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| 1 |
Khukhu  ! |
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(the cry of the big bird) |
| Chorus: |
Ha  . |
| As in Songs Nos. 25, 34 and 40, the music is punctuated by declamation. One girl calls out: |
| Nandi vhone Vho-Munzhedzi haee! |
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| Hi there, Mrs Muhzhedzi! |
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Zwino a vha vhuyi-ha na  ? |
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| Why don't you come back with some water? |
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 ndi kha  vhona     ' ... |
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| I linger to look at that big bird, who calls ... |
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| Khukhu rembeda! |
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And the song is resumed, with the second girl singing solo. In this way, different novices are given the experience of leading the song. Although they sometimes call each other personally by name, they always use the honorific Vho- , which is for married people.
The character in the song is a married woman who lingers by the river, fascinated by the crying and wing-flapping of the Kori Bustard (dandila). The bird represents a man, and therefore the song teaches that a woman who is married should not flirt with men other than their husband. The male bustard inflates its throat during courtship, and this is probably why it is called Rembeda: mbeda = puff-adder. |
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