Sometimes it feels like we are in Giyani. There is a lot of Xitsonga speakers here in Protea South, especially across in the informal settlement area. They are by far the largest ethnic group residing in the Deep South.
As a group the first thing you notice about the Tsonga people - most of whom trace their roots to Giyani( a town in the Limpopo province) - is that they are very musical. Everywhere you go in the Deep South there is Xitsonga music playing. Right now their hottest artist is Ben Mayengani. His 2013 release - 'Jelly na Custard' - is an anthem here. Every 3rd or 4th house around has this album. I love the title track('Jelly na Custard') myself.
They are also entrepreneurial. Ninety percent(90%) all fruit and vegetable stands in the Deep South are run by Tsonga people.
After the Tsonga - in terms of numbers - come Basotho. These are Basotho directly from Lesotho( hae moo), with the heavy Lesotho accent and all that. At times it seems as if the bus from Lesotho stops first here our 'kasi' to offload. Very much like in the old days when our fathers came to the city of gold( Gauteng/ Johannesburg) to work in the mines, Basotho still come to Gauteng in droves to seek a better life.
Thirdly, it is the other groups like Amazulu, Amaxhosa, Bapeli, etc. There is also a sprinkling here and there of Machaangane from Mozambique, whose language is similar to Xitsonga. Interestingly, this group does not have a problem with being called Mashaangane( unlike the Tsonga). They say this is what their ethnic group is actually called. Mozambique's first post colonial President - Samora Machel - came from their group, they inform us.
That then, is who we are here in the Deep South, ladies and gentlemen.
=====================
THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOMENTS'.
===================
SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU
FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?
FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?
No comments:
Post a Comment