ULUTSHA NE MPILO KWI XESHA LO BHUBHANE WE COVID 19

 

Luzuko Pongoma

Ulutsha olumnyama luzifuma lunoxanduva olulongameloyo nkalo zonke  ebomini balo. Kwabo sebekhulile olu lutsha luzalwe ngeminyaka yama 1980s lubonakala njengabantu abonqenayo abangazimiselanga ntweni.

Kaloku, olu lutsha luzalwe ngeminyaka ye 80s, luzalelwe ku Mzantsi Afrika ubuphantsi kwengcinezelo, yabantu abamnyama ngabamhlophe. Kodwa luthe xa lusithi dlundlu, lufikisa yafika inkululeko.

Inkululeko leyo ke ifike nezithembiso ezininzi eziquka, imfundo efelefele, imisebenzi ephucukileyo, nobomi ubungcono.

Ngokweze politiki luye lwakhona lona utshintsho, abantu bakhokelwa zinkokheli ezimnyama kodwa wona amathuba awavulekanga ngoluhlobo uninzi lwabantu belulindele ngalo. Ingcinga yokuba amathuba ayimfumba kodwa iye yaqhubeka ibhebhethekiswa. Lento yokungakhuleli phantsi kwe ngcinezelo nokubhebhethekiswa kwentetho yakuba amathuba afele, yenze ukuba kulindelwe  lukhulu kolu lutsha. Lemeko yenze ulutsha lube kwisimo esifuna ukuba lujike amatye abezizonka.

Ngenxa yoxizelelo ngokulindeleke ngakubo, olu lutsha luzibhaqa luntyumpa ntyumpeka kumatyala kuba luzama ukufezikiza iminqweno nezithembiso. Phofu ke  eminye iminqweno ingeyoyabo, iyeyabazali. Lento ke yaphinda yongezelelwa lukhuphiswano no ntanganani. Uninzi luzibhaqa lungaphilanga ngokwase moyeni nase ngqondweni lufunyanwa zizigulo ezayamanelene no xinzelelo namaxhala. Luthi ke ulutshwa lwakuthetha ngalemeko lu nyenjwe lukwekwe ibethelwe buyaba imeko yabo. Ibhelu lomsele ne ziyobisi ziye zayi ngubo yozibopha amanxeba, nto leyo eye yakhokela ekuphileni ubomi obudlakadlaka ebukhokelise ukwanela obuza msinyane futhi kuhlale ithutyana.

Besaphila obubugxwayiba bobomi bungenasiphelo siphuhlileyo,olu lutsha lutshovelwe enzulwini yesiziba ngu bhubhane I COVID 19 oye washiya uninzi luphelelwe yimpangelo abanye bethotyelwe imirholo.

Lento iye yongezelela uxinzelelo ngakumbi ebomini bolu lutsha. Iziyobisi ezifana no tywala, ebebezisebenzisa njengomthoba ntliziyo nazo bezivaliwe. Ezo bezithengiswa bezifumane nge ntyunkula yemali futhi usaphula umthetho.

Ubomi besantya esiphezulu obungahambiselaniyo nokubase mpilweni buvele bama bhunxe kungakhenge kubekho saziso.

 

Lo bhubhane uye wabhentsisa impilo egwenxa ephilwa lulutsha, into efana nokuphila ubomi obungaphezulu kwemali umntu anayo, ubukhoboka ematyaleni. Ukuzinikela kutywala nakwiziyobisi, nokungakhathaleli imizimba. Ulutsha kumele luxoze mphini wumbi ukuze lizokwazi udlala indima ecacileyo elizweni. Kumele lufunde luphinde luphuhlise ubudlelwane lwalo ne mali. Ulutsha kumele luqhaphele indlela ubomi balo elububeke esichengeni ngenxa yokubeka “ubumnandi” phambili. Nangona amanani akhutshwa zingcali esithi abantu bazophila ubomi obude, ingaba ke luzophila ubomi obude obukwiqondo eliphezulu na xa bewuxhaphaza kangaka umzimba ebutsheni babo.

