Innodo – Course of Events [IX]: INFLUENCE IN SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICS

Innodo – Course of Events [IX]: INFLUENCE IN SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICS

Ndebele Woman at Lesedi Cultural Village, South Africa, Edited

Music is food to the ears and that is a phrase used by many music Artists and listeners alike. Recently I was listening to a group called Thembeni Boys in their Album entitled NgiMntwana KaNabani. I have to say that the Thembeni Boys are among the best Ndebele Traditional music singers as far as I know. I once wrote about them in the article entitled uMnganga / eMngangeni. One thing I like about old music is that it takes you back to the olden times even though you were not born at that time but it makes the mind to envisage the life in those days. I learnt that the longer you are detached from your people, is the more your heart gets close to them. Be it in exile or studying abroad home-sickness can be relieved by listening to the music that you love most. We know that many songs in the olden days were protest songs from tribe to tribe. A much clear understanding of this can be grasped after listening to all the African Renaissance Albums from SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation).

 

·         African Renaissance Volume 1:Zulu

·         African Renaissance Volume 2:Venda

·         African Renaissance Volume 3:South Sotho & Tswana

·         African Renaissance Volume 4:Xhosa & Swazi

·         African Renaissance Volume 5:Ndebele & North Sotho

·         African Renaissance Volume 6:Tsonga & Maskanda

·         African Renaissance Volume 7:Mbube

·         African Renaissance Volume 8:Traditional Dances, Wedding & Courtship Songs

·         African Renaissance Volume 9:Nguni Choral & Mbhaqanga

·         African Renaissance Volume 10:Ngoma & Indigenous Instruments

From the above Albums you will find great Artists such as Koernag NamaDlanga, Mafutjhana and many more.  I would suggest getting the Thembeni Boys Album, NgiMntwana Kanabani and listen to praises for icons such as Nelson Mandela and others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Innodo – Course of Events [VIII]: INOTHISO [Isimanje, inothiso yoMlobokazi]

Innodo – Course of Events [VIII]: INOTHISO [Isimanje, inothiso yoMlobokazi]

Ndebele Woman

 

You may be wondering of the word “Inothiso” and the words in brackets “Isimanje, inothiso yoMlobokazi”. The words are of course written in Ndebele language and the former simply means Gift Giving when translated while the latter means Ndebele Traditional Wedding, Gifts of the Bride. The Bride is called uMlobokazi. This article is simply about the gifts the Bride gives to the Groom’s family. This may differ from Ndebele surname to surname or family to family but according to my Saving Grace, my Sweetheart naMhlangu they go like these;

 

1.      uBaba

2.      uMma

3.      uBamkhulu

4.      uGogo

5.      uMyezani

6.      uNoMcwazi

7.      uNoMkhulumi

8.      iPelesi

9.      uMzanoNina

10.  uNoMafumeza

11.  uNoMadwadlana

The names are not in order so to speak and in the next Article I will be explaining their meaning.





Innodo – Course of Events [VII]: IIMPHOMEDO

Innodo – Course of Events [VII]: IIMPHOMEDO

 

Traffic Light (Robot in South African Taal)

 

It came to my mind that I should talk about what is termed Ukubopha IImphomedo among the Ndebele people. What exactly are IImphomedo? This is a question many young people won’t answer. Frankly speaking I also did not know of such but have seen it in many households in the KwaDlawulale Region. Ukubopha IImphomedo is an activity which takes place before a ceremony will be performed. This is done by Women called AmaQhakazana or Amaspitikopi and these are Ndebele Women highly dressed in Traditional Clothes (Amaphotho) and who have spent five years in marriage or less. It is a task of decorating the yard with beautiful Traffic Light (Robot) like objects and South African Flags which has many colors with a good taste to the Ndebele people. This acts as a message that there will be a ceremony in that particular household. The ceremony is called iQude as described in other Articles. The ceremony is thought to be a big one when they’ve installed IImphomedo. It is big in a way that it includes other ceremonies such as Idwendwe. A similar activity of Ukubopha IImphomedo is also done among the Pedi people before there will a wedding but they also have a term for it. They in particular use white flags which symbolizes a wedding to come.  So, next time you see Traffic Lights (Robots) and Flags (South African or Plain White) in the villages you must then know that there will be a very big ceremony of iQude or Wedding in that household.

