02/06/2026
πππ ππ πππππ π ππππππ πππππ ππ πππ πππππππππβ π ππππ ππ ππππ πππππ
STEP 1: πππππππβThis is when the man officially proposes marriage. He seeks the womanβs hand in marriage from her parents while accompanied by his uncles or father. The man and his people then pay a small amount called MWIVU as an assurance for commitment. The amount paid depends on what they can afford. β¦ At this stage, the groomβs father has little role to play but his uncles are the ones who do the negotiations.
STEP 2: ππππππππβAfter the kuhuhwa is done and the woman has accepted, on the same day, the man is told how much (dowry) he should pay to marry their daughter. If the man has the money, he can pay there and then or ask to be given time to raise the funds. In the old days, dowry was paid in the form of a cow. This process is called KWONDELA and the dowry is known as MATEMO.
STEP 3: πππππππππβ After the man has paid the dowry in full, he sends a person called KANGANDA in the evening to fetch the bride. Itβs done ceremoniously. The bride will be sent off with her chilombola (coach/mentor), and she will spend a night at the manβs house, who at this stage is officially his husband. The kanganda can be the groomβs friend, brother, cousin, or uncle. He is also given what is known as MUFUFU, a gift for the brideβs mother which is a six meters wrapper (lihina,) salt, soap etc as a token of appreciation for raising the beautiful bride.
STEP 4: ππππππππππ ππππππππβThe following morning, the family of the bride will come to the groomβs house and demonstrate to their daughter how to light a fire, greet elders, etc. (of course she was already taught everything, but this is done as a ceremonial ritual).Itβs also done to officially introduce the bride to her new kitchen. She can not cook for her husband until the rite is done. During the KUKWACHISA KUMAJIKO, the two families will cook and exchange food, and later, at sunset, they will sit down with the newlyweds and tell facts about marriage, including introducing each member of the family. On this day, the two families eat and rejoice to celebrate the new couple. KUCHISA KUMAJIKO is also called KUTELEKESA.
NOTE: This tradition applies to the Lunda, Tchokwe, Mbunda and Luchazi.
