NGOMANI - BY THE DRUMS

 

  Although I begin here with the smallest alto drums (mirumba), the milayo may be given in the opposite order, beginning with the bass drum (ngoma).  

 

 

 Alto drums (mirumba)

 Tenor drum (thungwa)

Bass drum (ngoma)

   45

Mirumba mivhili yo vhewa fhasi yo tibwa
two alto drums are turned upside down and plced on the ground:

          a) Nanga dza ndou
          the tusks of an elephant.
          b) Mbudzi yo bebaho mafhata
          a goat who has borne twins.
          c) Muthu o welwaho nga thanga
          a person who has been felled by reeds (symbol for penis),
          Ngauri o beba vhana nga vhavhili
          because she has borne twins.
 
   46

Mirumba yo vhambwa nga
the alto drums have been covered with the skin of:

          Kholomo khunwana
          a red cow.
 
   47
Ngoma ya thungwa: yo remwa 'fhi?
the tenor drum: where was it(s wood) chopped down?
        Thavhani ya Shathama
        on the hill of Shathama.
 
   48

Mbado yo rema mubvumela
the axe chopped down a large tree, called mubvumela:

          Muri wo bvumelaho Thovhela na tshishonge
          the tree which applauds Thovhela and Tshishonge.
 
   49a

Yeneyi ngoma vhe'
they call this tenor drum:

          Musadzi wa binda
          a barren woman (who is consequently a flirt).
 
   49b

Ngoma i tshi lila vhusiku na masiari
when the drum sounds by night and day:

          Ha fhiri muthu: u do ri, Khamusi uyu ndi do wana
          she cannot pass a man: she will say, "perhaps this one will give me a child."
 
  The connection between the tenor drum and the woman who is a flirt is suggested by the function of the drum in the domba music. The tenor drum is the 'pace-setter' and it must be beaten continuously. Like the woman, it never gives up.  
   50

Ngoma khulwane vhe'
They call the big bass drum:

          Thoho ya nwana
          the head of a child.
          Thoho ya muloi
          the head of a sorcerer.
          Thoho ya muthu
          the head of a human being.
 
   51

Tshiombo tshi rwaho ngoma
the stick for playing the drum:

          Tshanda tsha muthu
          the hand of a human being.
 
   52

Afha he tsha se tea hone
Where it has been worn by drumming:

          Phanda ya mukalaha
          the (bald) forehead of an old man.
 
   53

Afha he tsha tumulelwa hone
where it was cut off (from the branch):

          Nwana a sa athu u naka mulomoni: a sa athu u bva mano mulomoni
          an infant whose mouth is not yet nice: who has no teeth.
 
   54

Hafhala hune ra rwa hone
there where we strike (the drum-skin):

          Thuvunya ya nwana
          A baby's fontanelle.
 
   55

Mukumba wa vhmbaho ngoma
the hide which is stretched over the drum:

          Lukanda lwa muthu
          the skin of a human being,
          Ndi nwana wa Magalile
          it is the child of Magalile.
 
   56
Tshine ngulungulu ngomu ngomani
that which rolls inside the drum.
(This refers to a smooth pebble which is
placed in the hollow body of every bass drum).
        Lutshetshe lu tshi lila
        A baby crying:
        Lu do bva nga henefho bulini
        It will come out of the hole at the bottom.
 
 
   57

Lumeme lwa ngoma
the rim (at the top) of the drum:

          Marinini a nwana
          the (toothles) gums of a baby.
 
   58

Mbambo (Khokho)
the pegs:

          Zwinnyo (zwitshende) zwa zwitukana
          the private parts (little penes) of little boys.
 
   59

Mikungelo
the (four) handles:

          Magona a vhutshele
          the knees of green water frogs.
 
   59a

Nga milayo ya vhalanda: mikungelo
according to the milayo of commoners: the handles:

          Khudavhavha dza vhathu
          the elbows of human beings.
 
   60
Tshitendevhule fhasi ha ngoma
the round body of the drum:
        Ndilwana dza vhakololo
        big wooden dishes for those of noble birth.
 
   61

Hangei fhasi bulini layo
underneath the drum where there is a hole:

          a) Tshinnyo (tshinzienzie) tsha khomba
          a maiden's little fanny.
          b) Nnyo dza musidzana
          a girl's fanny.
          c) Tshivhunu tsha lutshetshe
          a baby's bottom.
          d) Ndila ya vhasadzi
          the path of woman (i.e. the vagina).
 
   62

I tshi lila ngoma, muya u tshi bva nga fhasi
when the drum is played, air comes out through the hole:

          Gegulu li si na muduhulu
          an old lady who cannot have any more children (lit. an old lady without grandchildren):
          Lo no swingaho: li sa tsha vhonaho
          who is already blind: and cannot see (her monthlies) any more.
 
   63
Makolo a ngoma
the carved decoration on the drum:
        a) Mbandamo dza vhathu
        scarifications of the human body.
        b) Mbandamo dza Vhatonga: nola dza Vhatonga
        scarifications of the Shangana-Tsonga: their facial scars.
 
 
   64

Thanda dza ngoma dzo tokwaho
the poles from which the bass drum is hung, those which are rammed into the ground:

          Munna a konaho
          a potent man.
 
   65

Ntha
above (i.e. the crossbar, or the top of the vertical poles, interpretations differ):

          Munna wa tshilu
          a fool (i.e. an impotent man).
 
   66

Nnzwa dza ngoma
the thongs of the drum (by which it is suspended):

          Mivhofho ya vhafumakadzi
          women's girdles (worn particularly after childbirth).
 
   67

Thamu ya Vho-Nyamungozwa, arali yo imiselwa ntha
the staff of the master of domba, if it is held upright:

          Munna a konaho
          a potent man.
 
   68

Arali yo sendamiswa
if it is held slanting:

          Munna a sa koni wa ngonwa
          a man who cannot make it and is impotent.
 


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