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 



Innodo – Course of Events [VI]: uMnganga or eMngangeni

Innodo – Course of Events [VI]: uMnganga or eMngangeni

A Farm in Groblersdal, Edited

 

It’s been days since I updated IMBHOKODO ELITJENI, I was occupied with some work but at the same time had the privilege to befriend an Innodo Artist from the Villages of KwaDlawulale while searching for emerging Artists on the Facebook page of one of the Ikwekwezi FM presenters I came across this group named ISWENGWE SAKWATHOMBENI and took their contacts to further know about them.

The guys are extremely talented and I am looking forward to work with them once I am home for good. This time I wanted to discuss something I heard from Two Incredible and Distinctive Innodo Artists I always listen to. I have to mention just like in the previous Article “Innodo – Course of Events [V]: DIE-HARDS / TRADITIONALISTS” that I am not that deep into Ndebele Traditions but I do love our music. The Two Artists are the late Two Gunman (see. Two Gunmen & Ndebele Queens) and the Thembeni Boys. There is a song from Two Gunman & Ndebele Queens entitled “AmaTlawu” and in this song they sing about uMnganga.  The Thembeni Boys also sing about the very same Traditional Ceremony (uMnganga) in one of their rare Albums in a song entitled “iQude LikaThembeni”. I learnt from my Sweetheart naMahlangu that uMnganga is a kind of meat from a cow consumed by men during what is called Isiqwabadi which is a kind of gift giving ceremony during the iQude (Initiation celebration of a girl gone through such). I hope through Ndebele music I will one day understand from the beginning their ways, Ndebele people are deep when it comes to their ways just like any South African Tribe. The song from the Thembeni Boys when reiterated goes like this,

 

“Yeyi yeyi yeMngani, ufunani lapho na?

Ngibona umtshurhwana nje, ningena nemvalo na. (Inaudible)

SiseKangala Mngani lapha kwaMasilela,

KuneQude ngelikaThembeni Mngani

Kuyokudliwa noMnganga,

uMnganga udliwa nguS’gebengu uMfana wako-Emmah

 Maye mna! Mngani zingaki iintlipara zakhona,

Khuzibale zoke ngizizwe.

Mngani ngiyasaba, Ya, ngiyasaba ngiyaqhaqhazela Mngani

Kugedla amadolo ngiyathukwa Mngani.

Ngoba nangithi ngiphosa amehlo lapha Mngani eenGatareni,

Ngibona yena uJona uMfana wakoWale,

Ngibona uSodubuza uMntwa-kamaQhegu,

uMswa kaSkhosana liJali owagalela ngentonga,

ingakabazwa ixolo lasalela endodeni Mngani.

 Kanti nangithi ngiphosa amehlo khonapho Mngani

Ngibona uSinki Mngani, nguS’laki loya Mngani

nguSinki ngewakaMatjhiyane.

Ngibona uB’sehla uJimi wakwaMahlangu Mngani,

Kanti ukhona uIvern Kekana umbani wezulu

Ngingabala ngithini Mngani naso imbhodlomane yeMrhatjhweni

Nangu’ uBaba kadlula siyageza, nango uThizathiza

uKhona kanti noPeter uMswa wakwaMahlangu uKhul'khet

Ukhona uRaymond ums’ onje ngeFarigi umswa wakwaNtuli

Ukhona Nobatjeleni indoda ekulu ingabe’ endodenikuthunyi ithuli

YiJali ngewakwa Skhosana owagalela ngentonga,

ingakabazwa ixolo lasalela endodeni Mngani

nanguJacob umaphosa ngazo zombili ngewakwaTjhili umswa loya Mngani

 Maye mna! Utjho laph’ engitjho khona.

Mngani akhungithathele lapho

AbaNgenisi bobani na?

Hehehe, Heeee! ebaNgenisinapha kubotjhelwe imidzidlha Mngani,

Ngingabala ngithini Mngani zidoswa nguNofanezile uFani-Fani

Kanti nangu uSophie Ndimande ulandele ngemva

Ukhona nonoDarhile

Ungabala uthini Mngani nangu uMasontos Mngani

NanguMasontos nanguMasontos naye ukhona

Ukhona noHlanhla wakwaMahlangu Mngani

 

