[1] Within the Xhosa culture, marriage was as describe by Peter was “exogamous”, meaning that had to be between members of two different clans, this rule extended to the grandmothers from both the mother and father of the bride and groom. (Magubane, 1998)Although this rule may no longer be as strict as before, it is however still regarded as disgraceful to be married to someone who has either the mother or the father’s clan name, as they couple would be regarded as relatives.
In the past, the wife had to leave her people and go to live with the husband’s family, as she now belonged to them. Marriage was also seen as a way to form an alliance between two clans, thus the gift of labola.
