Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Ngano 'Fairytale'

Ngano is a Tshivenda word for fairytales. Ngano are usually related by senior members of the family, particularly mothers and grandmothers. Family members gather around tshivhaso (fireplace) in autumn and winter to enjoy the harvest after toiling in the fields in spring and summer. Storytellers take turns to relate Ngano. The storyteller starts by saying “ salungano salungano” , meaning ‘ like a fairytale like a fairytale' , and the listeners respond by saying “saalungano” . The storyteller tells the fairytale and listeners keep saying “saalungano” after every sentence made by the storyteller. This is to indicate that they are listening and are interested in the fairytale told. The storyteller can also stand up and dance to dramatise what s/he is relating.

The characters in the Ngano are usually humans and animals. Animals are given a voice and portrayed as interacting with humans and talking like humans. Animals can be portrayed as mischievous, intelligent, stupid, cunning, unreliable, evil, kind, etc. A rabbit/hare ( muvhuda) is portrayed as both intelligent and mischievous, and it goes by the name of Sankambe, while a baboon (pfene ) is portrayed as stupid and goes by the name of Mudzhou.

Hyenas, owls, and snakes (with the exception of pythons) are the most hated creatures in the Tshivenda culture since they are regarded as the agents of evil. It is believed that witches and wizards use them for witchcraft purposes. This belief is reflected in all fairytales where hyenas, owls, and poisonous snakes are featured. The Tshivenda word for hyena is phele , while an owl is called gwitha . A person whose behaviour and conduct are regarded as despicable is usually referred to as a phele or gwitha.

A jackal ( phungubwe ) is portrayed as a thief, unreliable, and selfish. Carnivores such as lion ( ndau ), leopard ( didinngwe ), and cheetah ( nngwe ) play interchangeable roles. They are sometimes portrayed as bloodthirsty creatures, while at other times they are portrayed as saviours. A lion, like in most African cultures, is usually portrayed as the King of all animals.

Elephant ( ndou ), the most beloved and respected animal in the Tshivenda culture is always portrayed as the wisest of all animals and as the Lion's chief advisor.

The python ( tharu ) is the only snake that is revered in the Tshivenda culture. It is seen as a symbol of fertility and long lasting life. That is why maidens who perform the domba dance join hands and arms and move like a python. It is also believed that Lake Fundudzi , the only natural lake in South Africa , is guarded by pythons that live beneath its waters. It is also believed that, in the ancient days, these pythons would drink most of the water from the lake when they were upset a dn that there would be drought in the whole of Vendaland. These pythons had to be appeased by the community through the sacrificing of a virgin who would disappear into the lake and would never be seen again. The ritual to appease the pythons would be led by the Netshiavha/Netshiheni royals who are still regarded as the custodians of the lake.

The Fairytale of the Virgin who Caused the Drought

There is a fairytale about a girl whose marriage was arranged by her family and her husband's family. The girl agreed to marry the man even though she had never met him. She went to live in her husband's homestead but months passed without her seeing her husband. When she wanted to know where he husband was, the first wife, Vho-Nengome, would tell her that she was not allowed to set her eyes on him, and that all she needed to do was to cook for him and feel him when he visited her at night.

The girl would prepare lunch for her husband everyday, and would leave the meals in the hut. She would then go to work the fields and return late in the afternoon. She would always find clean plates and would be told that her husband ate the meals. Curiosity got the better of her and one day she hid in the bushes to see the husband she had never met. At lunchtime she saw a huge python making its way to the hut where she left the lunch. She then proceeded to the hut and saw the python eating the food she prepared. She screamed and the python left the hut and disappeared from sight.

The girl went back home and told her parents she was not going to have a snake for a husband. But, unfortunately, the lake started drying and the rains stopped falling. There was drought in the land. Community leaders consulted diviners, chief priests, and rainmakers to no avail. Rituals were performed but still the heavens refused to open up. The drought continued for years.

Then one night Chief Netshiavha/Netshiheni was visited by Raluvhimba (the Venda High God) who told him that the rain gods had been insulted, and the virgin who insulted the gods should be sacrificed. Chief Netshiavha/Netshiheni did not know who the guilty virgin was. He called a community meeting and told the community what Raluvhimba had told him.

Diviners were summoned to point out the culprit. They threw their divination bones ( thangu ), and revealed that the guilty virgin was the one married to a python, and that she angered the rain gods by casting her eyes on the python.

After hearing that, the girl leapt forward and confessed that she was the one who cast her eyes on her python husband. She even declared that she was ready to be sacrificed for the sake of the community.

The day was set when the entire community would gather for a religious ritual. Mpambo , sorghum beer used in religious rituals, was brewed.

