Ukuhlukaniswa Kobulili Phakathi kwamaNdebele

© Dr Peter Magubane

Imiqondo nemikhuba emikhulu yama-patrariki kubonakala emiphakathini yeNdebele. Ngaphezu kwamanye amaqembu amaningi, amadoda aseNdzundza - ikakhulukazi asezindaweni eziphambili - aqhubeke nokusebenzisa i-polygyny. Amandla negunya lamadrarikali anikeze okuthile esikhathini esiqhathaniswa nalaba bantu njengabaqashi babasebenzi emapulazini amhlophe.

Izidingo zomsebenzi womndeni zihanjiswe ngekhanda lesilisa, eliqinisa igunya lakhe. Njengoba besuka emapulazini amhlophe, amadoda amaningi aqala amabhizinisi abo njengabashayeli bamatekisi noma abakhi, ngokungafani nokusebenza emayini noma embonini njengoba abakhelwane babo basePedi bebebeneminyaka eminingi.

Abesifazane abavela KwaNdebele bazosebenza iminyaka njengezinceku zasekhaya ePitoli bese bebuyela ekhaya bezokwakha ikhaya futhi banakekele izingane ngenkathi bexhaswa ngabayeni babo.

Ukukhiqiza nokuthengisa izinto ze-beadwork, amashidi, izidoli kanye nezinye izinto zobuciko kuye kwahlinzeka abesifazane abathile be-Ndebele ukuthi babe nokuzimela abazimele - kokubili labo abaye baba nodumo emhlabeni jikelele njengo-Esther Mahlangu, nalabo abanesifiso sokuthobeka.

Translated by Nsika Khoza