Innodo – Course of Events [V]: DIE-HARDS / TRADITIONALISTS

Innodo – Course of Events [V]: DIE-HARDS / TRADITIONALISTS

R573 Road To KwaDlawulale, Edited.

Driving from Denneboom Taxi Rank on the R573 road towards KwaNdebele listening to Ikwekwezi FM and taking pictures of different places is such a great experience. This effected by the feelings of being on the South African soil and looking forward to see the family bring tears when looking back at the challenges one overcame. It is so true to some extent that spending more time abroad makes one to be close to their customs than before and appreciate the efforts of people who are always ready to help. I am certain that some people inside the taxi were amazed by this boy who did not care but took snap-shoots of every place until we arrived in Groblersdal Taxi Rank. The only thing which made it possible not to disclose my whereabouts was a lack of  a “sim-card” on my mobile phone, had it been there I was going to make endless calls and surely somehow disclose in my conversation that I am back from overseas. Thanks God that boastful action did not occur!  

Today I am discussing the attitude of a Die-Hard or Traditionalist to be precise. It is often the norm that those who listen to Traditional Music are very hard-headed, old-fashioned and stubborn. Is that true? Surely I do not think so, look most people who also subscribe to such music are not even hard-core traditionalist. As I mentioned before in another article, it is just a matter of taste and the understanding of what the Artists are delivering. In most cases it is the familiar experiences that we have which make us to easily relate or connect to this kind of music. Some who are from traditional families no longer care about their customs because of the so many reasons, one reason is that they believe it does no benefit them by anything and another is rooted from their recent believes. Many question the validity of this customs especially after becoming Christians and they do have a point/s which I am not going to discuss for now.

Well then, I was surprised at some point in time that my father did not fully know the family praise poetry or “Isithakazelo” and when asked about such He said that his late father who is my grandfather did not teach him. In 2011 I made efforts to learn as much as I can about the Masango family praise poetry and asked two of my grandfathers who were alive at that time and they taught me. All I wanted to know was its meaning and how it started. They themselves did not know where it started but found it to be as it is from their fathers. You see, because they did not become inquisitive I then questioned their seriousness about the customs they are so immensely into. I have to mention that one painful thing which also gave me some doubts was the words they all give when they do not have answers, “Sithole kunjalo, isiko lisiko” which means we found it that way, tradition is tradition.

So, an attitude of a Traditionalist in my understanding should be one of the most generous. Since customs are deeply about love, respect, discipline and so on therefore it will be unnatural for our elders to have a peculiar attitude even to things they are not familiar with such as the education of their children up to University level. Once there was a believe that when one has completed Matric they must go find work in the cities and help the family.  Nowadays we live in a very demanding and challenging world and Matric no longer holds as a ticket to success. It is often in education that these traditional people back away, a child may successfully complete high school and not able to further their studies at University level because of the believe from parents that they are now ready for work. I have seen men who are ready to sacrifice anything at any cost for their children to undergo traditional rituals such as the initiation or “Engomeni” (For Males) and “Equdeni” (For Females) and so on but less dedicated in educating their children up to University level. There are many other examples but to be honest a true traditionalist is the one who still retains the values of Ubuntu. Whether you are a Traditionalist or not, do not be a Scrooge! Listen to Innodo and still play your role in the family.

Below are hits by Vukuzenzele.

They are from Tafelkop Village, a place where I come from and one of the best songs is about Baba uVukuzenzele who helped the group to emerge. Nothembi Mkhwebane also helped the group to record their music. They sing about Baba uVuka and thank him for all his efforts in helping people. 

Vukuzenzele

"Woyaya, Yaya yaya,

Woyaya, Yaya yaya,

Thina s’khulele,

KwaMahlungulu ngaphasi kwentaba,

Ngaphasi koWuba noKomekazi,

Thina s’bambaneni ngezandla,

Siyokuvelela phezulu,

Siyokuvelela konoMtjharhelo phezu kwantaba.

Siyi Vuka Uzenzele,

uVuka lithole likanaMrhalaNgudwana kaMasango

Ngewathi,

“Vukani Madoda kusile sinyukele ngaphetjeya kweBhalule”

Aye ngatjho ukuhlabana ipi yegazi ayetjho ukuthi ukuhlabana ipi yokuphilisa abantwana.

Nang’ uVuka uhlale wandlandla,

Entabeni yaseRamotlokolo,

Wavelel’ eTafelkop,

Wahlala wandzindza entabeni yangehla kwegweni,

Utjhinga uRammupudu!

Yindoda engasengwa ligidigidi lamadoda esengwa yimunye!

Kwakwakwakwi…!

Woyaya, Yaya yaya,

Woyaya Yaya yaya,

Thina s’khulele

KwaMahlungulu ngaphasi kwentaba."

Dube LakaBaba

"S’yelele Mama, isiyelele Mama,

Woya siyelele Mama,

Yel’ uDhorhodere msan’ uyabaleka,

Woya siyelele Mama,

Yelu’ msanyan’ akwethu uyang’lulukisa,

Woya siyelele Mama,

Yel’ iDube lakaBaba liyangitlhuwisa,

Woya siyelele Mama,

Basitjhiye sobababili sinoMnakwethu,

Woya siyelele Mama,

Ye ngiyalila mna,

Woya siyelele Mama,

Ye ngililela aboMma solo bayako,

Woya siyelele Mama,

Ye ngililela aboBaba solo bayako,

Woya siyelele Mama

Basitjhiye sobabili sinoMnakwethu,

Ye ngiyalila mna ngiyalila mna,

Yeyi yeyi yeyi…!

Lilili lilili lilili…!

Hihi Hihi Hihi…!

Angikuzwa Mege,

Angikuzwa naMnguni  abakwatj’ abagwinya umkhonto otjhisako,

Wafika emphinjeni warabalala!

Anginizwa Makhosikazi Amahle!

Sikhumbule ekhaya eRide (Tafelkop)

KwaMabhoko sindeni,

Umhlaba unethuli,

uMabhoko akathomi umuntu uthoma omthomako."