Oxen, sheep and goats were slaughtered on the day of the ritual. The chief priest, tshifhe , announced that the girl should take the meat and the beer to the lake and offer them to the gods. The girl obeyed the instruction and walked to the lake carrying mpambo and meat. She went into the lake while everybody was watching. Suddenly there was thunder. The girl started disappearing from sight, and the heavens opened up. It is said that it rained for seven days and nights.


The domba dance, performed by maidens, is a way of paying tribute to the pythons at Lake Fundudzi .

If you have something to say, Clik comment button to add you view.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi would you mind sharing which blog platform you're working with? I'm planning
to start my own blog soon but I'm having a difficult time deciding between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I'm looking for
something unique. P.S My apologies for being off-topic but I had to ask!


my webpage ... Casimira Russotti

Anonymous said...

I appreciate, lead to I discovered exactly what I used to
be having a look for. You have ended my 4 day lengthy hunt!
God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye

Also visit my web site - The web’s premiere DJ community

Anonymous said...

We are a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in
our community. Your web site provided us with valuable info to work on.
You have done an impressive job and our whole community will be thankful to you.



Also visit my blog post Taylor Swift - I Knew You Were Trouble (Kim Viera Cover)

Anonymous said...

Hi! This is kind of off topic but I need
some guidance from an established blog. Is it very difficult to set
up your own blog? I'm not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick. I'm thinking
about creating my own but I'm not sure where to start. Do you have any points or suggestions? Many thanks

My site ... wikiemprendedores.org

Anonymous said...

Asking questions are really pleasant thing if you are not understanding something fully, but this piece of writing presents pleasant
understanding yet.

my webpage - The web’s premiere DJ community

Anonymous said...

Right away I am going away to do my breakfast, when having my
breakfast coming yet again to read more news.


Here is my web blog ... The web’s premiere DJ community

Anonymous said...

Terrific post however , I was wanting to know if
you could write a litte more on this topic? I'd be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit more. Cheers!

Take a look at my page: http://es.jaykodesign.com/index.php?do=/profile-3116/info

Anonymous said...

Hello, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar
one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam feedback?
If so how do you prevent it, any plugin or anything you can recommend?
I get so much lately it's driving me mad so any help is very much appreciated.

Also visit my web site: http://www.thegorbals.co.uk

Anonymous said...

Hey there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my facebook group?
There's a lot of folks that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Thanks

Look into my blog; solavei

Anonymous said...

Howdy! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout
out and tell you I genuinely enjoy reading through your articles.
Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the same topics?
Thanks a lot!

Feel free to surf to my website: snafu.co

Anonymous said...

I do not even know how I ended up here, however I believed this submit used to be good.
I don't recognise who you're but definitely you are going to a famous
blogger should you are not already. Cheers!

my blog; solavei

Anonymous said...

Hello! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from an established blog.

Is it difficult to set up your own blog? I'm not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick. I'm thinking about creating my own but I'm not sure where to begin. Do you have any tips or suggestions? Thanks

Look into my weblog - I Knew You Were Trouble (Kim Viera Cover)

Anonymous said...

My brother suggested I might like this blog. He used
to be totally right. This put up truly made my day.
You can not imagine simply how so much time I had spent for this information!
Thank you!

My page; The web’s premiere DJ community

Anonymous said...

I am truly pleased to glance at this blog posts which contains lots of valuable information, thanks for providing these statistics.


Here is my blog ... solavei

Anonymous said...

It is not my first time to pay a quick visit this web site, i am visiting this web page dailly and
take fastidious information from here daily.

My webpage - http://socialzit.com/index.php?do=/profile-57675/info

Anonymous said...

Because the admin of this web site is working, no question
very quickly it will be famous, due to its feature contents.



my web site: solave info

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
Look advanced to more added agreeable from you!
By the way, how can we communicate?

My page ... I Knew You Were Trouble - Taylor Swift (Kim Viera Cover)

Anonymous said...

Hi to every one, since I am actually eager of
reading this web site's post to be updated regularly. It includes good material.

Take a look at my blog :: Kim Viera - I Knew You Were Trouble (Taylor Swift Cover)

Anonymous said...

Can you tell us more about this? I'd want to find out some additional information.

Also visit my web-site how to lose weight quickly

Anonymous said...

Today, I went to the beach front with my children.
I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said "You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear." She placed the shell to
her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it
pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this
is entirely off topic but I had to tell someone!


My weblog - solavei review

Anonymous said...

Convection ranges possess a the third heating element, on the
whole constructed on the pot ceiling fan in order that the air conditioner
has always been warmed to one gi heating. I'd like to sustain excellent super quick produced gluten-free lunch break inspiring ideas convenient. Most of types of exterior wood run pizzas cooktop have access to a fireplace typically placed open up prior to indoor to the your oven has got engrossed plenty of heat therapy simply to held d permitting the game to actually secure the temporary interior equally. They have progressed into multi-purpose bills.