Indlela eya phambili icacile kumele ulutsha luguqule indlela eliphilangayo ubomi nedlela elibujonga ngalo. Lumele luguqule indlela ngokwasempilweni alukwazi kubuyela kundalashe ngenxa yalobhubhane. Kumele ke luthathe elithuba luguqule namanye amacandelo obomi balo.

 

 

Not voting is not an option, your vote counts.

Young ladies doing laundry at the Alexandra Women's Hostel

 wearing  T shirts of different political parties

The first democratic elections were a life changing event that brought excitement, anxiety, hope and fear. 

Fear was more dominant than excitement and hope 25 years ago. Parents walked in numbers when they were attending meetings and to an extent armed. As children we received various instructions, such as, Xa ubona umntu ongamaziyo uxelele umntu omdala,  ungazityi iilekese oziphiwa ngumntu ongamaziyo; xa ubuzwa umntu walapha ekuhlaleni uhlala phi uze uthi awumazi, wakugqiba ubaleke ubuye uzosibonisa lomntu ubuza abantu, ungazityi iilekese oziphiwa ngamapolisa, ungaxeleli bantu ngezinto zalapha ekhaya, among others.

If you were lucky, you would eves drop on the adult’s conversation about Inkatha that has been spotted near Mthatha or the Flagstaff region. The National Party threat was the one at the door and they shared  advises on how one should respond when approached by a National Party agent who was “buying” his or her vote or asked information about those in the forefront of activism in the community.

“Do not say no, take the money or food parcel and agree to vote for them. Do not eat the food or open the envelope or package, if the money is in it. Stay alive, do not give them a reason to kill you. They will not set their foot at the voting station to monitor you, we will be there,” was one of the common advice given as talks of NP agents roaming the streets of Mdantsane spread like wild fire in hush tones.

Watching news, discussing them, or using news as a cover to discuss political issues was the cover our parents used to meet. For many of us, who accompanied them to these talks it was a chance to continue playing even in the dark, a rare privilege I might add.

The day came, the parents left very early, I remember locking the door behind them with their peers already waiting for them in the street, safety in numbers was still prioritised.  I woke up late to a very cold isidudu and umbhako, that we ate throughout the day. Most the parents had gone to vote, we were free - free from bathing, free from making the bed, free from cleaning the house, free to play all the hours they were gone.

But the freedom ended slowly, as the parents started trickling in, in the groups that they left as. Each was called home to face actions of the short lived freedom, kwakhala ibhanti nentonga yomtshayelo.  For a few of us, it was worse as I was asked to go fetch the stick that would be used to meet my punishment in the tree nearby. Umthi weKwepire wakwa Sis Nombulelo, our parents swore by this tree, its branches did not break but would bend as they were giving us a beating. We stood there selecting and testing the best or should I say worst branch to take home.

As soon as the houses were clean, bed made, parents were back concentrating on the radio news , reports of violence in some areas, led to them calling loved ones to check if they are ok. The evening came, we went to the neighbour’s house to watch television. Parents roared, clapped and ululated as they saw Nelson Mandela vote, as children we discussed the beatings from earlier, those who did not get them laughed. The day ended, with excitement and hope overwhelmingly high but fear was still lacking in some dark corner.

As today’s parents, fear is the last thing on our minds, so is the excitement and hope. Reports of political violence linked with the elections have been almost nonexistence.  There has been service delivery protests that can be linked to the election season. Political messages are shared publicly without fear. Political party regalia has become a fashion statement that people wear freely.  There are no whispers about the enemy, we are not warning children about strangers who have ulterior political motives and there are no places regarded as no go areas for a particular group of people. Tomorrow, children are likely to be glued to their favourite cartoon channels when adults make a quick in and out at the voting station, if the parent votes at all.

The fear went out the window so is the excitement, besides the political die hard who have been up and down praising their political parties, there is no visible euphoria on the society at large, in fact you are more likely to hear people asking political party members or leaders to leave them alone. Elections also do not bring much hope for the general public anymore.  

Ndivotele ntoni, is a common question you will get when asking a person if they are going to vote. People have become despondent, as they see political parties and their leaders as devils who will not change their lives, thieves who do not aspire hope and self- riching megalomaniacs. South African politicians have proven that they put their parties first and the needs of the country take take second place.

