Images from Mamone
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Images from Mamone |
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ANC-supporter in traditional Pedi outfit during Mandela's visit to Jane Furse on the 27th of May 1999. It was interesting to note that President Mandela spent more than an hour with the Sekhukhune chiefs, whilst he only made a mass appearance of a few minutes. Gathering the support of the chiefs in the pre-election period was very important to the ANC. The people, nevertheless, were extremely happy that the popular president visited their area. |
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Another traditional leader, Billy Sekwati Mampuru III, during his coronation on the 19th of December 1999. As one can read in the report about Mamone, this coronation has sparked a whole process of retraditionalization and 'going back to our roots'. An interesting example of the invention of tradition is the leopard-skin around the kgosi's shoulders. Whilst one might be tempted to think this has been passed on from generation to generation, it was actually purchased by migrants at KwaZulu Muti a few weeks before the festivities.
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One aspect of this retraditionalization is the reinstatement of the traditional court, the kgoro. In these days, the old men come together every Wednesday once again to discuss marital disputes, fights over land and petty theft. Punishment is generally in by means of fines, but can take on a much harsher form: the thorntree in front is the one to which a man allegedly allocating land illegally was tied to, to be beaten up and smeared with vaseline to be doubly attractive for the red ants. |
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The case described above might be one of the 'forced reinstatement of tradition'. A parallel process is the 'traditional reinstatement of force'. The vigilante organisation Mapogo a Mathamaga is extremely popular in the Sekhukhune area. Through catching criminals with the assistance of community members and sjambokking them (often until they are half-dead) the organisation has managed to to drastically reduce crime in the area. Mapogo generally sides with the traditional leaders in their attempts to gain control over the youth. The leader of the organisation, Monthle Magolego, gave kgosi Sekwati a sjambok during his coronation, stating that this was the only way to restore order in this community. (B. Oomen has written a few articles on Mapogo. For more information on these pieces please contact her) |
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Barbara Oomen, Van Vollenhoven Institute; Tel. In South Africa: 082-6943653; E-mail Last update September 1999 |
