Heirloom: Nkgo yaga Mma Kontle

“Rona re badisa fela,” says Ncedane Mngqibisa, who does not want to be referred to as the owner, but only as a ‘custodian’. He is perhaps the fourth generation ‘custodian’ of the pot and they took it out on a rare outdoor display at the National Culture Day at Manyana Gardens last Saturday.

“What we know for sure is that this clay pot belonged to my grandmother, Batlang Bose, who was born in 1904. We also know that her sister, named Kefani, also had a similar pot,” narrates Mngqibisa, adding that the other pot was relatively younger in age.  According to Mngqibisa, his mother was the last-born and was given the large pot by her mother, Batlang as it was a custom back in the days. Batlang got it from their great grandmother called Mma Kontle.  He is unsure whether Mma Kontle is the maker of the pot or she received it from someone.