Posted on June 22, 2011
"Cows are gentle in nature. I would imagine that when our ancestors looked for animals in the wild that would not resist being domesticated, cows proved to be obedient and loving towards the human race. They became accustomed to the human race and the human race grew fond of them as well."Â
I then embarked on a journey to eMbumbulu where I visited a cow dip on a Saturday to find out if Nguni cattle are indeed as valuable in our culture as they were in the past. Mr. Biyela, who is in charge of the dip, answered my questions with such conviction and ended up highlighting a few scenarios where we use cattle nowadays:
"Sizisebenzisa lapho sigubha imikhosi yesintu nakweminye imihlatshelo ke nje yokwenama. Siphinde futhi sakhe nezembatho, amahawu nemvunulo yendabuko."Â
"We use them in different traditional celebrations and also in other different traditional ceremonies. We also create our clothing, shields, and our traditional attire".
On tracking back the significance of cattle in our history my journey then led me to Ndlunkulu T.N. Ngubane, the wife of iNkosi T.K. Ngubane of aMaBomvu in Mambulo, Kranskorp and this is what she had to say:
"Izinkomo zamaNguni ziyimqhele yobukhosi bethu. Uma amaKhosi enqoba izizwe izinkomo zaso (isizwe) nemfuyo yonkana beyibuthwa igcwalise isibaya kube iwona mqhele wokunqoba kwesizwe. Zibaluleke kakhulu izinkomo esintwini nasebukhosini bethu.
"Nguni cattle are the crowns of our Kingdom. When our kings conquered nations, it's cattle and the stock at large was collected and locked to fill up the Kraal thus resembling the winning crown of the nation".
Nguni cattle are also known for their physical strength as they are also used for many domestic purposes, including ploughing, pulling wagons and other heavy-duty transportation chores. We also feed on them, we milk them and even exchange them for ilobolo. We also use them to settle penalties when in the traditional courts and to those that we have wronged. We also use them as gifts to the honourable members of our society and they are a form of payment to traditional healers. We use them in various traditional ceremonies as our ancestral spirits are said to feed on their blood. They are a symbol of wealth within Nguni culture.
In Maphumulo, eNtubeni I met Sabelo Sibiya (12) who was looking after his father's cattle during the school holidays. I spent some time with him and his herd of cattle and asked him what being a herd boy means to him. He said.
"Ngiyakuthanda ukwelusa izinkomo zikababa lezi, ngiyazi ukuthi ngelinye ilanga ubaba uyongipha eyami nami ngiqale esami isibaya. Ngiyazi futhi ukuthi uma sengimdala uyonginika zona ngilobole ngazo uma ngelusile. Ngihlangana nabanye abafana sidlale izinduku, sizingele siphinde sitaphe izinyosi. Kumnandi. Ngiyathanda futhi ukuya ediphini, ngaqala ngimncane. Ubaba uyena umdiphi. Nami sengiyakwazi ukudipha izinkomo. Ngelinye ilanga nami ngiyoba umdiphi uma senginezami izinkomo."Â
"I enjoy looking after my father's cattle, I know that one day my father will give me my own cow so that I can start my herd. I know that when I'm old he will give me cows and I will use them for lobolo. When I'm herding the cattle I meet other boys and we stick fight, we hunt and seek after beehives. It's nice. I also love going to the dip. I started when I was young. My father runs the dip and I also know how to dip cows. One day I will be a cow dipper when I have my own cattle."Â
I couldn't help but marvel at the depth of the meanings and stories behind some of their names; Bus'izwe (ruler of the nation), Diliza (the one who breaks down walls), Ziyam' landela (words are uttered after him), Wagingqa (the one who knocks down other nations), Dayimane (diamond) and others. Dayimane struck a cord to me as my grandmother once had Dayimane and also because of the meaning behind the name itself. This is how the concept of Dayimane!, a multidisciplinary performance work was formed. William Charlton-Perkins, a freelance writer interviewed me about my research process and how it was all translated into a dance piece. A write up on that interview can be accessed through the following link.
I also used the following resources in the research phase:
The Abundant Herds by Marguerite Poland & David Hammon-Tooke, 2003, Fernwood Press.
Inqolobane yesizwe by C. L. Sibusiso Nyembezi, 1982,Shuter & Shooter edition, in Zulu - 3rd ed.
'Dayimane!' The Performance and its reception.
Dayimane premeried at the University of KwaZulu Natal's Square Space Theatre from the 25th until the 29th of May where it played to standing ovations. The audience generally comprised of students, lectures, artists, journalists, historians, cultural practitioners and the general public of mixed cultural backgrounds. Like most of the socio-political works of a personal subject matter, the aim was again to present a piece that resulted from a personal journey. The journey was fostered by a series of questions around the subject of cultural identity as an attempt stimulate a dialogue about Nguni identity. Our mission was accomplished. After the show groups of our audience members gathered at the foyer for hours discussing some of the issues and questions that had been raised by the performance. The following are some of the comments we got:
"I was born in the township eMbali and I now live in the suburbs. I don't have immediate family in rural areas where isintu (tradition) is the lifestyle. So whenever I meet extended family members for traditional gatherings there's always that awkward vibe where one is faced with having to learn the traditional way of doing things there. I've never made that much of an effort to sustain that or to take it further by learning more.This piece pushed me to uncomfortable spaces and left me with a lot of questions about my identity and my origin. It pushes boundaries artistically, yes, but it also challenges me on my ignorance about my own identity and my origin as a young Zulu girl. I need to be on the quest about what really makes me and I thank you for the inspiration."Â - Thobeka Quvane from Piertermaritzburg (eMbali), a member of Flatfoot Dance Company.
Mlondi Zondi is a graduate of the Drama Department of the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg. He is originally from Howick. He currently works as a performing artist with Flatfoot Dance Company in Durban.
"Your work has this ability to take people to this uncomfortable space where one is confronted by self-generated questions that take you on such a personal journey" - Dayimane was such a gem. Got so much to say and ask, not sure what it is but I am certain that history is happening right in front of us..."Â
Thomas Mpuleng; a lecturer at the Drama and Performance studies department at the Durban University of Technology was born and raised in Botswana but currently lives in Durban. He also works as a theatre director in his own right whose interest and vision seeks to combine African story telling, movement and theatre. This is what he had to say;
"I love the fact that the role of the herdsman was played by Imbongi James Mbhele himself - not by an actor who was going to strip the role of its raw edge. His use of language and the naturalness of his movement -that was so authentic! You can tell that everyone was involved in the research process and they have a way of personally relating to the subject matter. It is powerful!"Â Thomas Mpuleng.
Readers can also access a review of the show by Caroline Smart through the following link:
http://news.artsmart.co.za/2011/05/dayimane_26.html
An interview with William Charlton-Perkins appears here:
http://www.citypress.co.za/Entertainment/News/Theatre-review-Complexities-of-cattle-and-culture-20110520
For more pictures and information regarding future performances of Dayimane!, nationally and internationally and some of our audience's detailed comments about the show as well as frequent updates on our upcoming events please join Mhayise Productions on facebook or visit the following link;
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_97009486886&ap=1