Mngani konakele uMnganga lo mkhulu

Akusiwo wakadalelwe ngewakatjheleni Mngani

Maye mna! Uyangitlhuwisa Mfanakithi nawutjho njalo uyangitlhuwisa

Mngani khezehle, khebabethe iposo leyo zehle Mngani

 Ngiyokuthoma ngeyokuthoma itlipara

Ngibuye Ngize keyesibili

Ngize keyesithathu

Mngani zabe ngiqedile

Nakubhala lapho jemdele ngingene uSomnganga ngenyama

Ziyangena iintombizami

Nginesumi leentombi Mngani nentombi ezihlanu

Zoke njalo jemdele zingene ngeMngangeni

Awu Mngani uyangithusa unesumi lentombi

Alo mina ngingaba yini ngibubodlhana nginje

Phela mina nginentonjana eyodwa nje ngezuba nje

Kanti noM'lelenjanami Mngani naku ungipontjele

Akhe ngiboleke ipompo ngiwupompe kuzakubonakala khona

Ngiyathemba nange ngabetha omunye ngamdula phasi

Le enzansi nami ngizayikereya yesibili Mngani

 

Ayi Mngani nakubhalileko ngoM’lelenjani uyifakele utjani

Nawumswegwabo uzabufaka ngaphasi kwetayere

Ukhambe uyokufika ekhaya

Khona lapho Mngani azehle azehle Mngani”

 

Now, Two Gunman & Ndebele Queens also sing about uMnganga in this way,

 

“Uzibambe Joji, uzibambe Masango,

Zibambe Mfana!

 

Siyehla Mfana siy’ eMngangeni, uMnganga ngewami.

Uzibambe Mfana

Siy’eMngangeni Mfana

KwaMasilela

UMnganga kaMartha Masilela

 

noSelina Jiyana

Zintombi zami lezo mina

uTwo Gunman

Uzibambe Mfana

Ngiyokwedlela uMnganga

 

Manje ngibize IIngwenya zodwa

Ungilaleleke ngizokutjela,

 

Ngibize uMtshali ubuya eWitville

Yingwenya nayo leyo

 

Ungizwe kuhle Mfana

Ngabiza uMadoda Mtshweni

Ngabiza uNgendu Mahlangu

 

Ungizwe kuhle.

Ngabiza usoSam ingwenya

 

YiPelesi ekulu leyo

Khona le enzasi

Uzibambe Mfana

Ngiyakutjela linengi igwabo

Engilibizileko namhlanjesi

 

 Uzibambe

 

Ngabiza uSunboy Zwane

Ngabiza uMabhande Masuku

eWitbank eMalahleni

 

Uzibambe Mfana

Loke igwabo lihlangene namhlanje

Ungizwe Mfana ngiyakutjela

Ukhona umswa wakwaMasango lapha

 

Oyikutana khulu lapha

uKhemisi Masango

Zibambe Mfana

 

 Ngomyakozako ngomyakozako

Ungilobolele ungilobolele ungilobolele

 

Ngiyamtjela uBaba

Ngiyamtjela uBaba

Ngiyamtjela uBaba

Ngiyamtjela uBaba

 

 Lomhlaba ungehlule

Lomhlaba ungehlule

Lomhlaba ungehlule

 

Ngomyakozako ngomyakozako

Ngomyakozako ngomyakozako

 

Ngiyamtjela uBaba

Ngiyamtjela uBaba

Ungilobolele ungilobolele

 

Wangilobolela

Wangilobolela

Wangilobolela

Wangilobolela

 

Zibambe Mfana zibambe

Zibambe Joji konakele la

 

D’riiiiiiiii

J’rarhey’di

Khuzibambe Mfana

 

Uyangizwa musi

Zoke iingwenya zihlangene la

Sizokubetha isibhuku kuphum’ ilanga la

 

SiyeMnganeni

LoMnganga ngewami Mngani

Mina uTwo Gunmen kwezamaNdebele

Uzibambe Mfana

Anikuzingenza litho

Umsana owabhalela isitimela

 

Zibambe Mfana

Uzibambe zomelele

uMnganga ngewami Mfana

Ngiyokudlela uSelina Jiyana”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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."

 

Innodo – Course of Events [IV]: CONTENTIONS

Innodo – Course of Events [IV]: CONTENTIONS

Ndebele Blanket, Edited.

