Proud Zulu woman speaks about her culture
Azibuyele emasisweni — a Zulu woman takes us back to her roots and shares her cultural pride for Heritage Month.
Fikile Twala Khanyile (59) is a Zulu woman who represents her culture with pride.
Fikile grew up in a village known as Khonifili in KZN, where after her parents moved to Newcastle and travelled to the uMkhomazi Dgcwalangomoya. It was during her time living in these villages that Fikile came to know the Zulu tradition.
“Zulus take pride in their ceremonies,” she expressed.
One of the popular ceremonies is the Umhlanga, which is traditionally used to examine if a woman is a virgin. Fikile described only women who claim to be virgins can participate in this ceremony where the elderly women determine if the woman is truthful.
She also takes pride in the traditional clothing. Fikile explained women dress according to their marital status. A married woman would usually cover her body to indicate that she has been taken by a man. Younger girls wear skirts made from beads, cotton and string.
“Azibuyele emasisweni which means ‘going back to our roots’,” she added.
Another celebrated aspect is the delectable food that is traditionally prepared for ceremonies. Fikile said in the Zulu culture they eat a dish known as Isijingi which consists of mixing pap with pumpkin. They also tend to make a dish called Umbhaqanga where they mix pap with brown beans. Mixing pap and spinach is also a popular dish known as Isijabane.
She added vegetables are a staple food for traditional cuisines and they also serve Mogodu, Uphuthu or Amosi (sour milk).
Fikile mentioned in the Zulu culture they worship and depend on their forefather spirits which are also called Amadlozi or Abaphansi.
“We have great respect for our loved ones, especially after they have passed away.”
She explained when a woman’s husband dies, the woman pays her respect by wearing blankets to cover herself. If the person has passed away after an accident, she said they have a spiritual tradition where they speak to the spirit and say that the person has died. The family can also cut their hair after the funeral to show mourning.
One of the many stories that impacted Fikile is the renowned story of Shaka Zulu.
According to Fikile, Shaka kaSenzangakhona was born in 1787 and was a great Zulu king. She added Shaka was the son of Nandi who was the daughter of a Langeni chief.
“As Shaka grew, he became taller and bigger. He became a strong leader,” she concluded.
