Ubuhle Bendoda (Umtshato)

Ubuhle bendoda is a wedding song. Directly translated, it means 'The man's beauty is in the number of cattle he has in his homestead'.

A man's beauty is indicated by his cattle; how many cows he has and how much he can pay in lobola (bride price). Lobola is the financial and ritual settlement between families before a marriage can take place. The custom is aimed at bringing the two families together, fostering mutual respect, and indicating that the man is capable of supporting his wife financially and emotionally. Today, most lobola transfers consist of money.

Play it as written, but maybe change which instruments that do the melody line. It is preferrable to use the alternative ending, but please choose accordingly to your musicians.