Mulamboni - BY THE RIVER The hut milayo are often followed by those for thahu, which are also associated with vhusha and tshikanda. I propose to follow the squence of the vhusha rites, by moving from the hut to the river, and then on to ludodoni and thahuni. One master often recited the milayo of ludodo and the river after domba tshi ima (the beginning of domba) and before (on the way); another placed mulamboni (by the river) and ludodoni (at ludodo) between khoroni (in the public meeting place [courtyard]: the entrance), and thahuni (at the [showing of] thahu), which was followed by tshivamboni na (in the council hut and in the dwelling hut). These sequences may be summarized respectively: domba tshi ima (the beginning of domba) ludodoni (at ludodo) mulamboni (by the river) (on the way) khoroni (in the public meeting place [courtyard]: the entrance) tshivamboni na (in the council hut and in the dwelling hut) thahuni (at the [showing of] thahu) and (on the way) khoroni (in the public meeting place [courtyard]: the entrance) mulamboni (by the river) ludodoni (at ludodo) thahuni (at the [showing of] thahu) Masters always omitted some sets of milayo, and followed the above sequences with excerpts from the sets vhalemba (the lemba), shangoni (in the countryside), milayo ya muvhili (milayo of the body) and other miscellaneous milayo. As a prelude to the river milayo, I give one of the characteristically lengthy introductions with which the scene is set in the minds of the novices: "That woman goes away [from ludodoni, in this particular case]: she remembers that there is vhusha by the river. She goes and sits there: and they say 'Very well, (you are too late)'. They had already wrapped up their bundles of meat. Then she gets up and goes away: over towards the river. Now married women are there by the river: and the alto drum is being played with gusto [lit. murumba u khou = the alto drum is washing their hands for them]. When she gets there: they say [to the girl who is sitting in the water] 'Come and sit by the fire, my girl, you look like one who seeks hidden knowledge' (-dzambwe, or -dzumbwe)." 111 Seli na seli on this side (of the river) and on that [referring to the banks with the water in between]: na musidzana vha tshi a lad and a girl when they meet. 112 ya i lumaho the crocodile on top which bites: Munna a man. 113 Mvuvhu ya fhasi a i koni u luma: yo fura the hippopotamus underneath cannot bite: it is full of sand. Musadzi a woman. Sometimes, the crocodile and hippopotamus are called -vhulivhe and mvuvhu-vhulivhe (See vhusha Song No. 21); vhulivhe means 'of the pool'. Also, two crocodiles, one above and the other below, may be cited instead. 114 Lutsinga lwa mulambo the current [in the middle] of the river: Murungo wa vhatukana the urethra [lit.seam] of youths. 115 Matombo a re the pebbles which are in the water: Zwitshende zwa zwitukana little boys' testicles. 116 Hatsi ho lavhelesaho the grass which looks at [i.e. hangs over] the water: Tsie dza vhathu human eyelashes. 117 Mahatsi o kotamela the grass which grows in the water: Makuse a vhatei the novices' pubic hairs. 118 Hatsi vhu re ngomu the grass which grows in the water: Mavhudzi a vhathu human hair. 119a Tivha dzigi sa eli the pool in which the water churns around but does not flow out: Musadzi a na thumbu a pregnant woman. 119b a sa eli the water does not flow out 120 i tshi ela when it flows out: O vhofholowa she has borne her child [lit. come undone]. 121 Philiphili dzas mativha the banks of pools: Mavhumbo a vhatei novices' private parts [lit. well modelled shapes]. 122 Ndi tshe longa (dzhenisa) mulenzhe when I jump over the water: a)Ndi khou phula musidzana I pierce a girl. b)Wa munna (mbolo) the man's thing [penis]. 123 Ndi tshi pfuka when I jump over the water: Tshampembe (Nyampembe) tsho wa ndimoni the sun has burnt the maize in [lit. Tshampembe has fallen on] the gardens. 124 ho kamaho mutei there where the novice is soaking in the water: a) e thumbuni a child in the womb. b) Kha tshikololo tsha Mukula, ndi tshilivhu tsha khomba according to the nobles' customs at Mukula, it is the vulva of a maiden. 125 Vhulungu ha denga ho na ha dark blue beads have been joined to light blue beads: Tshivhungu tshi vhungula khomba a worm has eaten into the maiden [referring to insemination]. 126 Mvuko leaves on a pot, to prevent the water spilling: Mukegulu o faho musi wa an old lady who died during divination. 127 Tshivhasone tsha hangei the fire outside there [by the river]: wedzi wa mulamboni the moon in the river. After this, other fire milayo are given exactly as Nos. 39-43.  Next  To return, click 'Back' in the browser.