Hello to our hybrid heritage
Given Durban’s cosmopolitan feel and rich traditions, Sunday Tribune Reporters were out and about talking to locals about their cultural inclination
VHAVENDA CULTURE
SIPHELELE BUTHELEZI SIMANGELE Luvhengo Sadiki is celebrating her first wedding anniversary today, and it is also the day she is being welcomed into her husband’s family, in a traditional way.
She is from Kwazulu-natal but married Daniel Sadiki from Limpopo and today she will have a Venda family reception.
“I have known my husband since 2010 and married last year. It’s been great – the family never discriminated against me because I had different culture roots. They have been welcoming and teaching me their traditions,” said Sadiki.
“On my first trip to Venda with my husband, we attended a funeral. I was taken by surprise when he told me their funerals begin at 5am and are over by 6.30pm.”
Venda culture is built on a vibrant mythical belief system, and water is an important aspect of life.
“Venda people are very strict and proud of their culture. Children are taught responsibilities from a young age, even with modern parenting methods.”
Sadiki said she enjoyed spoiling her husband by cooking traditional dishes such as pap and chakalaka.
While she is not yet fluent in the language, she is able to understand and speak it.
The most famous of the Venda dances is the “domba” or python dance held annually at one of their most sacred sites, Lake Fundudzi, to secure good rains for the next season.
Young maidens, as the final stage of their initiation into womanhood, line up in single file forming a chain and dance like a snake.