Bhaca language

I visited KwaBhaca in 1990 to bury my father  who asked that we must transport  him when  he passed on.I learnt  some good lessons especially what kept them  healthy. 1.They eat the Natural  Food which they cultivated like pumpkins,vegetables minimum  starch,fresh  meat with no spices with  granular  salt. 2. Every member  of the family had his/her own responsibilities. From a 6 year family upwards. A 6 year  old child should  take care  of small stocks like chicken and pigs.The main responsibilities  are giving  those  animals food and water  twice  per day. The child must report the progress  daily. Usually,the parents will  be very if he/she does not get the report. 3. A 7-10 boy  should be a shepherd of not more than 10 battle/sheep and they should not be far away  from home. At least they must be  at "an eye" distance. 4.A 7-10 girl  should sweep inside and o...

I asked myself why the Bhacas at Eastern  Cape  were isolated  by the people who spoke their  language.I think their History may tell us. I was told by one elder  that  they moved from  South and acquired the Land.They fought fiercly to acquire  the Land. The  defeated People passed from generation  to generation.When Transkei got the fake indepence the Development Fund  did not reach the lands of Bhaca. When you move towards their places,you don't  find the clear  marked streets. Schools were built with mud. There  was no clinic.The Police station was found at Kokstad and later at Mt.Frere  which was supposed  to service more than 10.000 people. There were no jobs.Instead they created farming. The Youth underwent  Police  Training  like my father.So the youth had to help to keep cattle  and sheep farming where the women had to collect twigs from the nearby bush. The  water had ...

There are few Readers who visit this blog who are attracted by the Bhaca Life. I wrote  about  the  Bhaca wonderful  culture. When I was  young I asked  my father who was a Bhaca. What I remember was 1.Honesty 2.Speak your  mind 3.Healthy  Food 4.Believe in the tribe. Those  were the Pillars of Life Unfortunately  the Bhaca is a tribe which is severely undermined.They are given a low job,unless one  can save himself/herself  through education. 1.Honesty Honesty is being taught  whether you are  alone  seen unseen. 2.Speak your  Mind As long as you believe what you say is right and you can support  it with facts. 3.Healthy Food Fresh roasted  meat was of preference. 4.Believe in the tribe. My father  was helped by a  by his  Tribal Brothers  who found Job.

Every village had  meetings on Saturday  or Sundays.In those meeting the "state of the Village  was discussed,be village problems,prosperity and the future vision. Problems which were discussed. The Elders of the village would  like to get the opinons of their daily  livelihood  like Stockgrowing and the experienced, successful  person  would  be called  so that the household could learn.He will be  asked some intriguing  questions. The Boys in their different levels would discuss common issues from Home duties,Stock behaviour,Hunting in some cases fishing,herbal and how to travel to manhood including what makes a good young man not disgrace his family the Village and even his friends.Not to rape. How to Persevere when you are proposing Love to a girl. The Girls had their own gathering too.They discussed  how to please their mothers and senior sisters and junior sisters  too. The channel  of communication was fro...

Last time I discussed,how is the Girl prepared for adulthood.Now its boy preparation.  1.Fatherly  Preparation  A Young man is prepared to face the world This is done in a harder  way which includes harsh action.There was a believe that  if he could   overcome any obstacles in future. The Boy Preparation to manhood  and duties included: 1.To build a kraal/house. 2.To report any problem which affects  the homestead  and bring solutions. Actual to protect the family and distant relatives. 3.To lead or be strong amongst his peers. 4.To respect  children,mothers  especially  in Polygamy. 5.To protect the family,physical  from the strangers or anyone who threatens, mistreating  the family. 6.To upgrade  himself to Popularity amongst the local  girls.It will be easier to get any girl. 7.To be  a good Shepherd. What is not expected from a Boy. 1.Not  to take chores. 2.Laziness. 3.Not run away when be...

Usually they emphasize  on daily chores and that a good woman should: 1.Wake up early in the morning  when others  are still sleeping,sweep the yard and  fetch water from the River. 2.She must prepare  the breakfast for the Parents which includes cereals and tea. 3.Prepare water  for bathing for parents and the rest of the family. 4.Later in the day,she  may be taught how to plant and watering the vegetables. 5.Sometimes,she  may be send  to sell some of the corns,vegetables  or  encourage to make  her or  family vegetable store. 6.Alternatively  they were taught to make Grass Mats. The routine is daily. When the time comes,she  will get the marraige proposal.She will matched against her  performance. If she appears  not ready, she will be not released

After the two  families have satisfied  they have satisfied  themselves  with their own criterion.then the negotiations  can start. Afterall there's  no perfect  family but the line of tolerance should be drawn.In any family  the extremes are controlled  and minimized. Sometimes, the couple does not listen their families.They decide to leave the village and get to another village.However there will  challenges. 1.There's  a possibility  that the couple will not have children. 2.One or even the couple may have a permanent disease. 3.The couple may not have peace. 4.The source  of Income may dry up where their business may vanish or not being hired  anywhere. 5.More  dark spirits in the family. 6.That can result to violent death to the one of the couple or both of them. When the families have negotiated  successfully, there are certain  benefits for the faimly: 1.The bride and groom  families  m...