Part 2:Limpopo Easter holiday marriage ceremony. A fusion between Tsonga tradition and Kelobedu culture. Social cohension.

PART 2

Limpopo Easter holiday marriage ceremony. A fusion between Tsonga tradition and Kelobedu culture. Social cohension.

We are still at Collin’s Chavani, Vembe region but a distant apart or away from the two families or relative’s, Mavasa and Chauke also separated by distance from Halahala to Mkhomi village. Maybe close to 10 km apart from each other.

This time around, we are at N’wa Makhuvele home who is married to the Chauke’s and Chauke and Mavasa were cooked from the same pot by the way. N’wa Hulela daughter is getting engaged to the Lobedu people from Mamurima village under Chief Mamayila, a fellow Lozwi of mine next to Mashamba or Elim settlement from under Makhado Municipality.

What a day for me as so many things  is happening around my face this weekend. It is Easter holiday and weekend is so good for me even though it is on a similar day whereby me and my mom who is late now survived the most terrible incident in a train incident which was derailed in or around Mokopane, Ka Mugwambani in 1972 when i was a teenage. From that terrible incident, 35 people perished as other’s were hospitalized and as we were not even paid a cent from that terrible or horrific incident.

Fast foward, here am I today. Alive and and kicking and also forms part of my history in the making. Am enjoying my day with all the hype going around my life. It’s a wedding ceremony or lovola day to call it, in an amazing way or so magnificent to me as I am able to connect with everyone in the family. I was able to connect with a distant relative we schooled together during our day’s at Kheto Nxumalo “Agricultural” high school during the former homeland of Gazankulu from under the apartheid regime of South Africa. The child and daughter of someone I know with a big title and a big heart, the daughter to the late and the right reverend Ngwenya who use to serve with diligence behind the pulpit  under authority of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa. We are now grown ups and his child or daughter is now married to the Nkuna people all the way from Rivala village. The Ngwenya’s are my distant family friend’s by being Tsonga or Kalanga like me and other’s as well including Xigumbu.

Apart from all that, am getting the news that Bayethe Tembe (Muhari/Mugali) is in Johannesburg together with some of my relatives as they are busy preparing for a podcast on the history of Tembe, Rhonga/ Tsonga history which as well will become an eye opener not only to the people of South Africa but to the people of the world. The Tembe kingdom it is one of the oldest kingdom’s in existence since early 1200’s and touch base to other areas such as Northern Natal, Mozambique, free state, North West, Gauteng, Kwa Ndebele, Swaziland, Mpumalanga and the area where we are today which is Limpopo. Tsonga people are all over the place or areas I have just mentioned from above, I think that what prompted us to come up with the name Huvo Ya Vatsonga na leswaku hi Nyandza Yin’we. Its time for the people to unite and form one unity na ku, na loko va  hi vula matoya na ku hi chava ku tsongola swa van’wana a hi fanelanga ku miyela hi ku chava ku vulavula ntiyiso.

What a week or Easter weekend it was for me and having enjoyed myself with my family and the people I know. By the way the Chauke am referring to here or from above is the same family as the deputy auditor general of South Africa as he was also there to play his part as the main man or uncle to the bride and the lovola team as delagated by the family, as kokwani Mtileni xinuna was also part of the team.  The Dp is such a jolly man, ever smiling and humble and easy to mix with people and as the Cauke’s are part of my family from the mothers side. My mom who is late is the granddaughter to Chauke’s family. Na minavu ni na yona ngati ya vandawu na Vahlengwe kusuka a veleni ra mhani.

04/04/2026