Diverse wears, dance and music in Khuis
Zolani Kraai | Friday March 21, 2014 12:31
Not only that, different types of traditional foods were on the menu during the day. The food ranged from roasted and cooked maize, sweet reed, wild melons, dried pumpkin seeds, beans and assorted meat from Eland, cow and goat.
The event, which was graced by the Barolong Paramount Chief Lotlaamoreng Montshiwa II, also showcased attire from the coloured communities of Bokspits, Rappelspan, Vaalhoek, Struizendam (BORAVAST) and the Herero people.
The latter attire caught the eye of the attendees. Escorted by two women, the Herero man showed class with his charcoal suit, hat and a staff to resemble the Herero culture of a married man, either with one wife or two. The Herero women always catch the glare of people with their horned dukes and dresses.
The coloured community showcased their classic hats for women. The flapped hats and long dresses with an apron resemble the coming of age of a coloured woman. “Our attire goes way back from our ancestors and it resembles the maturity of woman from girlhood, ready to get married and start a family,” said Sophia Van Der Westerhuizen, 64 from Struizendam.
The occasion, the third of its kind in Kgalagadi as a whole, was hosted for the first time in Kgalagadi South. It saw ethnic tribes of the Batlharo, Baherero, Bakgothu, Barolong, Batlhaping and Basarwa represented.
According to Regional Cultural Officer Malebogo Mosala based in Tsabong, the effectiveness of the collaboration between the Tribal Administration and the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture proved to be a success.
She said the Khuis Cultural Day was a celebration of individual and collective cultural, traditional and ethnic identities in the Kgalagadi district. “This district is unique in its rich diversity and it seeks to acknowledge other tribes that have settled in Kgalagadi,” she said, adding that they should be proud of their past and move beyond the history that diminished the use and status of indigenous languages and free cultural expression.
Mosala cited the importance of preserving the caves along the Molopo River and emphasised that Kgalagadi south district is already in the limelight in as far as tourism is concerned. “We continue to witness how polka dance is appreciated by other tribes across the country. The Khawa Sand Dunes annual event and the Tsabong camel project yet to be launched, but they all have the potential to grow tourism and culture in Kgalagadi,” she said.
She reminded the participants about the latest in the cultural expression, in terms of uprooting talent in the district, of the two young representatives from Kang and Tsabong. Arts & Culture is reliably informed that Galaletsang and Tshenolo represent Tsabong and Kang in the My Star music talent search show.
Meanwhile, music was the order of the day at the event and the Geniet Net Ons polka group treated participants to the polka dance from Vaalhoek as well as Nama Stap dance from BORAVAST. The dance is said to originate from the Netherlands and is similar to polka dance but danced by older men and women. Logonono Choir from Tsabong with their sequence of steps was also the main attraction.
Other activities of the day were Mancala (Morabaraba) one of the oldest board or earth games. People often play with pebbles or stones using hollow-shaped holes in the earth or carved wooden boards while others were skipping the rope.