Zeni in her Xhosa attire.
Zeni and Ntombi. See the white decorative markings on their faces. I was told that long ago this paste (made of red soil) was used as a sunscreen all over their face and bodies. Now-a-days it’s just a decorative trait to show their Xhosa pride.
Muedanyi in his Venda attire.
The students battling between their cultural groups. Above the Xhosa’s and below the Zulu’s.
Ntombi dancing to her groups singing.
Xhosa’s repeating one of their calling songs.
Sikhumbuzo dressed as the man of the home for a play about the giving away of his daughter. Even today, girls are bought with a labola (dowry). They are worth more if they are educated (and to what level they have a degree) and if they are virgins. These things will add up to be worth so much livestock, i.e. cows. Each cow is worth so much money, which is then given to the bride’s family by the man pursuing her. This has become a real epidemic in some cases because the young men will not be able to pay the price so they wait many years to marry and in most cases fall into sin. Also, in most cases the family will hold two weddings. The first will be a formal wedding as we see in the States and then they will hold a cultural wedding where a range of things will take place such as giving the bride blankets with money attached to it. And in the Xhosa’s case, after the wedding is complete, the bride must solely serve her husband’s family for a week before they can start their life together. All the relatives will come in town: grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. and she will have to serve them hand and foot on her own as a sign of being in submission and becoming a part of their family.
The proud Senior class president, Matome.
The school choir singing.
Dancing….
Dancing….
And more dancing. These groups love to dance!
Stephen and Mpumi. Mpumi was our translator through it all and thank heavens because we would have been so lost in what was going on without her help!
Zodwa and her beautiful smile.
A play about dating within the Swahili group. The girl in the middle is Nkosi one of our Seniors.
To give you an idea of some of the singing we heard.
Some of the dancing for you!
Check out the colors!
This video shows the stomp that is very much a part of the (Zulu) dancing we saw. Make sure not to make the mistake of calling it a “kick” like I did because you will quickly be corrected and told it is a Stomp. :)
After much fun and learning then came the food! Each group made traditional dishes of their people. There was a range of things from sheep’s head to poijkie.
Stephen was much braver than I was a ventured to eat a Mopani worm. In translation a pickled worm.
As you can tell I was more apprehensive then he was. Although I can't see him eating it again I give him props for trying!