It has become common for today's leaders to evoke the names of the fallen heroes who were seen as doing something positive for the society as they are draped in robes of scandals and are dripping stolen swag. That the country has offered us, these kind of people as our leaders is an indictment on us more than it is on them. How did we allow the bar  of leadership to be this hopelessly low? How did we allow ourselves to reach this point, is a question that we have to answer as society even after the elections

Enough about complaining,the ball is now in our hands again. Our forward step rests on the Ndivotela ntoni question. You vote to bring hope to the country, you vote to change what you do not agree with, you vote to maintain what you support and deem to be right for the country and generations to come, you vote for the betterment of the country and yes your vote does count.

AMANDLA, NGAWETHU. Let us reclaim our power tomorrow.

Disagreement should not lead to demeaning

This, "It is my way or no way, attitude," is really pathetic. 

This kind of attitude is displayed by Chrizelda Kekana in her opinion piece published by Timeslive titled Gqom! Is it still music when people just talk along to a great beat?

https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2017-11-20-opinion-gqom-is-it-still-music-when-people-just-talk-along-to-a-great-beat/

It is common for each generation to find a sound that they enjoy that a generation before them does not agree with.This difference is not only in music but in clothing, career choices and in life generally.

Music is defined by  Dictionary.com as "an art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony and colour.”

By now, we should all know that art is subjective. The same attitude you display against gqom was displayed against, Kwaito, South African Hip Hop, Gangster rap among others, all these genres are still standing. To say you can dance to it but it is not music, is similar to the excuse of racists/homophobes who are quick to point out that they have black/gay friends.

If you do not agree with the idea or how it is expressed, it is your problem not that of those who express themselves or agree with the expression.

To demean gqom or anything that a person does not agree with, is a reflection of the level of tolerance one has against what s/he does not agree with. To point out what you do not like is acceptable, degrading it, is not acceptable. 

The rejection of Ntando Duma reminds one that in history, The Beatles, Kanye West, Madonna and U2 were once rejected before they became internationally recognised singers. By that, I am not saying Duma will become an international superstar but the disapproval by one does not mean the others will, as it is the case with the song.

It is easy to point at Amanda Black, who at some stage was kicked out by judges at the top 16 of Idols because now she is a household name that is regarded to be talented.

As for Jiva Phez'kombhede, the song expresses an idea of dancing on top of the bed, For other generations, this act is frowned upon and is punishable, For this generation to even think of popularising it, is a reflection of how different generations do things.

Very bad behaviour by photographers must be stopped

A picture says a thousand words, so they say. It is not flattery when the picture saying so many words is about you and it does not project you in a positive light. Former South African Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni was accused of being "over-sensitive" “unreasonable” and “unfair” after he had barred press photographers from attending the announcement of the repo rate decision.

Mboweni, who has made it to the list of South African, that have had songs coined after, had beef with photographers because they had behaved “very badly”

Their very bad behaviour was that of “taking pictures when I was wiping off my sweat”, he was quoted as saying.

As u Gqugqugqu, Dukanamahlathi, Qhinebe, uMkhomazi Omhle, I never thought I will fall prey to this very bad behaviour. Handsomeness is something that I am born with, it is inherited by each generation of aMakhomazi. But to my shock and disbelief, those who carry the long-lensed machinery found a way to Mboweni me by taking a picture of me in action and it does not say a thousand wonderful words. Now I understand what the former governor felt like many moons ago, these photographers are tjatjarag and out of order.

I salute Mr Mboweni for seeing the negative impact caused by photographers earlier, he was not being over-sensitive" “unreasonable” and “unfair”, he was just protecting his image. To you Tito Mboweni, I say “sha sha”.

Umhlobo ongenosithwa zintaba

A close friend made many people proud by summiting Mount Kilimanjaro on the 18 July as part of #trek4Mandela. Before she left she asked me to write something  she will read during her journey in the mountain.  As stated in the letter to her, just writing for the sake of writing  can be hard sometimes. Kodwa ke as the late grate Brenda Fassie once sang " bhala bhala mabhalane iyohhhh". This is the letter below, proud of you Neiba.

