Ngelanga lomkhosi kufika amantombazane asuka kuwo wonke amagumbi esizwe saleyo nkosi eletha utshwala bomkhosi, lobutshwala abuthwalwa ngezinkamba kepha buphathwa ngezigubhu kanye nangezichumo. Okuthi ngalo lelilanga amabutho aphume ayobamba inkunzi yemibengo.
Lenkunzi ikhethwa ezinkunzini ezimnyama zekhethelo, zikhethwa zisengamathole konina, zihlale zodwa zingadibani nhlobo nezinsikazi. Lenkunzi yemibengo ayihlatshwa kepha ibanjwa amabutho ayiphule intambo, lenkunzi iqale ichelwe yinyanga ngezintelezi njengomathithibala nje ukuze kuthithibale izitha. Ezinye izintelezi echelwa ngazo kubalwa unomalala, unkungwini okuthi uma isibulewe inyongo yayo ithelwe embizeni yentelezi okuzochelwa ngayo amabutho, emva kwalokho inyama yayo iyabengwa imibengo yakhona ihuqwe ngemithi ebabayo.
Kuthi ekuseni kakhulu amabutho eye kogeza emfuleni ekuseni, ebuye esezohloba ngemvunulo evunulela wona umkhosi lo, kanti ke naye usingaye inkosi lena ivunula ngemvunulo yobukhosi engafani neyabafokazana. Izinceku zenkosi zona zingenise isihlalo sobukhosi zisibeke ngenhla kwesibaya, bese kwendlalwa izikhumba zezilo nezengonyama. Kusho kudume izihayo amabutho esehlobe aphelela ngemvunulo, izinduna zona zibe zihlela amabutho lawa asuke esalulwa usinga.
Uma inkosi isiphuma kuzwakala ngembongi isimpongoloza isho izibongo zenkosi, kepha ke iqala ngokusho amakhosi amadala ize izogcina ngayo le esuke iyibongela. Nebala ke iyangena inkosi le, ingene iholwa inyanga iyibambe ngesandla iye iyolunyathela uselwa. Okulandela ngokuthi ilugoqe inyanga ilinike inkosi ukuze ilupheke, bese kosiwa imibengo emlilweni obaswe amabutho khona esibayeni.
Brief Overview
We have previously discussed at length about the Uselwa Festival, what is it for and also the preparations before the actual festival day. This article continues with detailing the organisation, preparation and implementation of the festival. The article highlights what is done before the actual day and on the day. Slaughtering a cow for the festival and the involvement of a traditional healer are part of this process.
Siboniso Langa is a content generator, researcher and practising poet. His work focuses on Zulu oral and material culture, its promotion and preservation. He holds an Honours degree in Community and Development studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).