Gomani V welcomes his bride Rishaladza
The VIP section at Kamuzu International Airport ( K I A ) i n L i l o n g w e yesterday reverberated with Ingoma songs and dancing by dozens of men, women and youths clad in resplendent Ngoni wartime attire.
This was a fitting traditional welcome accorded Inkosikati R i s h a l a d z a K h a n y i s a Mathebula, a South African national, after she jetted into Malawi to meet her royal husband-to-be, Inkosi Ya Makhosi Gomani V ahead of their wedding at Ntcheu Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) on November 2.
A special minibus took the Inkosikati and her compliment from the foot of the aircraft to the VIP Lounge, where she waited briefly before meeting her delighted husband-to-be, as Ngoni praise songs and leg stomping created a special backdrop.
From mid-morning, the various dance groups practised in their gender and age classification meant to honour and entertain the Inkosi and the Inkosikati once they united.
The dancing and singing later reached a crescendo after the South African Airways plane that carried the royal bride-to-be touched down at KIA around the scheduled time of 12.30pm.
The two later met a long queue of Ngoni officials outside the VIP Lounge, before they also stopped at a dozen groups of dancers who saluted and welcomed them in their songs.
They were later ushered into an executive Toyota Fortuner that took them into Lilongwe, with a long convoy of over 15 vehicles in tow.
Speaking to reporters, the Inkosi’s father, Samson Gomani Chikuse, said the royal family is happy that the Inkosi will tie the knot with the love of his life.
“We are all very happy because a chief needs to have a wife. Among other things, the wife is best suited to help in guiding young ones in the royal family and beyond.
