Abahlali Bakade be-Mapungubwe

Iintjengiso Zezitja Neempoto Ezibunjiweko

©Roger de la Harpe

Indlela yesiko leAfrika gade ingileyo engoni ibhoduluko begodu i-biodegradable. Ngikho imiphakathi ye-Bantu yatjhiya iinsalela ezimbalwa eziphathekako ukobana sizithole. Lokhu kutjharaganisa ama-archaeologist nama-historian abalinga ukuhlanganisa umlando wethu ongakatlolwa.

Kodwana kukhona into yinye esele ivakazelwe ngokuba lisizo ekukhombeni nekutjengiseni amasiko ahlukeneno wabantu be-Africa-zizitja neempoto ezibunjiweko. Lokha abathwa gade bangasebenzisi iimpoto ezibudisi nanyana eziphukako kanye nemijeke, abantu nenyana umhlobo we-Bantu gade benze iimpoto zebumbezi ezinengi babeka ngazo amanzi kanye nesphila.

Ngetjhudu iimpoto zedaka, zihlala esikhathi azinyamalali nanyana zingaphuka zingalahlwe ezaleni lesigodi. Ukungezelela, isiko elinye nelinye gade ligwala iimpoto zalo ngendlela ehlukileko, namaphetheni kanye nemigwalo ehlukeneko kuneyamanye amasiko ezifana nabo ncanthathu, neminye imida etjhinga le nale.

Ibizo Nendawo

©Roger de la Harpe

Njeke, ngokufunda amagwalo ahlukeneko kanye nokwakheka kweempoto ezibunjiwekwezi, sikghona ukubona bona ngezomhlobo bani wabantu. Sikghona ukusebenzisa iimpoto ezibunjiwekwezi njengobufakazi bokobana abantu besikwelo bebahlalaphi. Njeke iimpoto ezibunjiweko zibufakazi bokuba lithulusi eliyigugu lema-archaeologists.

Njengombana singanamarekhodi wamabizo wabo, iintjhaba ezinengi zakade zitjengiswa kwaphela ngokubumbeka kanye nemikghabiso yeempoto zabo ezenziwe ngebumba. Okurarako, ikghubhululo lama-archaeology litjengisa bona ibizo eliphiwa ipoto eyenziwe ngebumba wamasiko ahlukahlukeneko kuvamise ukuvela eplasini nanyana endaweni lapha ipoto yebumba yokuthoma yatholwa khona, Lokhu kubizwa bona yibizo ndawo.

Ngibone bona nginitlhadlhululele lokho ngombana nanyana isistimu le ukwenzela bona uzwisise bona eminye yemiphakathi yakade ye-Bantu le kade banepilo emnandi efana nokobana yisiko lethabo nokuphumula, ebezwakala inga gade bazihlalele e-resort.

Imiphakathi Yakade yeEarly Iron-Age (200 AD – 900 AD)

©Roger de la Harpe

Abantu bafika eSewula Afrika eminyakeni eyi-200 AD. Eyadlulako, bafika baphethe i-technology efana nemsebezni yesimbi lokhu kuqatjangwa bona kwaba msuka we-Iron Age eSewula. A Nanyana kungasikunengi okwenzekako endaweni yeMapungubwe ngeskhatheso, iintjhaba ezimbala ekwazibawa okuncani ngamasiko wazo gade zitlanywa kwemanye amalunga wenarha.

Esinye seembonelo zabantu abararakwaba abenza i-Lydenburg Heads emraro, eyatholwa eMpumalanga. Ama-masks we-terraccotta la etjengisa ihlangothi linye lobuso elinga samuntu elinye lifana neleslwane, begodu kukholelwa bona gade isetjenziswa eminyanyeni ecwengileko kanye nengomeni. I-Lydenburg Heads itjengiswa eMnyuzamu yeSewula Africa eKapa, nezinye ezifana nazo emnyuzamu ye-Lydenburg.

Ukutlanywa Kwamasiko Weentjhaba

Nanyana kungasikunengi okwenzekako endaweni yeMapungubwe ngeskhatheso, iintjhaba ezimbala ekwazibawa okuncani ngamasiko wazo gade zithonywa kwamanye amalunga wenarha. Esinye seembonelo zabantu abararakwaba abenza i-Lydenburg Heads emraro, eyatholwa eMpumalanga.

Ama-masks we-terraccotta la etjengisa ihlangothi linye lobuso elakhekhe inga samuntu elinye lifana nelesibandana, begodu kukholelwa bona gade isetjenziswa eminyanyeni ecwengileko kanye nengomeni. I-Lydenburg Heads itjengiswa eMnyuzamu yeSewula Africa eKapa, nezinye ezifana nazo emnyuzamu ye-Lydenburg.

Translated by Busisiwe Skhosana