Vhalemba - THE LEMBA   The Lemba are an endogamous clan who came with the present ruling clans, and have since lived amongst the Venda and elsewhere in the Northern Transvaal. Their men were skilled metal-workers; their women provide most of the pottery in Vendaland; they practise circumcision, kosher-killing, and certain other customs which they presumably learnt as a result of earlier contact with Arabs in East Africa (on the Lemba, see Stayt 1931, van Warmelo 1940 and Blacking 1964 and 1967).    159 Ri tshi swika tshikovhani: tsha Mulemba: a no pfi Mafhanzule: a ri, "Ni khou nkandela mutomba wanga: litshani u nkandela mutomba wanga." Ndi hone a tshi ri pandamedza. A ri posa nga thonga ya tshugulu: a sala a fara ya musuku: mga tsha monde. Ya tshugulu o ri posa nga tshu When we reached the garden near the river bed: which is cultivated by a Lemba: who is called Mafhanzule: he said, "You are treading on my maize shoots: stop treading on my maize shoots." Then he chased us away. He threw at us a knobkerry made of the horn of the white rhinoceros: and he stayed holding a copper knobkerry: in his left hand. He threw the horn knobkerry in his right hand. This refers to Lemba attempts to prevent their women from marrying out. As with many endogamous groups, there is little objection to Lemba men taking the women of other clans. However, there has been, and is, more intermarriage than the Lemba readily admit. One master said that musuku should refer not to knobkerry, but to a copper ingot. This presents an intriguing picture of the Lemba holding an orb and sceptre. 160 Vhasadzi vha Vhalemba vha vhumba khali. Munna ha vhumbi tshithu: munna ndi gungupea: u sokou posa nga musevhe a thupha zwauralo. Musadzi u sala a tshi khou . It is the Lemba women who make cooking pots. A man makes nothing: a man starts trouble but keeps out of it himself: he just shoots his arrow and leaves it at that. A woman will stay and build up the foetus into a child.  To return, click 'Back' in the browser. Next