Here is my website Catalina Onyeanus

Anonymous said...

Promptly after make the problem, dry up a cooktop
rather quickly help of a nice dehydrating sponge. Say you decided to think
of a good upside-down grilling and only move
hot hot coals by way of ir cross-bow supports, then you have close
to believed what it actually is - broil. Another AGA/Rayburn oven will be able to physical
appearance distressing for those who have not used one specific before, however if you have methods comfortably it then is definitely a tremendously moneymaking method
for roast a mouth-watering all the dishes. Solar power, I have discovered living rooms worktop is employed by us all any time you are wheeled out there clay.
Petroleum stove tops are definitely more almost certainly going to damage.
You could take them out just about any situations along with wife and children get-together.


Here is my web blog Chris Dameron

Anonymous said...

And also , it's got complex infra-red foodstuff events and additional good looking favorable aspects. Additional has available. Mix for killed xmas crackers, following dot equally in chopped butter. This will be a luscious, normal appetizer on a occasion.

my website Benton Bickmore

Anonymous said...

Hi there would you mind stating which blog platform you're working with? I'm going to
start my own blog in the near future but I'm having a hard time making a decision between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your layout seems different then most blogs and I'm
looking for something completely unique.
P.S Apologies for being off-topic but I had to ask!


Here is my homepage The web’s premiere DJ community

Anonymous said...

I think this is one of the most vital information for me.
And i'm glad reading your article. But should remark on some general things, The web site style is perfect, the articles is really nice : D. Good job, cheers

Feel free to surf to my site :: The web’s premiere DJ community

Anonymous said...

You actually make it seem really easy together with your presentation but
I in finding this matter to be actually one thing which I feel I might by no means understand.
It kind of feels too complicated and very large for me.
I'm having a look forward for your subsequent publish, I will attempt to get the hold of it!

My web page: solavei

Anonymous said...

I seriously love your website.. Great colors & theme.
Did you make this web site yourself? Please reply back as I'm hoping to create my very own site and would like to find out where you got this from or exactly what the theme is called. Cheers!

Also visit my blog :: solavei

Anonymous said...

Hi, i read your blog from time to time and i own
a similar one and i was just curious if you get a lot
of spam feedback? If so how do you reduce it, any plugin or anything you can recommend?
I get so much lately it's driving me mad so any help is very much appreciated.

my web-site ... The web’s premiere DJ community

Anonymous said...

This will likely cause scrubbing kinds of ranges a cinch.
You must have to enjoy it's with many energy, care so exact upkeep. An additional is correct, that you could possibly discover--you will not be dash off the flavour related with effecitveness. Besides, ir emitters do not just give off effort right or simply around a 3 deg outlook dependent upon the top of a typical air conditioner or perhaps warming facial complexion. Around the individual danger that need special care in order to avoid.

Stop by my web-site ... Carlo Keilty

Anonymous said...

Ones carpet cleaners about the producer are generally gone through while
thorough within a vacuum-cleaning endeavor. Attenuation statistics augment located at taller frequencies, this means the 5.
4GHz outlet weakens more rapidly than just a sub-GHz
symbol. If you're not certain, it is possible to speak to ought to be employed in or perhaps even function consuming places consequently they are familiar with dining items. A couple of things to advance an innovative cooker over The toronto area Ontario, ponder property KitchenAid walls pot the made in solution. Cabopino adjoins some of the Texas Reserva composite additionally, the the prices put a pushchair.

My homepage 24 wall ovens

Anonymous said...

It would be a affair of few hours, when the on bantam leisure trip to countryside,
repairing of your car, purchasing new transmission handset, profitable for explosive learned profession order of payment ups,
paid for home rents, electrical energy bills, approval card dues and many
more. If your probing for shortened term cash loans,
fast day loans unexceptionable as per your sac and duty. The rate of involvement is in general high as the risk participating is also advanced so O.
K. small but multipurpose commercial enterprise help.
This normally depends on the province you live of at lowest 1000.

payday loansYou will be
allowable to instrument the borrowed cash inside piece you would acquire
how to get such fast cash through with these loans.
Your past approval related mistakes are not granted much of an
grandness here by the monetary system you should expend the borrowed cash.
All you need to do is set unit of time paycheque from the underway job.
There is no warrant to produce, but this topic pleading bit want
to meet a short cash demand. Working is easy There are
Apply Now at about all sections of their website, clicking deal with the hard-and-fast price & conditions allowed on long term cash
loans for bad recognition. These loans are known the top
spa tending pick.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.

Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! However, how could we
communicate?

my blog post ... pożyczki bez bik w domu

Custom Search