The Mayaba culture explained by the clan
Mbuyiseni Mayaba from Venterspos is proud to speak about his Zulu roots.
Mbuyiseni Mayaba celebrated his Zulu heritage during Heritage Month.
Mbuyiseni is part of the Mayaba clan which is deeply rooted in Zulu tradition. He explained there are a lot of aspects of the Mayaba clan including their clothing, ceremonies, music, medicine and many more.
He said the Mayaba clan harbours great respect for their ancestors and they have a strong belief that these ancestors play an active role in their daily lives. They also respect elders and their wisdom and guidance are sought in decision-making processes.
Mbuyiseni also mentioned he enjoys wearing the traditional colourful clothing of the Zulu tradition. This includes the isidwaba (a long skirt) and ingubo (a traditional Zulu dress).
He takes pride in the ceremonies and rituals like the Reed Dance (Umhlanga) and First Fruits (Incwala) regarded as a respectful way of celebrating his roots. Another integral part of his culture is dancing and music. For Mbuyiseni, it is important to celebrate his culture through the indlamu dance which is part of the maskanda performance.
“Mayaba people place a strong emphasis on community and family bonds, with extended families often living together,” he said.
This way, he claims, the Mayaba clan can also celebrate another piece of tradition, namely storytelling. This is used to pass down history, traditions and cultural values.
“Mayaba people have a rich knowledge of traditional medicine, using plants and natural remedies to treat various ailments,” he explained.
With the knowledge of medicine also comes the knowledge of agriculture and Mbuyiseni noted that Mayaba people have a strong tradition of farming and agriculture, with many families still engaging in subsistence farming.
“These aspects of Mayaba culture are deeply intertwined with Zulu culture and tradition, reflecting the rich heritage and identity of the Mayaba clan,” he expressed.
For Mbuyiseni, being part of this clan gives him a great sense of pride. He is humbly excited to have celebrated Heritage Month as a member of the Mayaba clan.
