These pictures show you a typical Swazi homestead. On the way back from Maputo, Mozambique, Bhegi-Themba Thusi, one of my co-workers at the museum, asked if we could stop at his family's homestead. I was very happy to meet his parents and to see his homestead -- which is the center of family life for Swazis. His parents, seen in the first image, raised 8 children here, and continue to care for the youngest family members, including grandchildren.Bhegi's father is a farmer and they own cattle -- which is the traditional way for southern Africans to gain wealth (and status). Cattle is absolutely one of the most important parts of Swazi life -- respect is garnered through the number of cattle you own, and droughts and other calamities can wreck havoc with your ability to feed your children when cattle are sick or die.
On the homestead there are ALWAYS chickens and roosters, and now, because it is spring, there are also chicks to be seen everywhere. Chickens and the like are allowed to roam free, though they have roosts in the form of handwoven baskets which are placed high off the ground so dogs, cats and other scavengers cannot get them and their eggs.
Also on a traditional Swazi homestead is another building -- always round with either a thatched or wooden roof. This is the "magogo's" house, which means grandmother. Here, women sit for conversation and important family events, such as marriage are discussed.
The cat I am holding was such a sweetie. The Thusis let him stay because he did not bother the chicks (apparently an earlier cat was "taken out" because he kept attacking chicks). This cat just laid himself on my shoulder. It was all I could do to not take him home with me. You see in Magogo Thusi's left hand a woven mat -- even though we appeared at the homestead unexpectdly, she presented me with three of these handwoven mats and also gave us cold juice, which we were grateful for as it was hot day and a 3-hour hot drive.
Bhegi's parents were generous and very kind -- just as he is.
2 comments:
Thanks again for more great pictures and commentary on real life in Swaziland. What are the homes made of? It looks like stucco or some sort of manufactured stone, like cement. In the round house, is there furniture for the ladies to sit on or do they sit on floor mats? Are there neigborhoods as we know or great distances between homes? Sandy Macaluso
Many of the home are built of concrete blocks, which are covered with stucco. In the magogos "house" women sit on the floor, on mats, or on low couches piled with blankets. Yes, there are "neighborhoods," which are more like areas where there are homesteads. Just like in USA, the closer you are to the city, the less land you have.
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