A festive full of strangers

It is Christmas 1988 and everyone is gathered in the homestead.  The monotonous buzz of excited chatter filters through from the kitchen as the women catch up, gossip and laugh while preparing a feast.  Some boast about their perfect marriages and what their husbands have done, while others moan about their awful spouses.

Outside, men from different generations are seated by the fire at the kgotla deep in discussion about the rains, ploughing, government policies, community issues and good old days.  The younger men keenly observe their elders, taking the conversational cue from them and never attempting to lead discussions.  The fireside chats are, after all, a time-honoured tradition with unwritten but unyielding rules.