Western Pondoland's monarch, the youngest king in South Africa, is preparing to take his first wife
Already plans are under way for the wedding of AmaMpondo King Ndamase Ndamase, 27, and his fiancee, Thina Tolibadi, 26, next year.
Ndamase, the sixth monarch of Western Pondoland, is one of three kings in the Eastern Cape demoted to a lower level . However, all three remain kings until their death.
The Ndamase royal family, who have led Western Pondoland since 1845, have challenged the Nhlapo Commission findings in court.
LOBOLA TALKS
But the controversy surrounding the Nhlapo Commission findings has not dampened the mood at Ndamase's Nyandeni Great Place in Libode.
Earlier this month, a high-powered delegation representing the king visited the Tolibadi family at Labrie village of KuGoqwana in Tsolo to pay lobola.
The Tolibadi family have demanded 30 head of cattle, of which Ndamase has already paid 11 head of cattle and the cash equivalent of 10.
The first instalment was made in October and the second last weekend.
The king, accompanied by chief lobola negotiator Prince Mlamli Ndamase and other members of the family, was also present last weekend to be seen for the first time by his future in-laws.
A ROYAL ROMANCE
Tolibadi and Ndamase have been dating for the past year-and-a-half.
Tolibadi, who has a masters degree in development studies and economics, works as a clinical psychologist in Port Elizabeth.
She is the only daughter and second-born of four children of Mzawupehile Tolibadi, a police captain in Mthatha, and Nokwanda Mbete-Tolibadi, a nursing sister at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital.
The Ndamase delegation was last weekend greeted with ululation and chanting women when they entered Labrie village. The king was accepted as son-in-law and sheep were slaughtered.
The soft-spoken king yesterday told the Dispatch that the couple were happy and in love.
"We love each other very much … I am happy to have a wife like her."
Not wanting to divulge much about their relationship, Ndamase was only willing to say he had met Tolibadi in Mthatha.
GIFTS
In accordance with tradition, the Tolibadis sent gifts of grass mats, a basket, liquor and a sheep to the Ndamase family as a sign of acceptance.
Mzawupehile Tolibadi said: "Thina is everything to us, a child and an advisor. We were surprised but happy that she is getting married to royalty.
"He (Ndamase), in fact, looks like a humble person and I hope that he and the royal family will look after my girl. She is a hard-working person, a humble child who respects people."
Mlamli said the Ndamase family were happy the king had been accepted by the Tolibadis.
"The two look like a good match.
"We believe she would make a good wife for the king. She's intelligent, has an open heart, humble and likes people. She is always smiling. All these elements are good for someone who will be a wife of a king like ours," he said.
The wedding is expected to take place early next year.
WON'T BE THE SENIOR WIFE
Although Tolibadi's family is of the Dosini clan, one of the two most prominent clans (Dosini and Jola) within the AmaMpondomise nation, they are not royals.
Because Tolibadi is not from a royal family, she will not be Ndamase's only wife. In terms of the Ndamase culture, only a woman from a royal family can bear an heir and become senior wife.
"This means that his majesty will also have a wife for the nation who will bear the heir of the throne. Thina and her family have accepted our culture and understand what is pertained by it," said Mlamli.
Lobola for the senior wife will be paid by the king's subjects.
Young king set to wed
Western Pondoland's monarch, the youngest king in South Africa, is preparing to take his first wife
Already plans are under way for the wedding of AmaMpondo King Ndamase Ndamase, 27, and his fiancee, Thina Tolibadi, 26, next year.
Ndamase, the sixth monarch of Western Pondoland, is one of three kings in the Eastern Cape demoted to a lower level . However, all three remain kings until their death.
The Ndamase royal family, who have led Western Pondoland since 1845, have challenged the Nhlapo Commission findings in court.
LOBOLA TALKS
But the controversy surrounding the Nhlapo Commission findings has not dampened the mood at Ndamase's Nyandeni Great Place in Libode.
Earlier this month, a high-powered delegation representing the king visited the Tolibadi family at Labrie village of KuGoqwana in Tsolo to pay lobola.
The Tolibadi family have demanded 30 head of cattle, of which Ndamase has already paid 11 head of cattle and the cash equivalent of 10.
The first instalment was made in October and the second last weekend.
The king, accompanied by chief lobola negotiator Prince Mlamli Ndamase and other members of the family, was also present last weekend to be seen for the first time by his future in-laws.
A ROYAL ROMANCE
Tolibadi and Ndamase have been dating for the past year-and-a-half.
Tolibadi, who has a masters degree in development studies and economics, works as a clinical psychologist in Port Elizabeth.
She is the only daughter and second-born of four children of Mzawupehile Tolibadi, a police captain in Mthatha, and Nokwanda Mbete-Tolibadi, a nursing sister at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital.
The Ndamase delegation was last weekend greeted with ululation and chanting women when they entered Labrie village. The king was accepted as son-in-law and sheep were slaughtered.
The soft-spoken king yesterday told the Dispatch that the couple were happy and in love.
"We love each other very much … I am happy to have a wife like her."
Not wanting to divulge much about their relationship, Ndamase was only willing to say he had met Tolibadi in Mthatha.
GIFTS
In accordance with tradition, the Tolibadis sent gifts of grass mats, a basket, liquor and a sheep to the Ndamase family as a sign of acceptance.
Mzawupehile Tolibadi said: "Thina is everything to us, a child and an advisor. We were surprised but happy that she is getting married to royalty.
"He (Ndamase), in fact, looks like a humble person and I hope that he and the royal family will look after my girl. She is a hard-working person, a humble child who respects people."
Mlamli said the Ndamase family were happy the king had been accepted by the Tolibadis.
"The two look like a good match.
"We believe she would make a good wife for the king. She's intelligent, has an open heart, humble and likes people. She is always smiling. All these elements are good for someone who will be a wife of a king like ours," he said.
The wedding is expected to take place early next year.
WON'T BE THE SENIOR WIFE
Although Tolibadi's family is of the Dosini clan, one of the two most prominent clans (Dosini and Jola) within the AmaMpondomise nation, they are not royals.
Because Tolibadi is not from a royal family, she will not be Ndamase's only wife. In terms of the Ndamase culture, only a woman from a royal family can bear an heir and become senior wife.
"This means that his majesty will also have a wife for the nation who will bear the heir of the throne. Thina and her family have accepted our culture and understand what is pertained by it," said Mlamli.
Lobola for the senior wife will be paid by the king's subjects.
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