Ever heard of fights among Traditional Music Artists? We have noticed such among the greatly talented Zulu singers of Maskandi. Insofar Maskandi is the most outstanding type of Traditional Music with many talented singers and other Artists of different ethnic groups drew inspiration from them and started singing in their own languages. Due to copy-cats hence other Artists end up shooting painful words directed to those who abuse their work. This has also been regarded as a game among singers just as in politics. Is such happening among the Innodo singers? As far as I am concerned I have never heard of any rivalry among the Innodo singers even though it might be happening but not noticeable. The Ndebele people are not large in numbers and are known as sensitive or shy people who only express themselves loudly with colorful paintings. How many people have you met in urban areas who are Ndebele by origin but speak another language such as Zulu or Sepedi? Well, personally I have met many and when asked about not speaking their language proudly they often say they do not want to be laughed at. Just like all people they speak other languages because they want to be heard and understood by those who do not understand the Ndebele language with so many R’s, Rha’s Kgha’s and borrowed Afrikaans words. I believe that the only thing that can harbor resentment in one’s heart when listening to Innodo is the exposure in dodging the Ndebele customs and ordinary mistakes we make in our daily lives. The famous Saai Plaas Boys who often say “Silele Ekhoneni” which means sleeping in a street corner are very good at warning people about the mistakes they make but again not so quickly in giving solutions to those mistakes. As for example there is a song entitled “Ngatjhiywa Bangani Bami” or My Friends Have Left Me, they are warning about being in many relationships, going to different hotels with different partners and moving with the clothing fashion. The message is that when one is absorbed by such things they end up in trouble later on in life while their friends are already married and settled in their homes.

Ngatjhiywa Bangani Bami

"Yelele mna ngatjhiywa bangani bami,

Yelele mna ngahlalela ubuBhayi,

Yelele mna ngikhambe ngigega neFetjheni,

Yelele mna ngikhambe ngilala emaHotela,

Ngatjhiywa bangani bami ngahlalela ubuBhayi,

Abantu bakutjhiya ucalile solo uthi batjho wenza izinto ezimnandi,

Ukhamba ulala le utjhinga le na le,

Weba abantu babantu utjhinga le na le,

Bayakutjhiya abangani bakho uyasela wena,

Ubuhlakaniphi abuberegi, iinhlakaniphi siyazibona zoke nje,

Zifana neNngwenya zamaBhande,

Siyakhamba thina!

Yelele mna ngatjhiywa bangani bami,

Yelele mna ngahlalela ubuBhayi,

Yelele mna ngikhambe ngigega neFetjheni,

Yelele mna ngikhambe ngilala emaHotela,

UbuBhayi buyabetha, bubetha ngapha nangapha,

unguMma, , uMntazana, uyiNdoda, uLisokana unguBaba kuyafana,

Whoop…!"

It is obvious that the person who is involved in such acts will not like the song at all, it exposes their dirty acts and that is itself a solution to the problem. The Saai Plaas Boys lead singer July “Wara” Mahlangu is indeed a Genius. Just imagine playing this song while driving with your girlfriend, wife or “side chick”, don’t you think it will hurt and make you realize the mistakes you are doing? Surely it will. The song can be related to many dirty activities we are doing on a daily basis and will help us change for the better. Big up to Saai Plaas Boys with such painful but true words. We must also remember that Artists often learn from their past mistakes and let us not repeat the same things.

Another hit by the Saai Plaas is entitled “Umuntu Ulala Aphenduka” which means a person changes while sleeping. It is a very fine tune warning people that they will never understand each other at some point because they think alike. At all costs you may tell your girlfriend or wife not to do this or that but once you go elsewhere they start doing exactly what you said they must not do.

Umuntu Ulala Aphenduka

"Yel’ umuntu yena ngeze wamrhona may’ umuntu mna ngob’ ucabanga nje ngawe,

Ngumalal’ aphenduka,

Uzokuvele akutjele amala,

Ngumalal’ aphenduka ngeze wamrhona may’ umuntu ngob’ ucabanga nje ngawe,

Nom’ akhamba ebusuku ngeze wamrhona…"

Last but not least from the famous “Wara” is entitled “Ithemba Lami” which reminds me of Mfazomnyama in his poetry when He said “Umuntu wasemakhaya akahlali nomuntu welok’shini” which means a person from rural areas does not date the one from urban areas, often such people have different mind-sets and a way of doing things. The message here is that people are no longer trustworthy nowadays, once you go elsewhere they begin with their dirty acts. A person from the rural KwaDlawulale Villages will say that their Sweet Love is in Pretoria only to find out they are fooling themselves, at times given names such as "Umsana wemaP'lasini", "Umfana wemaP'lazini", "Inkwenkwe yaseZilaleni" or "Rural / Farm Boy".   

I hope there won’t be any contentions among Ndebele singers but only advices to change us for the better. Painful it may be these Artists are indeed giving us that which we do not want to hear in our hearts which is by the way good for us when we accept it.