Dear Tebogo Monama

As I write this letter I am wondering how far you will be in the adventure of climbing the Mount Kilimanjaro when you read it.

I have written a paragraph of this letter in white. The information on this paragraph will lead you to precious treasury left by my ancestors in that mountain many years ago when they embarked on the journey to the south of Africa. To decode this message you will have to find a tree to colour the paragraph and see the directions to the treasure. The best way to find this tree is to taste all the leaves from the trees in the mountain. The one that turns your tongue pink will be the one to use on the white written words below. 

Enough about the treasure, let’s get into something that does not have monetary value. Ok before we get into that that let me start by sharing excerpts from poems Susan Makin wrote while in Mount Kilimanjaro. A blogger named Wizards Wireless dedicated them to his brother who was about to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Since you are already there, I hope they inspire you.  These are the three extracts from her poems

 Kilimanjaro, Day 4/1

Equal when challenged

Challenged when Equal

The Day is long

The body becomes strong

And so too the mind

In her other poem on Day 5 Susan Makin wrote

Step by step

Minute by minute

Ache by ache

We’re close to our goal

After her success to ascent Kilimanjaro she said

Those who can

Those who can’t

Those who could

Those who could

Those who would

Those who did

With that being said now let me return to writing something that you can read while you are on the mountain. I must state that saying you are on the mountain has all sorts of different connotation like you have gone there from some sacred initiation. Secondly it is hard to write for someone who is also a sub editor, you got me stressing about grammar and punctuation.

The interest thing about you being in Kilimanjaro, is that your journey  is a product of hard work and starting slow. In this fast paced world of technology and instant gratification starting slow has become a myth told around the fire by the elderly.

Your new found love of mountain climbing  made me think about  new love . This is because many people turned their old love into careers. The love of reading and writing leading to being an author and or journalist. The careers then has its up and downs and that leads to the old love becoming more of a responsibility. Reading newspapers and writing is no longer that enjoyable as it is synonym to work.

This has led to some to neglect their lover, as it is now not about being happy but a duty that one has to do or face sleeping on an empty stomach. But with new love, there is joy and endless possibilities. It open avenues one has never thought of exploring. It gives hope. It gives strengths and allows one to be dedicated to love again as it is not forced.

Like everything else on the planet, new love also has to be natured, and most importantly has to be respected. As you enjoy the open sky, (hoping no Moloi flies by to disturb your view), I can only wish you all the best with your new love and that you nurture, respect, love and enjoy it.

Having looked at the word count I have realised I have passed 500 words, and I fear being long and boring but then  I realised the extracts from the Susan’s poems are not my words, so I am going to continue writing. I also realised that as much as this is boring you will be stuck in a mountain when you read it, so you will have to read it or face another form of boredom as other kids will also be reading their letters.  Now that I have passed the 500 words then I need to think of an ending.

Before I end though let me urge you to put safety and your health first in whatever you do up there. We still need you down here. Do enjoy every second of your journey Neiba. When you return we are going to open a consulting room which will have a sign that reads. “Tebogo -the great Sangoma who was initiated in Mount Kilimanjaro”. Please take as many pictures as possible, we are going to need them as proof that you are a true Sangoma from the tallest mountain in Africa.

Enjoy.

Ozithobileyo

Luzuko Pongoma (“The BFF”)

Lena Ke yincwadi endithe ndayibhalela iphepha ndaba andisakuli xelengela i Sowetan ibi papashwe ngomhla we shumu apha kwinyanga ye Kwindla. Le ncwadi ithetha ngendlela uRhulumente aphuhlisa ngayo impilo zabantu ngoku bakhela amagumbi kwizindlu zabo ezisezilokishini ukuze baqeshise ngazo bakwazi ukufumana i nkozwana. Le nkqubo ke  ikwanceda abo bafuna ukuqesha bahlale kwindawo ezisemgangathweni. Lento ke izokwenza nendawo esihlala kuzo zibukeke futhi nexabiso lezindlu lenyuke. Ngumbono omhle ke ndiyanqwena ukuba ukhule. Camagu.