunibona ubuso nobuso, ukuzethula ngendlela efanele, nokuqala izingxoxo zelobolo ngendlela enesithunzi efunwa amasiko ethu.
Sihlongoza ukuvakashela umuzi wenu ngo-[USUKU OLUHLONGOZWAYO] ngehora lika-[ISIKHATHI ESIHLONGOZWAYO], uma kunivumela. Sizothumela ithimba labadala abahloniphekile abangu-[INANI] abamele umndeni wethu, beholwa ngu-[IGAMA LOMHOLI WEZINGXOXO]. Sicela ukuthi niqinisekise ukuthi lolu suku luyanivumela, noma niphakamise usuku olunifanele kakhudlwana.
Siza ngokuthula, sinezinhliziyo ezivulekile nezinhloso ezinhle. Sihlonipha indodakazi yenu kakhulu, futhi sizibophezele ukuyihlonipha, ukuhlonipha umndeni wenu, namasiko asibophayo.
Silindele impendulo yenu nesibusiso sokwamukelwa ekhaya lenu.
Ngenhlonipho nangokuzithoba,
[IGAMA LOMHOLI WEZINGXOXO]
Egameni lomndeni wakwa-[ISIBONGO SOMNDENI WOMKHWENYANA]
[INOMBOLO YOCINGO]
Kumndeni wakwa-[ISIBONGO SOMNDENI WOMAKOTI]
[IKHELI LOMUZI]
Sanibonani Bakwethu, badala nomndeni wonke wakwa-[ISIBONGO SOMNDENI WOMAKOTI],
Siyanibingelela ngenhlonipho enkulu. Asizi kini njengezihambi, kepha sizothi singumndeni ofuna ukuhlangana nomndeni wenu.
Thina singumndeni wakwa-[ISIBONGO SOMNDENI WOMKHWENYANA] wase-[INDAWO/IZITHAKAZELO ZOMKHWENYANA]. Kuyisithunzi kithi ukubhalela nina egameni lendodana yethu, u-[IGAMA ELIPHELELE LOMKHWENYANA], indodana ka-[IGAMA LIKABABA WOMKHWENYANA] no-[IGAMA LIKAMAMA WOMKHWENYANA].
Indodana yethu isitshelile ukuthi ithole imbali ekhaya lenu, indodakazi yomndeni wakini egama layo ngu-[IGAMA ELIPHELELE LOMAKOTI]. Ikhulume ngaye ngothando nangenhlonipho enkulu, futhi kuyisifiso sayo, nesethu, ukuthi le mindeni emibili ihlangane ngomshado.
Ngokulandela amasiko ethu nangenhlonipho komndeni wenu, sicela ngokuzithoba ukuthi samukelwe ekhaya lenu. Sifuna ukunibona ubuso nobuso, ukuzethula ngendlela efanele, nokuqala izingxoxo zelobolo ngendlela enesithunzi efunwa amasiko ethu.
Sihlongoza ukuvakashela umuzi wenu ngo-[USUKU OLUHLONGOZWAYO] ngehora lika-[ISIKHATHI ESIHLONGOZWAYO], uma kunivumela. Sizothumela ithimba labadala abahloniphekile abangu-[INANI] abamele umndeni wethu, beholwa ngu-[IGAMA LOMHOLI WEZINGXOXO]. Sicela ukuthi niqinisekise ukuthi lolu suku luyanivumela, noma niphakamise usuku olunifanele kakhudlwana.
Siza ngokuthula, sinezinhliziyo ezivulekile nezinhloso ezinhle. Sihlonipha indodakazi yenu kakhulu, futhi sizibophezele ukuyihlonipha, ukuhlonipha umndeni wenu, namasiko asibophayo.
Silindele impendulo yenu nesibusiso sokwamukelwa ekhaya lenu.
Ngenhlonipho nangokuzithoba,
[IGAMA LOMHOLI WEZINGXOXO]
Egameni lomndeni wakwa-[ISIBONGO SOMNDENI WOMKHWENYANA]
[INOMBOLO YOCINGO]
English translation
[DATE]
To the [BRIDE'S FAMILY SURNAME] Family
[HOME ADDRESS]
Greetings to you, our people, elders and the whole [BRIDE'S FAMILY SURNAME] family,
We greet you with great respect. We do not come to you as strangers, but as a family wishing to be joined with your family.
We are the [GROOM'S FAMILY SURNAME] family of [GROOM'S PLACE/CLAN NAMES]. It is an honour for us 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.
In keeping with our customs and out of respect for your family, we humbly request 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 homestead on [PROPOSED DATE] at [PROPOSED TIME], if it suits you. 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 to you, our people, elders and the whole [BRIDE'S FAMILY SURNAME] family,
We greet you with great respect. We do not come to you as strangers, but as a family wishing to be joined with your family.
We are the [GROOM'S FAMILY SURNAME] family of [GROOM'S PLACE/CLAN NAMES]. It is an honour for us 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.
In keeping with our customs and out of respect for your family, we humbly request 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 homestead on [PROPOSED DATE] at [PROPOSED TIME], if it suits you. 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]