AmaXhosa are one of three nations, known as Nguni, that are found in South Africa. The other two are AmaSwazi and AmaZulu. The AmaXhosa settled in the Eastern Cape and over time spread to the Western Cape.

The Xhosa nation is made up of tribes and clans. Clans are groups of families with different surnames but sharing one clan name. For example, Radebe is the clan, but the nation is called AmaHlubi. The clan name is the name of the first ancestor or family that gave birth to the clan. Clans make up tribes and tribes make up nations.

Over the years, we have seen people embrace different African prints including the Kitenge and Kente. In as much as the culture (dressing) exchange continues to take place, some things remain tribe specific like the Xhosa traditional wedding attire. Like most of the tribes in South Africa, the Xhosa have a dress code defined by one’s social status. So, it is no surprise that the Xhosa bride and groom adorn in specific ensembles during their big day. : Xhosa wedding traditional attire for the bride

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Xhosa traditional wear designs are easily identified by their creative beadworks. Their rich tradition of beaded clothes is mostly for aesthetics. It is not surprising for you to find a sophisticated textile skirt such as Imibhaco or Isikhakha adorned with beads to make it stand out from the crowd. Additionally, the color of a dress is reliant on the Xhosa sub-group, the specific region, and the social status of a person. Below are 20 Xhosa traditional attires for women. Xhosa traditional wedding attire The Umakoti, the bride, in Xhosa, like other African and western culture, is usually the center of attraction during a wedding ceremony. How she looks is of particular importance to the days’ proceedings because she has to meet traditional symbolism and look exquisitely good to outshine every other woman in the ceremony. These are 5 of the commonly worn dresses by a bride during a wedding ceremony
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Xhosa traditional attire has a special history dating back to pre-colonial times and a unique origin from the Xhosa people of South-Africa. The attire is symbolic in nature, taking different shapes and forms depending on the occasion. Africans, being social people, hold ceremonies and symbols with high regards. However, with the recent changes in social psychology, symbolism has been replaced with purposeful fashion statements and creative wear in the fashion space, leaving ceremonies as the only thing of social significance that are still held in high esteem

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Ethnic and cultural diversity is what has kept the nation strong including the spirit of Ubuntu meaning “Humanity”.

Mzansi is also known for its attractive cultural attire, that symbolises uniqueness, confidence and pride. Zulu attire has been around for centuries – women at different stages of their lives wear different attire.The older they get and as they get married – the more they cover their bodies.

Meanwhile the traditional dress for men consists of animal skins and feathers, the different kinds of skin indicates the status of the person wearing them.

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eally capture the essence of the big day. Colors vary throughout the entire spectrum, but some of the most loved are: blue, orange, mustard, emerald and purple. Usually, it’s the mix of prints and textures that really makes the dress stand out. The bolder, the better – these print mixes are so beautifully eye-catching!

Most dresses have an A-line bottom part and a fitted or asymmetrical upper part. Some are mermaid-style gowns, which flare consistently towards the hemline. The look wouldn’t be complete without spectacular, matching jewelry and head-tie (gele). All in all, it’s a superb display of prints and saturated colors which leave the viewers eager to see more.