A joyful three-day royal wedding saw a galaxy of guests witness the joining of the lives of Prince Banzi Tyali – a senior royal of AmaRharhabe kingdom’s ImiNgcangathelo royal house – and journalist Akhona Shwababa.
This brought a hive of activity to the sleepy university town of Alice, where Banzi, 37, lives, as well as waking up things in Bhisho, where Shwababa lived.
Their courtship began in 2010.
Shwababa, 33, is a producer of trufm’s Afternoon Drive Show.
Tyali is a direct descendent of the legendary 1800 AmaXhosa senior traditional leader Tyali Ngqika, who donated 1,000ha of land alongside the Tyhume River in Alice for the establishment of Fort Hare University and Lovedale College.
The newlyweds’ widowed mothers – Nkosikazi Nosizwe Tyali and Cikizwa Shwababa – were emotional as they witnessed their children saying “I do”.
About 100 guests attended an intimate white wedding at Thandala Farm near King William’s Town.
The two-day traditional wedding extravaganza in Gxwederha village saw hundreds of villagers joining festivities.
AmaRharhabe spokesperson Prince Burns-Ncamashe was credited for the lovebirds meeting nine years ago.
“We met when he accompanied Prince Zolile Burn-Ncamashe to an interview with the radio station. That is when he spotted me among my colleagues. He asked for my cell number from a colleague he knew. The rest is history,” said the bride.Tyali said: “The first time I laid eyes on her, I was sure she was the woman selected by God to be my wife, the mother of my children. I am blessed.”The traditional wedding started with a closed session involving rituals.Shwababa was officially welcomed and given the new name of Solule. This was followed by ukutyiswa kwamasi (dipping pieces of meat in sour milk to be fed to the bride).She was later led to the yard and given a traditional spear, which she plunged into the ground at the entrance of the groom’s animal kraal.These rituals symbolised her acceptance into his family and right to drink milk from the family’s cows, ensuring her future seniority among the prince’s other wives, if there are any.Eastern Cape Moral Regeneration Movement chair Ngangomhlaba Matanzima touched on the importance of respect in marriage.Dignitaries included AbaThembu BaseRhoda King Dalimvula Matanzima and AmaRharharha Queen Noloyiso Sandile, Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders former deputy chair, Burn-Ncamashe, a delegation from AmaMpondomise and Conise Tabata...