My dear friends
Some days ago, Jenny Christmas showed me a beautiful photo
of a teenage schoolgirl, Mavis Reynolds. By the way, that is her mother, our dear Gran
Mavis Clayton. In about seventy years since the photo was taken some significant changes
have taken place. Some of us would have wished that Gran Mavis could have retained her
youthful features but reality dictates otherwise. Ageing is a fact of life.
Actually, what prompted Jenny to bring me the photo was the
airing on Radio Khwezi of a poem that I wrote specifically for women, to coincide with
August celebrations. In South Africa, August is officially known as the women's month.
Since 'UNomathikithi kaNdesheni' (Nomathikithi, daughter of
Ndesheni) was written for a Zulu audience some idiomatic expressions and cultural concepts
are best understood in isiZulu.
The poet addresses a group of young girls who are whispering
amongst themselves and pointing fingers at an old lady, Nomathikithi. The girls are amused
as they study different parts of Nomathikithi.
Nomathikithi's wrinkles and hollow cheeks are too much for
the girls. The poet says they can be excused because they do not know what a lovely girl
Nomathikithi was. He tells them about her tender little girlish face and beautiful smile.
The chest area also gets attention in a respectful way. The
girls are amazed at how plain it is. In a typical Zulu way the poet describes how
Nomathikithi's unashamed young womanhood was very clear in that area for the discerning
eye to see.
Nomathikithi's thin arms remind the girls of a cockroach's
forelegs. But it was the same arms that lifted bundles of firewood and laboured on the
grinding stone.
Zulu women have a way of expressing their strong disapproval
by using the right hand to hit the right hip area. The sound that emanates from that is
accompanied by the exclamation "Wu a!" The girls say that with Nomathikithi
there is no more hip to hit but the poet tells them how well-padded Nomathikithi was in
her younger days.
Some Westerners cannot understand why Zulu old women have
admiration for big steady legs. A common compliment to a young woman would be, "Your
legs are like tree trunks." The young girls have composed a song about Nomathikithi's
spindly legs, not realising that they were once like tree trunks.
The poet then explains to the girls that Nomathikithi was
the bride of the Qwabe family and they paid the full 'ilobolo' (bride price) of 11 cattle
for her. By tradition, the eleventh cow is dedicated to the mother of the bride in
appreciation of her role in bringing up her daughter and presenting her to the bridegroom
as a pure virgin. The poet then stresses that in Nomathikithi's case it was not just
nominally so; she was indeed a full virgin.
Towards the end of the poem the poet has a word of
encouragement for the old lady. He suggests that she ignores the ignorant girls who do not
realise that with age one is bound to lose one's youthful features. One of the proverbs
that he uses refers to 'umgqigqo', a traditional dance where women go the full length of
the yard and then start all over again. The truth is that you cannot play 'umgqigqo' with
your age.
Talking about ageing, I am reminded of one of the most
colourful amakhosi (chiefs) I have come across, Inkosi Zwelibanzi Nzuza from Mthunzini. He
was affectionately known as Mshazi - the 'isithakazelo' (praise-name) for the Nzuzas. It
was well known that Mshazi was a close confidante of His Majesty King Zwelithini Zulu.
Mshazi would sometimes half-jokingly tell his subjects how
thankful he was that God made him an inkosi, otherwise he would be a baboon just like
them.
How can I ever forget the last time that I saw Mshazi?
Surprisingly, after careful consideration of his age and health condition Mshazi had
decided to hand over the reins to his heir. The inauguration of the young inkosi was
attended by His Majesty King Zwelithini Zulu and many dignitaries. Some amakhosi came in
full traditional regalia, accompanied by their warriors.
When the turn came for Mshazi to address the tribe he gave a
brief moving farewell speech. To round it all off he performed what I believe was his last
'giya dance', to sounds of jubilation and ululation. His heart was obviously all in it but
his old body had lost its agility. His movements resembled something of the 'Mandela
shuffle.'
Shortly thereafter we received the news that Mshazi had
passed away.
Some of you will remember old Baba Mdlalose of Mahlaba, near
Pomeroy. I just loved it when he told us about his young days. He and his peers were so
healthy and strong that they scoffed at the idea of getting old. In fact they claimed that
the day they started getting old the earth would shake. Baba Mdlalose would smile broadly
and remark "Look at my grey head and beard but there was no earthquake."
In his old age Baba Mdlalose liked to testify about the
difference that Christ makes. He would point to his clean grey head, beard and clothes and
say many old men did not look like that. Whereas unbelieving old men spent most of the day
around beer-pots in the same unwashed clothes he would refresh himself daily before going
out to spread the Good News.
If people could they would run to the farthest corner of the
earth to avoid ageing. A few years ago, one of the most popular South African celebrities,
probably in her late 50s, flew overseas for some body reshaping. She returned with a
slimmer younger-looking body. It was with pride that she mentioned how young men were
noticing her. Well, we shall see how the new slim cut shapes against the sands of time.
For generations rumours have been doing rounds about a
'fountain of youth' from which you drink and stay young. So far the fountain has proved to
be elusive. Believe it or not, just last week it was reported in the news that a certain
millionaire claims that on one of the cluster of islands that he bought in the Bahamas he
has discovered the 'fountain of youth.' So, brace yourself for another wild goose chase.
If you have seen the film 'Believers heaven', featuring
mainly Rev Estus Pirkle from Myrtle in Mississippi, you would certainly have watched with
misty eyes as the choir sang 'Never grow old.'
"I have heard of a land on the far away
strand,
’Tis a beautiful home of the soul;
Built by Jesus on high, where we never shall die,
’Tis a land where we never grow old.
Refrain
Never grow old, never grow old,
In a land where we’ll never grow old;
Never grow old, never grow old,
In a land where we’ll never grow old."
For those who would find the 'fountain of youth' there is
only one correct destination - heaven!
'The Spirit and the bride say,
"Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him
come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.' (Revelation
22:17)
Have a blessed week further.
Pressing on!
In His love
Fano Sibisi
