Zulu-Xhosa Couple's Islamic Wedding Photos Amaze South Africans: “Culture Fused With Religion”
- A newlywed bride, Ramla Dlame, shared stunning photos of her Islamic wedding, where she wore Xhosa attire while her husband donned Zulu attire
- Ramla told curious social media users that they were born into the Islamic faith and have been Muslim all their lives
- Online community members congratulated the couple on their nuptials, while some confessed that it was their first time seeing South African cultures linked to Islam
- Briefly News spoke to the couple, who shared how they met and how they weaved together their cultural and religious traditions into their wedding
- Briefly News also spoke to the photographer, who revealed her approach to capturing both cultural elements within the Muslim wedding context
Source: TikTok
A newlywed couple with Zulu and Xhosa cultural backgrounds stunned the internet when they shared their gorgeous pictures from their Islamic wedding in Cape Town. People loved that they mixed their heritage with their faith.
The bride, Ramla Dlame, took to her TikTok account on 20 September, 2025 to share the images, which included the couple inside a mosque, walking the streets of Bo-Kaap, and witnessing the Mother City's beautiful oceans.
Ramla, who wore Xhosa attire while her husband represented the Zulu culture, shared with a curious online user that both she and her beloved were born into the Islamic faith.
"We’ve been Muslims all our lives, and our parents are Muslims as well."
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Source: TikTok
A description of the wedding
While speaking to Briefly News, Ramla's husband shared that he met his wife, who works at the Deputy Minister of Social Development's office, at a youth conference by Al Jama-ah.
"Luckily, a friend of mine was her colleague, and that's how we got introduced."
Regarding their wedding, which took place on 6 September, 2025, the Zulu man noted that their parents played a critical role in preparations, negotiations, and representations of both cultures.
"Thank God they are very much familiar with what Islam is."
The Xhosa bride provided information about how they weaved together their cultural and religious traditions into their wedding, stating:
"My idea was to have a wedding that tells both our stories. Most people think Islam is a religion for anyone of colour but Black. They're always surprised by that. I wanted to show that Islam doesn't take away your 'Xhosaness' or 'Zuluness' but instead enhances it even better."
Aisha Yahaya, a freelance photographer for the wedding, told Briefly News about her approach to capturing elements of both the Zulu and Xhosa traditions within the Muslim faith.
"When people think of Muslim weddings, they often think that one must dress in an Arab-styled outfit like an abaya or thobe, so the couple wearing their traditional outfits showed that one's culture can still reflect in their religion."
Aisha said that despite her nerves and excitement, she wanted to capture that reflection in the best way possible, even if it meant taking over 600 pictures. As for what the experience taught her, the photographer noted that she learned a lot about Black South African Muslims and how they have found an incredible way to practise Islam without completely abandoning their culture.
South Africans adore newlywed Muslim couple
Hundreds of members from the online community were in awe of the stunning wedding pictures. A few people even admitted that they had never seen Zulu and Xhosa individuals practising the Muslim faith.
@saadiyahhhhhh told Ramla and her husband:
"Now this is the perfect presentation of Islam, no need to leave your culture as long as it doesn't interfere with Islam. Allahumma barik (may Allah bless you). So beautiful."
@pamepgoygu6 confessed in the comment section:
"I had no idea this was an option."
@jasminamomberg said to the woman:
"What a beautiful bride, Ramla. Mubarak to you and your husband. May Allah SWT bless your union, grant you a life filled with love and goodness, and always keep you in His obedience inshallah ameen. Wishing you a beautiful journey together in this Dunya and eternal happiness in Jannah. Love you both."
Source: TikTok
After hearing the track that accompanied the images, @nozulumchumane0 added under the post:
"Unusual song, I never expected to hear this religion’s music with an indigenous language. The song is very nice, though. Culture fused with religion. Very interesting. Stay blessed, new couple."
@2real_gent wrote in the comments:
"This is truly so beautiful. It’s so refreshing to see our South Africans, Xhosas and Zulus, beautifully merging through Islam. Islam is not only for Whites, Indians, Arabs or northern Africans. Islam has no race. It's truly so incredible to see the children of Africa embracing Islam. May Allah grant you everything you wish for and Barakah in your marriage."
@ytmeloniepeppers, who was mesmerised by some of the photos, stated:
"The overhead picture at the mosque belongs in a magazine or perhaps a school textbook."
Take a look at the TikTok post below:
3 Other stories about weddings
- In another article, Briefly News reported that a local couple satirically set up a pricing guide for their tables at their wedding reception. The packages, with amazing perks, included gold, silver, and bronze table reservations.
- A newlywed woman listed the cost-effective elements that made her intimate wedding special. The non-traditional moments had personal touches that sparked a mixture of opinions on the inclusion of specific cultural rituals.
- A viral video of a grandmother's journey of getting ready for her white wedding deeply touched social media users. They were moved by her beauty and the groom's emotional reaction.
Updated by Hilary Sekgota, Human Interest HOD at Briefly News.
Source: Briefly News
